Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) Training Course

Course Content

Introduction to LOPA

1. Determine when a LOPA is required
2. How to perform a LOPA
3. What happens after the LOPA
4. Alignment with IEC 61511

Elements of LOPA

1. Defining the hazardous scenario
2. Understanding tolerable risk criteria 
3. Understanding initiating events and assigning a frequency 
4. Defining Independent Protection Layers 
5. Assigning Conditional modifiers to initiating events (Enabling Events)
6. Determining SIL and PFD

Hazard and Risk Assessment and Functional Safety

1. LOPA is part of a process, not an end in itself
2. The legal and regulatory background to Hazard and Risk Assessment (and LOPA)
3. H&RA (and LOPA) in the functional safety lifecycle
4. Hazard Identification prior to LOPA 

LOPA 

1. Define the scenario
2. Assign severity and target frequency
3. Initiating events and frequency 
4. Enabling events / Conditional Modifiers
5. Independent Protection Layers
6. Output Results (SIL, PFD) 

LOPA techniques

1. LOPA maths
2. Developing scenarios
3. The LOPA team
4. Tolerable and individual risk
5. Cost benefit analysis and ALARP
6. Data sources for failure rates
7. Human error failure rates
8. Alarms as IPLs
9. Common cause failures
10. Documenting the LOPA

What follows the LOPA

1. Verification of the LOPA
2. The Safety Requirement Specification (SRS)
3. Stage 1 Functional Safety Assessment
4. The functional safety lifecycle (design, install, commission, validate, operate, maintain, repair)
5. Monitoring the assumptions of the LOPA during operations

Who should attend

Anyone who is leading, participating in or verifying a LOPA study.

After this Training Course

After this Training Course you will be able to

• Determine when a LOPA is required.
• Understand how to perform a LOPA.
• Understand what happens after the LOPA.
• Carry out the LOPA in compliance with functional safety standards  IEC (BS EN) 61511-1:2016.

What you will get

All delegates receive:

• The course material in printed format.
• A Certificate of Attendance for each delegate that attends the full course.

Certification of Competence

Delegates can attain formal =Method certification of their competence in LOPA Study facilitation, by “Demonstrating Knowledge” whilst facilitating actual LOPA Studies following the completion of the course. How this can be achieved will be discussed with each delegate. One possibility is for a member of the =Method Process Safety team to attend (and perhaps acting as scribe for) the LOPA Study facilitated by the delegate so that they can mentor, coach and evaluate the candidate. The certification is valid for 5 years and can be renewed on submission of further “Demonstration of Knowledge”, demonstration of Continuing Professional Development and experience of LOPA Study Facilitation.

Course Enquiries

If you have any further questions, please contact us and if you wish to proceed, check your diary and reserve a place.