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PIPELINE PERSONNEL
QUALIFICATION
ASME B31Q Update
September 2, 2015
National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives
2015 Annual Board of Directors Meeting and National Meeting
Jerry Schmitz and Mike Gruenberg
Outline
• History and Background of ASME B31Q
• ASME B31Q Committee Structure
• Highlights of the Standard
• The Covered Task List
• Implementation of the Standard
• How the Standard Compares to the Proposed Operator Qualification Rule Changes
• Summary
Historical Perspective
• 1999: PHMSA published Operator Qualification (OQ) rule
• 2002: NTSB labeled Operator Qualification as “unsatisfactory”
• 2003: PHMSA issued 13 areas they considered as gaps in the rule
• 2003: Four public meetings held to address the 13 issues
• 2003: ASME B31Q Project Team formed to develop a technically sound, holistic, consensus standard for the qualification of pipeline personnel
• 2005: PHMSA amended OQ rule to address training, on-the-job performance and reporting significant plan changes
• 2006: ASME published the first edition of B31Q
• 2010: ASME published the second edition of B31Q
• 2014: ASME published the third edition of B31Q
• 2016: ASME expects to publish the fourth edition of B31Q
ASME B31Q
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) selected as entity to help develop and house standard
• ASME B31Q committee selected
• State and Federal Regulators
• Operators from all segments of the industry
• Contractor community
• Industry Associations
• Labor
• Vendors
• Started August 2003 and first published in 2006
ASME B31Q
Background
• CONGRESS included language in H.R. 3609 “Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Act of 2002”
• NTSB labels Operator Qualification as “unsatisfactory” in 2002
• Office of Pipeline Safety issues 13 areas they consider as gaps in the rule and find rule violations
• 36% of audits have findings
• 12% of audits are given Notice of Probable Violations
• Operators find there to be inconsistent rule interpretations
• Contractors see no consistency in Operator programs and are required to qualify for the same task using different methods
• Individuals have been unable to link work experience, past training or certifications to qualifications
13 Perceived Gaps • Scope of OQ inspections
• Lack of identified knowledge, skills and abilities
• Re-evaluation intervals
• Maintenance vs. new construction
• Treatment of Emergency Response
• Missing covered tasks (excavation)
• Extent of documentation
• Generic vs. task specific Abnormal Operating Conditions
• Treatment of training
• Criteria for small operators
• Use of directing and observing
• Noteworthy practices
• Persons contributing to an accident
Underlying Principles of
ASME B31Q
• Address the 13 gaps
• Holistic approach to qualifications
• Scope covers tasks that impact the safety or integrity of the pipeline
• Technically based
• Prescriptive and Performance options
Revisions to ASME B31Q
• 2010 • Standard revised to add:
• Purging task
• Pigging task
• Section on new technology
• Section on long term degradation of physical abilities
• 2014 • Standard revised to expand task details
• 2016 • Proposed revisions to include:
• New Appendix with Implementation Guidelines
• New covered tasks
ANSI Process
• Technical Committee approval
• B31 Committee approval
• Public comments
• Publication of approved revisions
Organization of Committee • Chair
• Vice-Chair
• Secretary
• Teams (Sub-Committees) • Team 1: Technical Issues – Task Related
• Team 2: Technical issues – Non Task Related
• Team 3: Administrative
• Membership Diversity • Hazardous Liquids - Federal Regulators
• Gas Transmission - State Regulators
• Gas Distribution - Contractors
• Small Operators - Labor
• Industry/Trade Assoc. - Vendors
ASME B31Q Benefits
• Standardized task list
• Standardized requalification frequencies
• Identifies key qualification components
• Allows for portability
• Rationale are embedded in document
• Consistent with Proposed New OQ Rule
B31Q Standard Content
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Definitions
• References
• Qualification Program
• Determining Covered Tasks
• Abnormal Operating Conditions
• Training
• Evaluation
• Qualifications
• Portability
• Program Effectiveness
• Communicating the Qualification Program and Managing Changes
• Documentation Requirements
• Bibliography
What is included in the standard?
• Scope/Introduction/Definitions and references:
• Two part test used to develop the covered task list
• Industry established definitions
• Referenced documents
• ASNT
• API 1104
B31Q Standard
• Qualification Program
• Elements include:
• Covered tasks
• Abnormal operating conditions
• Training
• Evaluations
• Qualifications
• Portability
• Program effectiveness
• Management of change
• Documentation
Covered Task List -
• Task List Development Process
• Subject Matter Experts
• Difficulty, importance, and frequency review
• Fault Tree Development (in reference material)
• Appendix 5C – provides guidance on how to develop a task
• 165 Covered tasks included in the standard
Integrated Task List Components
Task 0981 Backfilling L G D Difficulty Importance Interval Initial Method
Subsequent Span of Control
X X X 2 4 3 yrs. P&W/O W/O 1:3
Task Guidance:
This task includes visually inspecting backfill material, installation of pipe protective material (e.g., padding, shading, and rock shield), verification of firm support, and placing backfill in lifts or layers as specified.
1) Select task procedure(s) and appropriate equipment
2) Visually inspect backfill material
3) Install pipe protective material (e.g., padding, shading, and rock shield)
4) Place backfill material around the pipe to provide firm support under and around the pipe
5) Document, as required
Enhanced Task Guidance Example Task 0981 Backfilling
2010 Criteria 2014 Criteria
Identify requirements Select task procedure(s) and appropriate
equipment
Visually inspect
backfill material
Visually inspect backfill material
Remove items that may damage pipe or
pipe coating (rocks, metal, masonry, frozen
chunks, etc.)
Ensure backfill material meets standards or
adheres to special instructions
Enhanced Task Guidance Example Task 0981 Backfilling
2010 Criteria 2014 Criteria
Place material to
provide firm support
and protect pipe
Install pipe protective material (e.g., padding,
shading, and rock shield)
Place the backfill material around the pipe to
provide firm support under and around the
pipe
Avoid damage to the pipe or coating
Ensure the pipe is properly supported and
no voids exist
Layer and compact as applicable
Recognize and react
to AOCs
Enhanced Task Guidance Example Task 0981
2010 Criteria 2014 Criteria
If required, complete
documentation
Document, as required
Abnormal Operating Conditions
• Appendix 6A
• Nine general AOC examples
• 2014 edition addressed typical AOCs within each revised
task
New Non-mandatory Appendix H Implementing B31Q
• Background
• Implementation of Nonmandatory Appendix A, the
B31Q Task List
• Implementation of the B31Q Standard
Implementation of the B31Q Task List
• Review the B31Q Task List
• Review Company’s Current Task List
• Combine Task Lists to Create a B31Q Compatible Task
List
• Evaluate and Develop Training Material
• Reconcile Qualification Records
• Manage Program Change
• Record and Document Qualifications
Creation of a B31Q Compatible Task List
Proposed New OQ Rule
• New two part test
• Definitions
• Evaluator selection
• Program effectiveness
Two Part Test
• Any maintenance, construction or emergency response
task the operator identifies as:
• Affecting the safety, or
• Integrity of the pipeline.
Definitions
• Abnormal operating condition
• Covered task
• Direct and observe
• Emergency response tasks
• Evaluation
• Knowledge, skills and abilities
• Qualified
• Safety or integrity
• Significant changes
• Span of control
Evaluator Selection
• Establish the requirements of an evaluator
• Establish required training, if applicable
Program Effectiveness
• Required annual, not to exceed 15 months, program
review
• Developed process
• Developed measures to determine the effectiveness
Ways to Participate
• Comments to secretary
• Work through members
• Attend meetings
• Upcoming meetings • Chicago, IL, September 16-17, 2015
• San Francisco, CA, April 12-13, 2016
• Charleston, SC (or Boston), September 21-22, 2016
• Web site: www.asme.org • Search on B31Q Committee
Summary
• Value of current standard
• Continuous review and updates
• Your participation is welcome
• Using the standard now and in the future
Questions
Contact Information • ASME:
• http://www.asme.org/
• Amy Livingston
• (205) 327-6926
• Jerry Schmitz
• (702) 876-7112
• Michael Gruenberg
• (702) 668-6401
