As a complement to API Recommended Practice (RP) 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS), the PSMS Industry Team published Pipeline SMS: A Contractor’s Guide to give pipeline contractors and service providers an enhanced understanding of how relevant safety programs can be integrated with an operator’s PSMS to enhance safety in their operations. APGA members may find this document especially helpful for their own PSMS implementation as it distills API RP 1173’s 234 requirements down to 56 key requirements.
Contractors are used for many different tasks related to the construction and maintenance of pipelines, and contractors working for pipeline operators must conduct their operations in a safe manner to protect their workers and the communities in which they conduct business.
API RP 1173 requires that operators interact with their contractors and service providers in such a way that promotes safety along their pipelines, and often this engagement between operators and contractors involves a combination of operator and contractor-led safety programs that work together to ensure safe and reliable operations and activities. However, the requirements of API RP 1173 focus on the operators, not the contractors or service providers.
The goal of providing this additional guidance is to ensure that operators and their contractors and service providers are aligned in protecting workers, communities and the environments in which they operate. Contractors, service providers and operators are encouraged to utilize this guide to begin discussions on the appropriate integration of safety programs relevant to PSMS.
The Contractor Guidance and compendium slide deck, as well as a library of PSMS resources for operators can be found
here .
For questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
ekurilla@apga.org.