Example: Defining a bypass operation to turn off a fire alarm
Pipeline workers in Company ABC must occasionally turn off a fire alarm. To comply with safety standards, Company ABC creates a bypass operation record for this activity.
Background
Company ABC plans to use Maximo® Health, Safety and Environment to create a bypass operation record to ensure that all safeguards are in place before a bypass operation is put into effect.
Alan, the Maintenance Supervisor, requests bypass operations. Robert, the Operations Supervisor, verifies the bypass requests, conducts risk assessments, and sets up the review and approval process. Brian, the Operations Manager, reviews, and approves bypass operations. Sandy, the Operator, implements, and completes the bypass operation.
Before you begin
- In the People application, authorize qualified, active personnel to review or to approve bypass operations.
- In Organizations > Oil and Gas/HSE Manager Shared Options, set the Bypass Management option that requires that only an authorized person can review or approve bypass operations.
- In the Standard Actions or Standard Action Groups applications, develop a set of actions that apply to the bypass operation. Identify the persons or person groups who are to complete the actions. Specify whether the action is to be repeated. You can also specify whether an action must be reviewed and the type of response that it requires, such as a numeric response.
- In the Risk Assessment application, create records for the hazards that are related to the work activities. Hazard records must belong to the same organization as the bypass operation record. Add the precautions that are associated with the hazardous activities.
- In the Risk Matrix application, identify the risk ranking of each hazard, based on the combination of consequence, severity, and the likelihood of occurrence. Depending on the precautions that are taken, the level of risk can be reduced, generating a mitigated risk ranking. The mitigated risk ranking is then populated in the Risk Assessment application.
- (Nonmandatory) In the Workflow application, create a workflow process to ensure that reviewers are notified when the bypass operation record is ready for review. Approvers can also be notified when the bypass operation record is ready for approval.
Step 1: Create a bypass operation record
In the Bypass Management application, Alan creates a bypass operation record. Alan adds the reasons why the asset or the location needs to have its fire alarm turned off. Alan then notifies Robert, the Operations Supervisor, that the bypass operation record is ready for his review.
Step 2: Review the initial bypass operation record
In the Bypass Management application, Robert reviews the bypass operation record. Robert determines that the fire alarm must be turned off for two weeks. Because of the length of time that is involved, Robert must conduct a hazard review to identify the risks that are involved with turning off the fire alarm.
Step 3: Document the levels of risk that are associated with turning off the fire alarm
In the Risk Assessment application, Robert identifies the hazards that are associated with the bypass operation and evaluates its risks. When Robert conducts a risk assessment of a work site, he analyzes all of the risk factors that are associated with the work activities. For each hazard, Robert identifies the consequences, the severity, and the likelihood of occurrence and also identifies the precautions to be taken for each hazard.
Step 4: Specify the checklist of actions
The risk assessment for the bypass operation determines the actions that are needed to ensure safety while the fire alarm is turned off. Robert adds the actions to the bypass operation record, and identifies who is to do the tasks.
When the actions are completed, the person who is responsible for each action specifies the date and time when the actions were completed.
Step 5: Review the action items
For each action that is specified, associated action items must be reviewed for completion. Robert uses the Hazard Review tab to determine whether any actions have associated action items. Robert also verifies whether the items require a response, and whether the responses are completed.
Step 6: Review and approve the bypass operation
Robert notifies Brian that the bypass operation record is ready to be reviewed and approved. Brian approves the bypass operation, and routes it to other approvers. The approvers review the bypass operation, and add comments as needed. They indicate their approval, and specify the date of approval.
Step 7: Implement the bypass operation
After the bypass operation is approved, Alan assigns Sandy to do the tasks that are associated with turning off the fire alarm. Sandy implements the bypass operation on the fire alarm equipment, and specifies the start date and time.
Step 8: Review the continued need for the bypass operation
Robert reviews the need to continue to bypass the fire alarm. If Robert determines that the bypass operation needs to continue, Robert updates the bypass operation record to add time.
Step 9: Return the fire alarm system to normal operation
When the need for the bypass operation passes, Sandy returns the fire alarm system to its normal operating status. In the bypass operation record, Sandy specifies the completion date and time.
Alan reviews the checklist of actions to ensure that all actions to turn on the fire alarm system are complete. Alan verifies that the fire alarm system is restored to its normal operating status.
Step 10: Update the work log
In the Risk Assessment application, Alan uses the work log to maintain a record of the changes to the bypass operation record. Alan adds entries to the work log to document the reasons for the changes. This action maintains an audit trail that is available for company audits. It also provides a history of the changes.
Step 11: Close out the bypass operation record
When work is complete, the details of closing out the bypass operation record must be fully documented. Alan updates the bypass operation record to add details about the closure. Alan specifies whether an audit is essential, or links the record to an existing audit. Alan sets the status of the bypass operation record to Closed.