--- title: "Approving HAZOPs" slug: "approving-the-hazop" description: "Ensure your HAZOP is ready for approval with a consistency check, team documentation, and completed recommendations for a smooth process." updated: 2026-10-27T23:12:18Z published: 2026-10-27T23:12:18Z canonical: "ims-handbook.cenosco.com/approving-the-hazop" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ims-handbook.cenosco.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Approving HAZOPs When the team has finished [documenting the Hazard & Operability (HAZOP) Study](/v414/docs/defining-the-nodes) it needs to be Approved. A consistency check will confirm that all mandatory information is in place before approval is enabled. To edit an Approved HAZOP you will need to [put it back in Draft](/v414/docs/approving-the-hazop#editing-an-approved-hazop)[](/v414/docs/approving-the-hazop#editing-an-approved-hazop). ## Checking Consistency To check if all Nodes and related child objects have been properly defined, you can use the Consistency check. The consistence check highlights cards with missing data by making the fold-out bars either orange or yellow. You can switch this consistency check on at any time. But when Approving, this will automatically be switched on. NoteAn Approval is not possible when there are orange cards, but yellow cards will not block Approvals. In future this will be configurable. When the Consistency check is on, two arrow buttons will appear which you can use to jump between the missing data. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-nbnbraxc.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D) When you hover over an orange or yellow fold-out bar you can already see what information is missing. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-94ksrf3b.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D)When the Consistency check is on, cards with outstanding information will be highlighted with an orange or yellow side bar. User the arrows to jump to the cards with missing data. ## Checking the Team Composition Before Approving the HAZOP, make sure that the Team Composition has been properly documented on the [Team Composition Tab](/v414/docs/team-composition). ## Completing the Recommendations All [Recommendations](/v414/docs/recommendations-summary-tab) must have the Status "Completed" together with a Close out description, before the HAZOP can be Approved.[](/v414/docs/approving-the-hazop) ## Reviewing other side Tabs In addition, you can use the side Tabs to review the [Documents](/v414/docs/documents-tab), [Actions](/v414/docs/actions-tab), etc. See [HAZOP Details - Layout](/v414/docs/hazop-details-overview). ## Approving the HAZOP ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/Approving%20HAZOPs.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D) When satisfied that the HAZOP Study is complete, it can be Approved. To Approve the HAZOP: - Click the Approve button to open the Approval window. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-e68ndio5.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D)Click the Approve button. - Click **Approve** to Approve the HAZOP. If this is not the first time you are Approving the HAZOP, you will need to enter a reason. - Click the Approve button ![Icon Description automatically generated](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-i75ls7i0.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D) again to close the Approval window. Notes: - The HAZOP status will change from Draft to “FINAL APPROVAL” and you can no longer make any changes. (This will depend on your Approval rights – see [Approval levels](/v414/docs/approving-the-hazop#approval-levels)). If needed the HAZOP can be [put back into Draft](/v414/docs/approving-the-hazop#editing-an-approved-hazop). - If this is the first version to be Approved, the HAZOP will change from Inactive to Active. - If changes are now made in associated LOPAs, a Syncing warning will show on the HAZOP. If desired, you can then put the HAZOP back in Draft and then SYNC the HAZOP and LOPA again. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-go1y6yvx.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D)The HAZOP status will change to “FINAL APPROVAL” and become Active (see green line under the HAZOP description). ### Approval Levels For some sites different Approval levels (e.g., “Writer Approve”) have been configured. If this is the case for your site, then you can click the **Approve** button to change the status to your maximum allowed approval level. You can, however, use the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-y5yo4mtu.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D) button next to the **Approve** button, to select an alternative (lower) approval level (e.g., "Level 1 Approved"). To do this: - Click the dropdown. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-yjbd3nc0.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D)Click the dropdown to select an Approval level.  - Select a level. - Then click **… Approve** to Approve on the selected level. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approving-the-hazop-image-oy6c0ay0.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T14%3A21%3A33Z&se=2026-10-28T15%3A21%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zey6ja%2BDJP0r4Vpyt2RtZe6twMOMwMQz4jcEm1B4r3s%3D)When the Approval level has been selected, click Approve again. ## Editing an Approved HAZOP Only a user with the SIS ADMIN and SIS HAZOP role can bring a HAZOP back into Draft. To learn more see [Approval Process in SIS](/docs/approving-process-in-sis#disapproving-and-editing-approved-hazops-lopas-and-sif-analyses).