Process Safety Digest – July 2025
Risk Management Insights for Safer Operations
Webinar: Hazardous Area Classification
(HAC)
When to Go Beyond Simple Zoning: Practical Guidance & Scenario-Based Exercises
10 AM (EDT) Thursday, July 24, 2025
Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) studies are required to identify areas in a facility where ignition sources must be controlled—either through equipment selection or operational procedures.
In the U.S., these assessments are typically conducted using NFPA 497 for flammable gases and vapors, and NFPA 499 for combustible dusts. In other regions, IEC or ATEX standards may apply.
Regardless of the standard used, the goal is to reduce ignition risks by correctly defining hazardous zones. However, the outcome of a HAC study can sometimes result in wide or challenging zones—such as entire rooms being classified.
This free webinar will explore when it’s necessary to go beyond simple zoning, how to manage difficult outcomes, and how supporting evaluations can help refine your results and reduce unnecessary zoning.
What You’ll Learn in the Webinar:
Applying NFPA 497/499: How materials and process conditions impact zoning
Managing Broad Zones: What to do when entire rooms are classified
Refining Results: Using DHA, PHA, or ventilation studies to adjust zones
Scenario-Based Examples: How data can change area classification outcomes
The Event
Speaker: Vinicius Simoes, Process Safety Consulting Lead
When: Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10 a.m. (EDT)
Where: Online, just register for free /webinar/hazardous-area-classification-webinar/
Feel free to email us with any questions before the event at
If you have any colleagues who would benefit from attending this webinar, please share this newsletter with them.
HAZID vs. HAZOP
Choosing the Right Approach for Your PSM Program
HAZID and HAZOP are well-established methodologies used to support PHA under OSHA’s PSM standard. While they share a common goal—identifying potential hazards and assessing associated risks—they are not interchangeable. Each method offers distinct advantages depending on the stage of your project, the complexity of your process, and the level of detail available in your design and operational documentation.
In our latest article, we provide a technical comparison of HAZID and HAZOP within the context of OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each methodology, teams can make informed decisions and select the most appropriate approach to meet both regulatory requirements and operational objectives.
Key topics covered include:
How HAZID and HAZOP align with OSHA’s PSM standard [29 CFR 1910.119(e)] and what makes each a compliant PHA methodology
Side-by-side comparison of HAZID vs. HAZOP, including scope, structure, documentation needs, and resource requirements
Criteria for selecting the right method based on project phase, process complexity, and operational priorities
When to use HAZID, HAZOP, or both as part of a tiered risk assessment strategy
Practical considerations for scalable PHA implementation, including strategies suited to resource constraints or evolving systems
Whether you’re selecting a methodology for an upcoming PHA, preparing for a five-year revalidation, or building a more adaptable risk assessment strategy, this article provides the technical clarity needed to support informed decision-making.
Resources Library Learning from our Process Safety Experts
To access our repository of technical articles and on-demand webinars, providing a wealth of insight into mitigating fire and explosion risk, check out our website resources page.
- On-Demand Webinar: PHA Revalidations Webinar
- On-Demand Webinar: Dust Hazards Simplified Mitigating Explosion Risks in Industrial Operations
- Blog – Integrating HAZOP and LOPA for Effective Risk Assessment in Industrial Operations
- Blog – NFPA 660: How the New Standard Simplifies Dust Safety
- Blog – A Step-by-Step Guide to the Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) Process
