EnerSys Corporation CEO Russel Treat was asked to present during the 2020 GPA Midstream Virtual Fall Technical Conference in October.
During the virtual conference, Russel presented on a critical topic for pipeline operators and control room managers, “Preparing the Control Room for a PHMSA Inspection.”
The first presentation took place on Friday, Oct. 30, which included a 30-minute presentation followed by a live Q&A session with questions from attendees. The presentation then re-aired at various times in November.
*** Watch the GPA Presentation Encore ***
Why the Focus on PHMSA Audit Preparation?
The goal of Russel’s presentation was to provide valuable information to midstream companies and pipeline operators on what actions the control room needs to take in order to be ready for a PHMSA inspection. Why is this important?
PHMSA recently made plans to launch a new control room management inspection initiative. This will include an on-site audit of the pipeline control room and a review of each operator’s Control Room Management Plan (CRMP) to verify alignment with the Control Room Management Rule (CRM Rule).
Additionally, PHMSA has increased the rate of inspections by utilizing web conferencing to perform virtual inspections. Operators and control room managers need to be prepared to satisfy the audit in this setting.
The inevitability of a control room audit combined with the industry-wide emphasis on implementing Pipeline Safety Management Systems (Pipeline SMS) to support zero safety incidents highlights the importance of control room audit readiness.
What Was Covered During the Presentation?
The presentation walked step-by-step through the process of how to prepare the control room for an audit and how to evaluate whether you have the resources to satisfy the audit.
- Prerequisites for preparation
- Preparing for the audit
- Gathering evidence
- Conquering challenges
- Identifying solutions
- Using information systems to support audit completion
Then, after your control room takes the appropriate steps to complete the audit, your operation will be prepared for continuous improvement in alignment with Pipeline SMS.
Watch the Encore Presentation at the GPA Midstream 2020 Conference
Russel’s presentation during the GPA Midstream 2020 Virtual Fall Technical Conference was one of several educational sessions designed to provide midstream professionals with relevant information they need to support decision-making.
– We invite you to watch the encore of Russel’s presentation at this link. Also, connect with Russel on LinkedIn to discuss the presentation material.
– Need support preparing your control room for a PHMSA inspection? Reach out to our team to discuss the specific needs of your control room. We are here to help.