Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) is a powerful, semi-quantitative risk assessment methodology used to evaluate whether existing or proposed safeguards are sufficient to control process hazards to tolerable risk levels. It bridges the gap between qualitative methods like HAZOP and fully quantitative risk assessment (QRA), enabling organizations to make defensible, auditable, and cost-effective safety decisions.

The Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) Certification Course on Olanab Academy is designed to give engineers, safety professionals, and technical managers a clear, practical, and standards-aligned understanding of LOPA, with strong emphasis on real-world application in process industries.

This course goes beyond theory. You will learn how to identify initiating events, assign frequencies, evaluate independent protection layers (IPLs), calculate mitigated risk, and justify the need for additional safeguards such as Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs). International best practices and guidance from IEC 61511, CCPS, and API RP 754 are integrated throughout the course.

By the end of this course, you will be able to confidently participate in—or lead—LOPA studies, document results in a professional and auditable manner, and support critical safety decisions related to process design, operations, and modifications.

What You Will Learn

• Fundamentals and purpose of Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA)
• Relationship between HAZOP, LOPA, SIL determination, and QRA
• Identification and classification of initiating events
• Assigning credible initiating event frequencies
• Understanding and validating Independent Protection Layers (IPLs)
• Probability of Failure on Demand (PFD) concepts
• Risk tolerance criteria and risk matrices
• LOPA calculations and risk gap analysis
• Determining the need for additional safeguards or SIFs
• Documentation, assumptions, and audit-ready reporting
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them in LOPA studies

Who This Course Is For

• Process Engineers and Chemical Engineers
• Process Safety and HSE Professionals
• Operations and Maintenance Engineers
• Instrumentation, Control, and Automation Engineers
• Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Practitioners
• Risk and Reliability Engineers
• Plant Managers and Technical Decision-Makers
• Engineering Students and Early-Career Professionals in Process Industries

Industries Covered

• Oil & Gas (Upstream, Midstream, Downstream)
• Petrochemicals and Chemicals
• Refineries
• Power Generation
• Pharmaceuticals
• Fertilizer and Process Manufacturing
• Energy and Utilities

Course Features

• Self-paced, fully online learning
• Clear step-by-step LOPA methodology
• Practical examples and case studies

• Industry-aligned terminology and calculations

• Downloadable reference materials and templates
• Certificate of Completion from Olanab Academy
• Suitable for both beginners and experienced professionals

Why Learn LOPA with Olanab Academy?

Olanab Academy focuses on practical, industry-relevant training, designed by professionals who understand real plant challenges. This course equips you not just to “know” LOPA—but to apply it confidently in real safety reviews, design decisions, and audits.