Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) is a simplified quantitative risk assessment methodology for evaluating initiating event frequency, independent layers of protection, and potential consequences. LOPA is also an excellent approach for determining the safety integrity level (SIL) necessary for an instrumented safety system, an approach endorsed in instrument standards such as ISA S84 and IEC 61511. It is typically conducted on highly hazardous scenarios identified by a qualitative Process Hazard Analysis (PHA).

Join us on Thursday, August 21, 2025, for this Microsoft Teams live instructor-led course facilitated and led by Katherine Anderson, CCPSC. Mrs. Anderson is well known for her expertise and experience leading and evaluating PHAs and LOPA. She has facilitated numerous PHAs at domestic and foreign greenfield facilities, chemical and petrochemical plants, and waste-water treatment facilities. Over her 45-year career, Mrs. Anderson has led numerous pre-start-up safety reviews (PSSR), conducted significant incident and near-miss investigations in the U.S. and China, and developed corporate process safety policies and procedures.

This course delivers the principles, techniques, and best practices of the LOPA method, including how to complete an order-of-magnitude analysis for high-risk scenarios. Learners will gain the knowledge and insight needed to determine whether existing Independent Protection Layers (IPL) have reduced the risk to tolerable levels or if additional safeguards are required. This course prepares professionals to make informed decisions about risk tolerance.

The importance of the hazard identification stage should never be underestimated. As Trevor Kletz once said: “Are we sure that we have identified all the major hazards, and all the ways in which they can occur? What has not been identified can neither be assessed nor mitigated.”

Learning Objectives

• Describe the LOPA methodology
• List the steps to complete a LOPA analysis
• Describe how to identify and quantify the frequency of the initiating event
• Describe how to identify risk tolerability criteria
• Describe the use of enabling events
• Describe the use of conditional modifiers
• Describe how to identify Independent Protection Layers (IPL)s and their Probability of Failure on Demand (PFD)
• Describe how to complete a LOPA calculation to determine if a specific scenario requires additional IPLs to meet tolerable risk level

Course Schedule

The course is conducted in a one day session delivered live via Microsoft Teams in a safe, dynamic learning environment on Thursday, August 21, 2025 9:00 am – 4:00 pm CST.

Special Discount

Once the course is successfully completed attendees are eligible to receive a 20% discount on Process Safety Office^® PSMPro™ purchase. Restrictions apply.

Who Should Attend

This course is suited for site management, engineering, risk management, and process safety professionals seeking a Quantitative Risk Analysis method for evaluating and reducing risk to an acceptable or tolerable level.

Please Note

To ensure a smooth Microsoft Teams session, you will need a reliable and stable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth, ideally achieved by using a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi whenever possible.

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