Pipeline operators expend substantial efforts to develop, implement, and audit their Public Awareness and Pipeline Damage Prevention Programs. While the rate of pipeline damage incidents from third-party and outside force impacts has progressively declined over a period of several decades, these events remain a high priority for the pipeline industry and external stakeholders.
One key focus area for Encroachment Detection and Damage Prevention is understanding and managing Human Factors influences in damage prevention programs. PRCI recently completed a multi-year study on the effects of human factors on pipeline damage that included two separate phases of work:
The Phase I study included a comprehensive literature review of human factors in pipeline damage prevention strategies. The Phase I study also included interviews with pipeline operating company personnel, workshops with selected companies to brainstorm the issues and identify preliminary mitigation strategies, and field visits to observe issues identified in the interviews and workshops. As a result of the Phase I study, over 200 Human Factors issues were identified. The Phase II study focused on the top 25 issues (as identified by the pipeline operating companies).
As a continuation of the Phase I work, the Phase II study centered on a series of two-day workshops that were organized in five countries to develop interventions for each of the 25 high-priority Human Factors Issues. For each workshop, a group of 12-16 personnel were selected to participate, including pipeline company personnel from a broad range of operations experience and contractor representatives. By including the contractor’s representatives, the PRCI study covered a broad range of human factors influences that can affect damage to pipelines and emphasizes the comprehensive approaches that need to be considered when addressing damage prevention. The results of the workshops were a set of recommended interventions on each of the 25 top issues.
In coordination with AON Risk Solutions (research contractor), PRCI has prepared a Final Report that presents the outcomes from the Phase II workshops. The Phase II Final Report includes a “Users’ Guide” that identifies practical Human Factors interventions to address Encroachment Detection and Pipeline Damage for the 25 high-priority issues. The report is available to PRCI Members in PRIME. The User’s Guide is included in the Phase II Final Report as Appendix D. It is also published separately.