Simultaneous Operations - SIMOPS

Usually, the situations involved in simultaneous operations are not considered during process hazards analysis (PHA) studies which focus attention on individual process operation. Moreover, PHA teams may not recognize the importance of examining how simultaneous operations may interfere with each other. Furthermore, it is difficult to do so within the constraints of a regular PHA study. Consequently, a SIMOP review should be performed prior to conducting simultaneous operations, for example, before restarting a process after shutdown.

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SIMOP Studies

Simultaneous operations (SIMOPs) are situations in processes where two or more operations or activities occur at the same time and place. They may interfere or clash with each other and may involve risks that are not identified when each activity is considered by itself. Thus, they can increase the risks of the activities or create new risks.

Simultaneous operations often involve work in the same area by multiple contractors and subcontractors or multi-disciplinary workers whose work may overlap and/or interact. For example, construction activities near active equipment such as crane lifts over a storage tank containing a toxic material may result in a release from dropped objects. Similarly, a maintenance activity near another process operation such as hot work in the vicinity of a tank truck unloading a flammable material may result in a fire.

A number of major process industry accidents have involved simultaneous operations.

The situations addressed by SIMOPS studies usually are not considered during process hazards analysis (PHA) studies which focus attention on individual process operation. Furthermore, PHA teams may not recognize the importance of examining how simultaneous operations may interfere with each other. Moreover, it is difficult to do so within the constraints of a regular PHA study.

A SIMOPS review identifies possible interactions between activities that may adversely impact people, property, or the environment. SIMOPS reviews are an important adjunct to the performance of PHA studies such as hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies.

Therefore, incorporation of this type of support is highly recommended, here is a clear example for visual permit work analysis in SIMOPS activities.

JVP

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