Operator Qualification
Program Basics
Operator Qualification
This presentation on Colonial Pipeline’s
Operator Qualification program is
accompanied by an audio narration.
To play the audio, click the “Play Audio” box
at the bottom of each slide.
Operator Qualification
Created in response to
incident investigations
whereby operator actions
caused an incident or
contributed to severity of
an incident
Originally implemented in
2002 with enhancements
periodically
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Operator Qualification
Operator qualification is:
1)
a process by which an
individual’s ability to
perform a covered task is
measured;
2)
and a validation of an
individual’s ability to
recognize and react to
abnormal operating
conditions that may occur
while performing such
covered task.
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Operator Qualification
Rule requires that pipeline
operators have in place a
program that makes provisions
to:
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a)
identify covered tasks,
b)
ensure through evaluation
that individual's
performing covered tasks
are qualified,
c)
allow individuals that are
not qualified to perform a
covered task if directed
and observed by an
individual that is qualified,
Operator Qualification
d) evaluate an individual if the operator has
reason to believe that the individual’s
performance of a covered task contributed
to an accident as defined in the CFR,
e) evaluate an individual if the operator has
reason to believe that the individual is no
longer qualified to perform a covered task,
f)
communicate changes that affect covered
tasks to individuals performing those
covered tasks and
g) identify those covered tasks and the
intervals at which evaluation of the
individual's qualifications is needed
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Simply stated
By regulation no Colonial employee
or contractor may perform a
covered task on a pipeline unless
the company has evidence that the
person is qualified to perform that
task or is accompanied and directly
observed by a qualified person.
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Corporate responsibilities

Maintain OQ Program
◦ Monitor regulatory changes
◦ Conduct OQ Committee oversight
Annual review of program and compliance
 Track qualifications by individual
 Communicate program status and
responsibilities
 Stay abreast of industry changes (API)

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Manager/ Work Site
Supervisor Responsibilities
Verify individuals performing OQ covered
tasks are qualified
 Verify if not qualified, direct observation is
within guidelines of OQ Program
 Verify proper documentation is available
 Be familiar with OQ Program to answer
questions

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Direct Observation

Direct Observation span of control
requirements are listed in Appendix B of the
OQ Program.

The purpose of this provision is to allow for
training and in some cases one qualified
person to oversee others not yet qualified.

This provision is NOT to allow one qualified
person to oversee an entire project.
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OQ Program components
The OQ Program contains the following items:
 Purpose
 Scope
 Covered task lists
 Qualification methods
 Task standards
 Direct observation guidelines
 Glossary of terms
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OQ Program

See Operator Qualification Program under
Manuals on the Colonial homepage.

Also located in ISNetworld, an online
database for owner companies and
contractors
www.isnetworld.com
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OQ Program
For more information contact:
Craig Watson, Training Services Leader

678-762-2484

twatson@colpipe.com
Or a local Colonial representative.
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