Control Room Management

Inspection and Compliance Actions Through 1Q15

Wayne St. Germain

USDOT/PHMSA

Risk & Consequence

From a risk perspective, low probability of controller room error can be offset by the potential high consequence of

» No Action

» Delayed Recognition

» Errant Decisions

Objective

• Controllers and Control Room Operations

• Assure they continue in helping to maintain pipeline safety and integrity

• Verify that procedures, systems and equipment are well thought out, and function as designed

• Make sure attention is applied to fatigue risks in the control room

CRM Inspection Preparation

• Inspections started in Oct-2011

• Number of Control Rooms

• Scheduling

• Coordination with State Programs

• Question Set

• Operator Document Cross-Reference

Program Information

• Inspection Criteria

– http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/crm/index.htm

• Case Details

– PHMSA Stakeholder Communications

– http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm

– Web Search “cpf 192.631”

– Web Search “cpf 195.446”

Program Information

Resource Information

• PHMSA, Pipeline Technical Resources

• https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/crm/

• FAQs

• Key Documents & PPTs

• Fatigue Research & Mitigation

• Inspection Form, Rev-3 (03-01-2012)

– Transition to Inspection Assistant App.

CRM Inspection Process

• Inspection dialog & info. exchange

• Exit Interview

• Findings Analysis

• Possible Case Development

• Resolution

• Closure

PHMSA’s Completed Control Room Inspections

Year Gas

Transmission Hazardous

Liquids Combined GT & HL

Total

2011 5 5 1 11

2012 5 13 10 28

2013 12 10 7 29

2014 13 9 22

1Q15 1 3 4

Totals 36 40 18 94

Completed PHMSA CRM Inspections

Percent of Interstate Pipeline Mileage Accounted for in PHMSA CRM Inspections

GT 20112012201320141Q15

HL

195,891 Total Interstate Mileage 135,452 Total Interstate Mileage

Percent of Interstate Pipeline Mileage Accounted for in PHMSA CRM Inspections

331,343 Total Interstate Mileage

GT & HL

2011

2012

2013

2014

1Q15

Gas Transmission Compliance Cases

Year Notice of

Amendment

Notice of Probable Violation

Warning Letter

Total

2012 3 1 4

2013 2 2

2014 3 1 2 6

1Q15 3 3

Totals 11 1 3 15

Hazardous Liquid Compliance Cases

Year Notice of

Amendment

Notice of Probable Violation

Warning Letter

Total

2012 4 4

2013 3 1 1 5

2014 9 5 4 18

1Q15 1 1 2

Totals 17 6 6 29

44 Compliance Cases

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

GT

HLItems Cited

Notable Enforcement Items Cited Thru 1Q15

Section Element Description Count

General (a)(1) Procedures & Applicability 51

Adequate Information (c)(2) Point-to-Point Verification 15

Alarm Management (e)(5) Monitor Activity 12

Fatigue Management (d)(4) Maximum Hours-of-Service 9

Alarm Management (e)(1) Review Alarms 9

Roles & Responsibility (b)(4) Shift Change & Hand-Over 8

Operating Experience (g)(2) Training for Lessons Learned 7

Alarm Management (e)(3) Set-Points and Descriptors 6

Alarm Management (e)(4) Plan Review 6

Alarm Management (e)(6) Address Deficiencies 6

Proposed Civil Penalties

• Three cases issued with proposed civil penalties, all in 2013

• Total of proposed penalties $112,300

• Findings related to ….

– Following Procedures

– Training Content

– Shift Turn-Over

– Maximum Hours of Service

Top Findings

– a1, Procedures & Applicability

– c2, Point-to-Point Verification

– e5, Monitor General Activity

Inspection Tips

• Part-time Controllers

• SCADA vs. DCS, etc.

• Ghost Shift Change

• Controller Commute Time

• Definition of Safety-Related Points

• Emergency Response Training

Controller OQ Validation

• Controller Perspective on OQ Testing

• Could validate skills to operate pipeline equipment …

– how to open valve, how to start unit

• Better to test for …

– when or why to open valve or start unit

Controller OQ Depth

• How to perform Task

• Needed Information

• Related Responsibilities

• Impacts of action

• Accountability for Actions

• Abnormal Conditions

Fatigue Management Hard Targets

• Must per (d)(1)

– Opportunity for 8 hours of Sleep

• Must per (d)(4)

– Establish maximum hours of service

Fatigue Management Soft Targets

• Should consider – FAQ D.07

• 14 duty hours in any sliding 24-hour period

• 65 duty hours in any sliding 7-day period

• At least 35 continuous hours spent off-duty when any limit is reached

Fatigue Management Soft Targets

• Times of concern/increased Fatigue risk – Any shift duty hours worked after first eight

hours (day or night)

– Any hours worked between 2 AM and 6 AM (in general “dawn”)

– Any night shifts following three successive night shifts in a row

NTSB Safety Recommendation, P-12-7

Develop requirements for team training of control center staff involved in pipeline operations similar to those used

in other transportation modes.

• ADB-2014-02 : Team training among other lessons learned in Marshall, MI

• Crew Resource Management (FAA) • Bridge Resource Management (Coast Guard/Maritime) • API 1168 (2nd Edition Feb 2015) includes team training • PHMSA is considering to put team training in CRM

Section (h), Training

NTSB Safety Recommendation, P-12-8

Extend operator qualification requirements in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 195 Subpart G to all

hazardous liquid and gas transmission control center staff involved in pipeline operational decisions.

• PHMSA is considering to add the roles, responsibilities, and qualifications of those who have the authority to direct, or supersede, the specific technical actions of controllers.

• The target location is section (b), Roles & Responsibilities.

Control Room Management

USDOT/PHMSA