ASSURANCE VERIFICATION

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ASSET INTEGRITY

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WORKFORCE MANAGERS INDEPENDENTVERIFIERS

ENGAGEMENT

PROCESSES

Annual Review 2010

Managing Risks to prevent and minimise the impact of Major Accidents

ASSURANCE & VERIFICATION SENIOR MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

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This leaflet is aimed at senior managers and forms part of the Step Change in Safety ‘AssuranceandVerificationGuidancePack’.

Inthisleafletwereferto‘seniormanagers’.Bythiswemeanexecutivedirectorsandothermanagers (e.g. technical authorities, asset managers) reporting to board members who have responsibilities for the management of major accident hazards through the application of assurance and verification processes.

It is important that senior managers develop an understanding of how the control ofmajor accident hazards is dependent upon robust processes for both the assurance and verification of ‘safety critical equipment’. This understanding will help senior managers to:

• Asktherightquestionsabouttheirorganisation’sassuranceandverificationprocesses• Set meaningful key performance indicators to help them determine whether their

assurance and verification processes are effective• Be aware of the possible impact of broader decision-making on the assurance and

verification processes

so that they can minimise the risks of major accidents occurring on their assets.

This leaflet aims to:

• Refreshyourknowledgeoftheroleofassuranceandverificationinthemanagementofmajor accident hazards; and

• Encourageyoutoreflectonhowyourbusiness iscurrentlymanagingassuranceandverification activities.

More detailed information on safety critical elements, assurance, verification and their links with other processes (e.g. management of change, well examination) is contained in the associated Step Change in Safety guidance ‘A practical guide to Assurance and Verification’.

Introduction

ASSURANCE VERIFICATION

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ASSET INTEGRITY

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WORKFORCE MANAGERS INDEPENDENTVERIFIERS

ENGAGEMENT

PROCESSES

What do you need to know?

Safety Critical Elements

• Plantandequipmentthatarevitaltopreventandmitigateamajoraccidentareknown as ‘safety critical elements’ or SCE

(e.g. emergency shutdown valve, fire water deluge system, gas detectors, temporary refuge, lifeboats, wells etc)

• Suchequipmentmust reliablymeetaminimumperformancestandardandbecapable of performing as intended, when required

• SCEsmustbedesigned,constructed,installed,inspected,testedandmaintainedin adequate condition so that they can perform their intended safety function

• IfyourSCEsmeettheirperformancestandardatalltimesthenthelikelihoodofamajoraccidentislow.Iftheydonot,theriskisincreased

Assurance

• Assurance represents your business processes of inspection, maintenance andtesting to ensure that SCEs meet their performance standard

• Assurance processes are the responsibility of the duty holder and promotebusiness continuity

The law

Assurance and verification relating to safety critical elements are a requirement under the following legislation:

• TheOffshoreInstallations(SafetyCase)Regulations2005;and

• OffshoreInstallations(PreventionofFireandExplosion,andEmergencyResponse)Regulations1995(PFEER)

Verification

• Verification is the additional process to establish whether your SCEs are fit-for-purpose, correctly specified, constructed, installed and maintained in adequate condition to meet the requirements of their performance standards

• VerificationisperformedbyanIndependentandCompetentPerson(ICP)appointedby the duty holder

• Verificationactivitiesaresetoutindetailinawrittenschemeofexamination

• VerificationbytheICPinvolvesthecloseandcarefulscrutinyofyourSCEsandtheirperformance standards through visual inspection, review of records, functional testing and discussions with relevant personnel

• Theoutputoftheverificationprocessisareporttothedutyholdereitherconfirmingthe suitability of the SCE where performance standards are met, or recommending remedial actions when performance standard are not met

• TheICPonlyprovidesareporttothedutyholderandnottotheHealthandSafetyExecutive or any other party

• TheDutyHolderisrequiredtorespondtotheICPexplaininghowremedialactionswill be dealt with

• Wellsandcertainwell-relatedequipmentmaybecoveredunderwellexaminationrather than verification

Senior management awareness

Your senior management team should be aware of the possible implications of their decisions (e.g. budget, functions, staffing etc) on the assurance and verification processes and the impact this might have on your control of major accident hazards

Safety Critical Elements

A systematic process to identify all safety critical elements including safety critical temporary equipment

All SCEs have clearly defined and appropriate performance standards

SCEs are subject to regular review and management of change processes

Assurance

Adequate assurance regimes for inspection, maintenance and testing of SCEs to ensure they reliably meet their performance standards

Suitable key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of your inspection, maintenance and testing assurance regimes and achievement of performance standards

Resources

Adequate resources are available to:• Deliverthoseassuranceand

verification activities necessary to ensure that SCEs meet performance standards; and

• ActontheICPsreportedremedial actions in a timely manner

Verification

AnIndependentCompetentPersonhasbeenappointedasyourverification body

A written scheme of examination has been prepared in consultation withyourICPisbeingfollowedandis subject to regular review

Suitable key performance indicators to measure the number and timely ‘close out’ of recommended remedial actions

DefinedcommunicationsprocessesbetweenyourcompanyandtheICPto ensure that the written scheme of examination is up to date and relevant

What should I ensure is in place?

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Workforce Engagement

Raise awareness - explain why SCEs are important and how they might be affected by work activities. Encourage reporting of concerns

Encourage Safety Representatives to include SCEs as part of their worksiteinspections.IncludeSCEsasan agenda item at safety committee meetings

address 3rd Floor The Exchange 2 62 Market Street Aberdeen AB115PJ

telephone 01224 577268

email info@stepchangeinsafety.netwebsite www.stepchangeinsafety.net

First printed March 2012

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