# Desk-based Hazard Identification

Desk-based:

* Typically applied by a single experienced person;
* An individual working alone to apply some structured analysis process;
* Can be as simple as reviewing data or an existing hazard list;
* Multi-expertise is, however, recommended.

Typically variants of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

* a structured process to identify:
  * the potential failure modes of the elements of a system;
  * the causes of these failures;
  * their effects on larger assemblies and the whole system.
* FMEA can be very time-consuming.

A Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA);

* Is a systematic, comprehensive examination of functions to identify and classify failure conditions of those functions according to their severity;
* Can be applied at system-level;
* FHA involves less work than FMEA;
* Can be started earlier than FMEA, because it just needs a specification and not a design;
* FHA is not good at finding hazards that are not easily characterized as the failure of a function (such as electromagnetic interference or fuel leakage).
