Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilities
Abstract The Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) method is a semi-quantitative risk assessment tool that is used to determine the ability of safeguards to protect against unplanned hazardous scenarios. One possible outcome of a LOPA is that existing and proposed safeguards are deemed sufficient to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88546-8 |
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| author | Andrian Harsono Ryan Waters Jason Tearle Graeme Harkess |
| author_facet | Andrian Harsono Ryan Waters Jason Tearle Graeme Harkess |
| author_sort | Andrian Harsono |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) method is a semi-quantitative risk assessment tool that is used to determine the ability of safeguards to protect against unplanned hazardous scenarios. One possible outcome of a LOPA is that existing and proposed safeguards are deemed sufficient to reduce the risk associated with the hazardous scenario to a level that can be deemed as acceptable. Alternatively, the LOPA may also show that the safeguards are insufficient and therefore additional Safety Instrumented Function(s) (SIF) would be required to reduce risk to an acceptable level. In the latter case, the LOPA method will inform the end user as to the reliability requirements of the safety function in question. The LOPA method has been used extensively in the process industries (e.g., oil and gas) as a useful tool to manage and understand risk and to demonstrate if the facility is ‘safe’ to operate, but much less so in the biosafety sector. This paper describes the LOPA method and provides some practical examples of how it may be applied in microbiological high Containment Level (CL) facilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-53ed3766e6c84c6eb25205f01808920f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-53ed3766e6c84c6eb25205f01808920f2025-02-09T12:33:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-011511710.1038/s41598-025-88546-8Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilitiesAndrian Harsono0Ryan Waters1Jason Tearle2Graeme Harkess3The Pirbright InstituteThe Pirbright InstituteThe Pirbright InstituteThe Pirbright InstituteAbstract The Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) method is a semi-quantitative risk assessment tool that is used to determine the ability of safeguards to protect against unplanned hazardous scenarios. One possible outcome of a LOPA is that existing and proposed safeguards are deemed sufficient to reduce the risk associated with the hazardous scenario to a level that can be deemed as acceptable. Alternatively, the LOPA may also show that the safeguards are insufficient and therefore additional Safety Instrumented Function(s) (SIF) would be required to reduce risk to an acceptable level. In the latter case, the LOPA method will inform the end user as to the reliability requirements of the safety function in question. The LOPA method has been used extensively in the process industries (e.g., oil and gas) as a useful tool to manage and understand risk and to demonstrate if the facility is ‘safe’ to operate, but much less so in the biosafety sector. This paper describes the LOPA method and provides some practical examples of how it may be applied in microbiological high Containment Level (CL) facilities.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88546-8HAZOPLOPABiocontainmentSafety Integrity LevelSafety instrumented functionBiosafety |
| spellingShingle | Andrian Harsono Ryan Waters Jason Tearle Graeme Harkess Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilities Scientific Reports HAZOP LOPA Biocontainment Safety Integrity Level Safety instrumented function Biosafety |
| title | Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilities |
| title_full | Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilities |
| title_fullStr | Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilities |
| title_short | Applying the layers of protection analysis (LOPA) method to high containment level biological facilities |
| title_sort | applying the layers of protection analysis lopa method to high containment level biological facilities |
| topic | HAZOP LOPA Biocontainment Safety Integrity Level Safety instrumented function Biosafety |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88546-8 |
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