MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AUDIT

Description

A pipeline management system (the Management System) provides a framework to manage risk throughout the pipeline lifecycle and documents the objectives, the associated performance requirements, and identify the proper sequence of processes and procedures to be managed, scheduled, tracked, documented, communicated and reported. Dynamic Risk applies a structured “Plan, Do, Check, Act” (PDCA) approach as an audit framework in application with selected appropriate industry standard best practice guidelines to assess if the Management System is compliant, adequate, implemented, effective and provides for continuous improvement.

Methodology

The PDCA and process element review process is applied within a gradient “bottom-up” approach as follows:

• Level 1- (PLAN)- Compliance/ Industry Standard Acceptance: A “check box” review to assess that the Management System and documents incorporated by reference satisfy the minimum requirements relating to compliance and/or accepted industry practice and standards. The focus is on organization structure, documented processes and procedures, responsibility and accountability, work flow, reference to associated records, and in-place communication protocols.
• Level 2 – (DO/CHECK/ACT) – Implementation, Adequacy, Continuous Improvement: Confirmation through record review, application of subject matter expertise, supporting personnel interviews and lagging indicator assessment, that the Management System elements satisfy the objectives as stated, are considered technically acceptable, are being implemented across the company and provide procedures to insure continuous improvement.
• Level 3 – Effectiveness: Application of acceptance criteria specific to the Management System objectives and operation in reference to industry accepted best practice guidelines as provided within International Organization for Standardization 31000 series and (ISO) 55000, American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 1173 and other accepted industry consensus standards. The focus of the audit is on the key management system elements of leadership, planning, organization structure, risk evaluation, training and competence, succession planning and learning from events.

Benefits

Regulatory Trends – Consistent with recent North American regulatory emphasis on incident root cause investigation, record management, process controls and continuous improvement.

Integrated Review Assessments – Implementing the safety management system audit can improve safety assurance across the entire lifecycle of a pipeline asset: design, engineering, construction, operational maintenance and decommissioning. Each level of review serves to drive continuous improvement throughout the Management System process cycle.

Deliverables

A findings report for each level of review that summarizes in table form gaps and inadequacies along with recommendations relating to improvements considered necessary to meet requirements and best practice guidelines.