The Hazards and Effects Management Process (HEMP) identifies and assesses HSE hazards, implements control and recovery measures, and maintains a documented demonstration that major HSE risks have been reduced to a level that is As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).The HEMP model is characterized by the steps shown diagrammatically below.
HEMP shall be applied to all activities over which the COMPANY has operational control, and shall cover the entire lifecycle of the asset or operation (from inception through to decommissioning and disposal).
Organisation of HEMP
HEMP studies shall be performed by personnel having knowledge about facility and operation under consideration (e.g. design, operation, seismic, drilling etc), and who are competent in the HEMP techniques involved.
HEMP studies shall be planned and implemented timely to enable the results to be incorporated without incurring avoidable rework and costs.
HSE Risk management shall be based on the COMPANY Policy and Guidelines principles of ISO 17776.
HEMP studies shall be documented such that the key information and decisions made are transparent and available for future reference. Recommended actions arising from HEMP studies shall be recorded and tracked to closure.
Stakeholders shall be consulted as part of the HEMP application. The degree of consultation shall depend on the nature of the HSE risks under consideration.
Hazard and Effect Identification
HSE hazards, and their effects on people, environment, assets, and reputation shall be systematically identified and listed for the full lifecycles of assets and operations.
Risk Assessment
COMPANY Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM) shall be used to assess the risks associated with HSE hazards.
The perception of HSE risks by internal and external stakeholders shall be considered in addition to the magnitude of the risk.
Risks from the identified hazards, and the controls, shall further be assessed where necessary using a variety of approaches in line with relevant regulatory requirements or as prescribed in internationally recognised codes and standards, and established good industry practice, and engineering judgement.
The HEMP tools shall be selected by competent staff, the perception of the stakeholders, the magnitude of the risks and costs involved to mitigate the risk.
Integrated Impact Assessments covering environmental, health and social aspects shall be undertaken prior to new projects and significant modifications to installations or working practices.
The potential for human error shall be included in the assessments, and steps shall be taken to reduce the frequency and impact of human error.
Control and Recovery
The following hazard management hierarchy shall be used when selecting the control and recovery measures to manage HSE risks:
- Elimination and minimisation of HSE hazards by using options with a lower impact on HSE;
- Substitution by using products and/or processes with a lower impact on HSE;
- Isolation / separation of hazards and targets;
- Engineering controls – prevention;
- Engineering controls – mitigation;
- Organisational controls, i.e. competence and communication;
- Procedural controls;
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Residual workplace HSE hazards shall be managed by a combination of competence, procedures, Job Hazard Analysisand Permit to Work (PTW) controls. Toolbox meetings shall be used both to support the identification and assessment of hazards, and to communicate the control and recovery measures adopted.
The control and recovery measures incorporated in COMPANY codes and standards to reduce the HSE risks to ALARP shall be adopted for well-understood risks in the same circumstances. A deviation shall be considered if it can be shown that the risk reduction achieved is less, or the costs to implement are higher, in the specific circumstances. A detailed ALARP assessment shall support any proposal to deviate.
The performance requirements for HSE critical equipment, competencies, systems, activities and procedures shall be specified, verifiable, realistic and achievable.
The number, independence and reliability of the control and recovery measures shall be commensurate with the magnitude of the risk.
Emergency response plans shall be prepared and tested using the information available from the HEMP assessments.
A Manual of Permitted Operations (MOPO), or equivalent, derived from the HEMP process shall be prepared to record the activities that must be discontinued or restricted in given circumstances including concurrent activities, adverse weather and impaired HSE critical systems or barriers.
A system to make the control and recovery measures available to all involved shall be implemented, (e.g., competency requirements, work instructions, procedures and performance standards).