Introduction
Hazards are to be found everywhere. They have the potential to affect our organisations in many negative ways, and therefore we should ensure that we can manage them in the best way possible. To be able to do so, it is crucial to be able to identify which hazards our organisation is facing. Many approaches can be used to identify hazards, and one of them is the HAZID.

What is a HAZID?
HAZID stands for Hazard Identification. It is a systematic and structured methodology used to identify potential hazards and assess risks associated with a system or process. It is typically performed by a multidisciplinary team with different ranges of skills, knowledge, and experience. The HAZID approach is also known as a “what if” study, as team members are encouraged to ask questions such as “what if…” or “how could…” about the areas being assessed.

Usually performed at an early stage of a project or throughput the design phase, a HAZID is used to identify and assess potential hazards and risks related to the entire system or process. The aim of the HAZID is to uncover all possible hazards and assess their potential causes and consequences, including those that might not be immediately evident, without going into detailed operational aspects.    

How to make a HAZID?
The way to make a HAZID typically involves the following steps:

1. Defining the system or process being assessed and establishing the analysis's objectives and scope (HAZOP vs HAZID Studies).
2. Assembling a multidisciplinary team with relevant expertise to conduct the HAZID.
3. Conducting brainstorming sessions with the team to identify potential hazards, considering different scenarios and deviations from normal operating conditions.
4. Assessing the risks associated with each identified hazard by considering factors like their likelihoods of occurrence, the severity of consequences, and the ability to detect and prevent them.
5. Documenting the findings and recommendations resulting from the analysis for further action.

When to use a HAZID?
The HAZID methodology is a good option for identifying potential risks and hazards in a project. Overall, this method can help to reduce risks and improve safety outcomes. It is a more general approach, and it is used in the early process design or operational phase of a project. Therefore, the HAZID is a good starting point if you haven't worked with hazard identification before.

Sources used
- hse.gov.uk – "Building safety risk assessment: HAZID methodology." Retrieved from hse.gov.uk: https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/safety-cases/identify-risks/hazid.htm
- Sigma-hse – "HAZOP vs HAZID studies." (2023, April 20). Retrieved from sigma-hse: https://sigma-hse.com/news-insights/hazid-hazop-differences/
- Selitski, O. (2022, September 20). "HAZOP vs HAZID: when is one more useful than the other?" Retrieved from ors-consulting: https://www.ors-consulting.com/hazop-vs-hazid