Role: HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) Technical Scribe
Job Location: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Education Background:
- A degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field is essential due to the process engineering nature of HAZOP studies.
- Basic knowledge of process engineering is essential, including mass balance, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and, most importantly, a fundamental ability to read P&IDs and PFDs.
Key Competency Requirements
Software Proficiency
Basic level of specialized software tools such as PHA Pro, Open PHA.
While these tools are user-friendly for workshop management, they can be challenging to set up. Over time more experienced scribes should be able to create templates tailored to different clients.
Proficiency in MS Word for basic report preparation.
Proficiency in MS Excel for tasks such as basic LOPA (Layer of Protection Analysis) workshops following HAZOP studies.
Communication Skills
- English proficiency is an absolute requirement.
- A good first impression matters, therefore basic spell checks, regular consistency checks and proper grammar demonstrate professionalism and justify the Scribe's rate used.
Soft Skills
- Listening and comprehension skills.
- Attention to detail.
Motivation
- Work closely with the Chairman to ensure the team remains focused throughout the workshop without losing pace.
- Build working relationships with the Chairman and other team members.
- Ensure the consistency, technical integrity, and quality of the recorded minutes to maintain high standards.
Definition of HAZOP Workshop Scribe Role
A HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) Technical Scribe is a team member responsible for supporting the HAZOP Chairman by accurately and effectively documenting the discussions and findings of a HAZOP workshop or study. The scribe ensures that the documentation is complete, clear, and accurate, capturing all points discussed during the course of HAZOP workshops. Additionally, the documentation should be backed up daily to prevent any data loss
Primary Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of the Technical Scribe is to record discussions during the HAZOP study in a complete, clear, and accurate manner.
Actively observe and engage with the Chairman to clarify technical discussions.
Understand the perspectives of different Subject Matter Experts.
Collaborate with the Chairman offline to learn and develop the technical integrity required and soft skills on personality traits.
Career Path and Development
Entry-Level
- Begin as a HAZOP/ LOPA Technical Scribe, gaining hands-on experience in documenting HAZOP studies.
Development Path
- On-the-job training typically lasts around 2-3 years, after which the scribe gains experience and begins co-leading HAZOP/ LOPA sessions intensifying engagement (conditional to the Chairman’s style).
- Develop technical knowledge from HAZOP and progress to LOPA technique for SIL Assessment.
Final Progression
- Build expertise in SIL Assessment and SIL Verification.
- Basic to intermediate level of exSILentia® software.
- Obtain certification in Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Functional Engineering.
- Progress to a HAZOP Facilitator role, starting with short-duration workshops (less than 3 days), then medium-duration workshops (3–5 days), and finally long-duration workshops (more than 1 week).
Education & Experience
- Mandatory: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related Process Engineering discipline.
- Experience: 1–3 years of experience in Process Safety, Design Engineering, or Technical Documentation within the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, or Energy sectors.
- Fresh Graduates: Highly motivated Chemical Engineering graduates with a strong academic record and a base understanding of P&IDs will be considered for Junior Scribe positions.
Technical Competencies
- P&ID Literacy: Advanced ability to read and interpret Process & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), PFDs, and Cause & Effect matrices.
- Software Proficiency: Hands-on experience or formal training in PHA software (e.g., PHA-Pro, Open PHA, or exSILentia).
- Methodology: Foundational knowledge of HAZOP, LOPA, and SIL Assessment methodologies.
- Documentation: High-speed typing with 100% accuracy in technical terminology. Proficiency in MS Office (Word/Excel) for report generation.
Soft Skills & Attributes
- Language: Absolute fluency in English (written and spoken) is required to capture complex technical discussions in real-time.
- Focus: High level of concentration and attention to detail during extended workshop sessions (8+ hours).
- Collaboration: Ability to work closely with the HAZOP Chairman and engage professionally with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
- Analytical Mindset: Capacity to synthesize technical discussions into clear, concise "Cause-Consequence-Safeguard" entries.
