Rethinking HAZOP Leadership: The Importance of Interpersonal Skills in Effective Facilitation

Whilst Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOPs) are a well-established method for hazard identification and assessment, there is always the potential to improve. In an extract from a MSc dissertation, we look at the importance of interpersonal skills within the HAZOP process.

Alexandria Morrison is a risk management consultant and TÜV Rheinland certified HAZOP Leader, who recently successfully completed an MSc in Risk and Safety Management with Risktec and Liverpool John Moores University.

As part of her dissertation research, Alexandria investigated effective HAZOP facilitation, and explored one specific area that contributes to a successful HAZOP: the interpersonal skills of the HAZOP Leader.

INTRODUCTION

HAZard and OPerability (HAZOP) study is a tried and tested risk assessment method, with roots going back to the 1960s and work undertaken by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), a major British and international chemical company of the time.

Over the intervening years, the HAZOP has become a globally accepted technique to identify and evaluate process hazards and potential operating problems.

As HAZOP is a mature technique it may be natural to assume that there is little room for improvement, however, it is still worth asking the question – can we do better?

THE STUDY

As part of the dissertation project, it was considered beneficial to gather the opinions of those directly involved in hazard analysis to understand what they believe supports a successful HAZOP.

As such a survey was undertaken to solicit the opinion of thirty-five HAZOP practitioners, leaders, scribes, and team members, across several sectors, including oil and gas, chemical manufacturing and distilling.

The principal focus was on understanding how interpersonal dynamics influence participation and, by extension, the overall effectiveness of the HAZOP.

The results of the survey were analysed using a qualitative method known was thematic analysis. This approach involves collecting information and organising the data into identifiable themes which help to construct a narrative that explains the findings of the survey.

The analysis itself was conducted in a qualitative analysis tool called NVivo which takes the survey responses as an input and assists with organisation and visual representation of the data. This supported the process of identifying and developing key themes, with an example of the theme ‘team aspect of a HAZOP’ shown in Figure 1.

Thematic analysis of the responses highlighted a consistent theme: HAZOPs are a team-based exercise, and their quality is directly affected by how well the HAZOP Leader facilities team engagement.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

While the technical competence of the HAZOP Leader was acknowledged as essential by the survey respondents, 66% placed equal importance on interpersonal skills, and 26% felt that interpersonal skills were actually of even greater importance than technical competence.

The results showed that HAZOP Leaders were deemed more likely to encourage broader participation from all team members when they:

• Communicated clearly.
• Actively listened.
• Remained neutral during workshop discussions.

Respondents provided examples where these behaviours helped create an open, collaborative environment where all team members felt comfortable contributing to discussions.

In contrast, where respondents provided examples of when HAZOP Leaders lacked these skills, the results were tangible: missed opportunities, disengaged participants and ultimately, a less effective HAZOP outcome.

MORE THAN ‘NICE TO HAVE’

The findings of the study suggest that interpersonal skills are not “nice to have”, they are a core part of leading a productive, inclusive workshop.

If we want accurate and effective HAZOP outcomes, it is worth considering how we prepare HAZOP Leaders to facilitate not just the technical process, but the engagement of the study participants. This study suggests one approach may be to include these skills in training and competency frameworks to support a more consistent and effective workshop. This approach is supported by the results of the survey which found that 96% of survey participants believe that interpersonal skills should be included in HAZOP Leader training.

As a qualitative study based on a relatively small sample, the findings are indicative rather than definitive but highlight clear trends in practitioner experiences and show the importance of HAZOP Leader interpersonal skills in what the study participants consider to be a successful HAZOP.

CONCLUSION

While the technical competency of the HAZOP Leader is well-established it may now be time to give equal attention to the human side and the interpersonal skills required to lead successful HAZOPs.

The HAZOP Leader’s ability to bring people into the discussion, manage interactions, and guide the team through the HAZOP method has a direct impact on workshop effectiveness. Recognising and developing these capabilities can support stronger, more reliable HAZOP outcomes.

Interested in the MSc in Risk and Safety Management?

This article provides an extract from a dissertation submitted for the MSc in Risk and Safety Management delivered by Risktec Solutions in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).   

Our MSc programme has been designed to meet the growing need for industry-related courses and qualifications in risk and safety management. The courses are delivered by teachers with industrial experience and aims to develop the practical skills and knowledge of students.

This programme will benefit anyone seeking to implement practical risk management within highly regulated industries where the impact of loss is high, whether systems sectors such as nuclear, defence, rail and aviation, or in process industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical.

Risktec has been validated to teach Risk & Safety Management at postgraduate level since 2009.  LJMU is one of the largest universities in the UK. Find out more about our collaborative partnership with LJMU here, or find out more about the Risktec postgraduate programme here.