HIRA Masterclass - Session 8 of 12

LOPA INTRODUCTION


Monday 18 January 2027, 11:30–13:30 (UK time)


LOPA takes your HAZOP output and asks: is the risk tolerable? And if not, how many independent protection layers do you actually need?


Layer of Protection Analysis is one of the most powerful tools in process safety — and one of the most misused. The most common mistake is taking credit for safeguards that are not independent. The second most common is confusing a safeguard with an IPL.


This session covers IPL criteria, target mitigated event likelihood, and the judgement calls that determine whether your LOPA produces a meaningful risk picture or a false sense of security.


The other issue with LOPA is that people do not want to execute it because of legal liability (assigning numbers to lives) or because of a large scope. LOPA screening can help with both of those as it uses a barrier counting methodology. It can shorten your LOPA list or it can replace LOPA if needed. We will cover this in the session.

2 hours. Live. £25.


1 free place available for students, university staff, or anyone currently unemployed. A first come, first served. Get in touch to apply.


This course is a different scope to the LOPA Foundations modules which aim to demonstrate the technique.

Testimonial

"Real life run through that was applicable to my facility."

PSM Hub LOPA participant, 2024

"Good value, and efficient presentation of how to put LOPA into practice."

Course participant


What you get


  • 2 hours of live teaching with worked examples and discussion
  • Access to the session recording afterwards
  • A structured approach you can take back to your team on Tuesday morning
Louise Wilson CEng MEng CFSE FSaRS MIChemE
Founder, PSM Hub | President, Safety and Reliability Society


Chartered Engineer with 17 years of process safety experience. Over 400 days of HAZOP and LOPA facilitation across oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and mining. Former BP and Shell technical safety authority. Guest lecturer at Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge.

Want all 12 sessions?


Save £50 with the Full Year bundle. £250 for the complete HIRA Masterclass programme.

HIRA Masterclasses

12 sessions. 12 months. One structured journey from risk matrix fundamentals to auditing. The HIRA Masterclass is a monthly programme of live sessions designed to build practical, consistent risk assessment skills from first principles. Each session is 2 hours with worked examples and discussion. All sessions run 11:30–13:30 on the third Monday of each month, June 2026 to May 2027. £250 for all 12 sessions — save £50 compared to buying individually. Includes access to all recordings.

Courses: 12

£250