Background
F2 was established as BNFL Fluorochemicals Limited in 1992. The company operates from a manufacturing plant in Preston and are world renowned experts in fluorination.
F2 uses its ability to manufacture elemental fluorine on demand to manufacture a wide range of high purity fluorinated hydrocarbons.
Requirement
F2 had completed a number of HAZOPs covering individual processes on the site but these had been undertaken by different groups using a variety of risk matrices and recorded using different software.
F2 planned to re-HAZOP its facility and intended to engage an external HAZOP Chair to facilitate this.
HFL was engaged due to its significant expertise in chairing HAZOPs across the process sectors.
Our Response
HFL and F2 entered into a collaborative agreement which enabled HFL to provide HAZOP Chair support with F2 providing Scribe support.
The support included both on-site and remote HAZOPs designed to suit the requirements of the operational personnel and plant.
The HAZOP commenced in March 2022 and was completed in July 2023.
Further HAZOPs, functional safety work and hazardous area classifications will commence in 2024.
Result
F2 purchased a copy of HAZOP Manager by Lihou for recording the HAZOP. The HAZOP record will be maintained and modified as required to incorporate and changes to the process, in line with the company’s management of change procedure.
F2 now has a consistent HAZOP covering the complete process. This includes a Risk Matrix for the existing plant and future modifications.
F2 has approached HFL to chair future HAZOPS to ensure continuity of approach when proposed plant changes are enacted.
“The HAZOP Study Leader’s knowledge and experience was invaluable. With a fresh pair of eyes and pragmatic approach, the Leader questioned some aspects of our processes and strengthened our knowledge of process safety which has led to improvements.
The combination of on-site and off-site sessions worked well.”
Chris Armstrong
Health, Safety and Environmental Manager
