Two of Operational Wisdom & Logic’s collaborators were recently called upon to assist the owners of a new start-up business commence the development of their company risk management system.  

The owners were particularly insistent that the system comply with the ISO 31000 standard and incorporate modern protocols for assessing and treating risks in a demonstrable, traceable way.  In addition, the system needed to be able to interface with quality, environment, asset and safety management systems built around similar international standards.

Of particular importance in the early stages was the need to frame the risk context carefully to a diverse market and develop a simple risk register that could expand as the business grew.  Calibrating the company’s risk tolerance also required developing a unique risk matrix centred around key areas of exposure.

OW&L achieved a rapid and “maximum bang for the buck” outcome by guiding the management through the risk management process in its key stages and undertaking a simplified SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) analysis, allowing the team to build a risk register that could be actioned simply and regularly, updated and reviewed actively, and communicated with key stakeholders.

The ISO 31000 standard is recognised as one of the simplest of management approaches for addressing risk in almost any industry and OW&L are adept at consulting with companies and project teams to successfully manage their risks.

A Design Review workshop followed several weeks later by a HAZOP workshop (Hazard and Operability Study) were facilitated and scribed by Operational Wisdom & Logic to review modifications made to an offshore platform air system.

The design review was required in order to address operability issues that had arisen because a bypass line around some existing redundant air dryer units had not been installed consistent with the original project scope of work.  The air system had been unable to operate with the original load and unload compressor set-points due to excessive pressure loss.  This caused regular short-lived load and unload cut-in / cut-out of the compressors.  As a result, the compressor load and unload set-points had to be temporarily lowered.  A number of options were considered to return the system to its intended operating duty.

The later HAZOP was then undertaken thoroughly to ensure the modifications proposed by the Design Review (which included the provision of additional PSV’s, a return to original compressor pressure lead / lag and standby set-points, and assumed that the bypass around the air dryer trains would be installed as per the original design) did not introduce any additional hazards or operability concerns.

The methodologies adopted for both the Design Review and HAZOP were based on industry standard practice and the client’s Standards and Guidelines.  

Operational Wisdom & Logic was contacted to provide an independent audit and certification service to the owners of a gas distribution network operating under the Gas Standards (Gas Supply and System Safety) Regulations 2000 in Western Australia.  

Such activities require a high degree of pragmatism and attention to detail whilst remaining true to both the intent and literal requirements of Acts, Regulations and Standards.  OW&L’s auditor was selected based on many years of onshore gas industry technical expertise and was approved by the Government Regulator prior to commencement.  

The audit and certification activities were conducted in a number of phases that included both a desktop review of the entire Safety Case and its supporting procedures and records, followed by two site audits.  This was conducted while the Regulator themselves undertook its own review and a process of iterative improvements were negotiated between the parties to ensure full compliance.

One of the most important aspects of auditing and certification is that all involved have appropriate regard to the size and complexity of the system under review and its risks.  In this instance, all three parties worked closely to ensure that the system met the standards required and also had regard to the commercial and technical realities of the assets.  

The Operator demonstrated that the procedures, standards, tests, inspections and maintenance measures documented within their Safety Case were in place and robust and that the Implementation Plan for future improvements was being actioned diligently.

OW&L’s consultant was impressed by the genuine attitude of improvement beyond simple compliance shared by all the stakeholders during this project and are confident that this is an area of capability that will increase with time.

The client’s FPSO, operating in offshore Western Australia, was recently shutdown to allow for routine facilities maintenance.  As part of ensuring the ongoing integrity of operations, it became necessary to undertake an upgrade of the existing ICSS (Integrated Control & Shutdown System) which included a replacement of all process control PC’s and update of software to a more recent platform that will survive the supersedence of the current software platform.

In addition, the dual redundant UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) on board had components that had exceeded their operational hours and required replacement.

Whilst normally, a HAZID of such changeovers would be a fairly rudimentary process involving identification of typical logistical hazards and risks, this HAZID was complicated by the fact that during changeover, critical vessel supervisory and safety systems would, by necessity, have to be turned off during upgrade and some critical systems were not connected to both UPS buses. Normally such a process would therefore only be able to be undertaken in dry dock or would necessitate significant systems shut-in.

The client was determined to affect the changeover and upgrade without loss of safety critical visibility and/or significant impact to reinstatement of the vessel to normal operations and so, sought the facilitation, by Operational Wisdom & Logic, of a hybrid HAZID / SIMOPs workshop.

The purpose of the combined HAZID / SIMOPs review was not to merely identify hazards associated with the software and UPS upgrade activities but to also consider the potential for the effect of the simultaneous non-availability of these systems during maintenance activities being undertaken as part of the planned shutdown and to ensure all safeguards were in place to protect people, plant and the asset.

Operational Wisdom & Logic developed a unique approach to facilitating and recording this unusual requirement in the vessel’s life that ensured the overall objective of vessel safety was not compromised by the simultaneous activities. The resulting shutdown was undertaken without incident (although even precautionary muster was required during a critical phases of the work when it was found that one of the UPS batteries had failed open circuit) and the schedule was not exceeded.

The Client’s Project Coordinator was pleased with the outcome of the workshop and the ability to harness the input of vendor, operations and project coordination personnel around a sensible framework was critical to its success.