Process Safety and Managing Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs)

Throughout the years, a number of process safety incidents have involved simultaneous operations, or SIMOPs for short. When two or more operations are undertaken in the same vicinity at the same time, there is a risk that they may interfere with one another, either introducing new risks or exacerbating existing ones. Unfortunately as with many...

What is a SIMOP?

Introduction We’re going to dive into a crucial aspect of managing safety in complex work environments: Simultaneous Operations, or SIMOPS. As an HSE professional, you’re well aware of the challenges that arise when multiple activities occur concurrently. In this article, we will explore what SIMOPS entails, its connection to Permit-to-Work (PTW) systems, the potential problems...

What is a Permit To Work System and why is it important?

What exactly is a PTW system? Picture this: You’re at a construction site, and there are various tasks taking place simultaneously. Some workers are welding, others are operating cranes, and some are engaged in electrical work. Amidst this bustling environment, a Permit To Work (PTW) system is there to ensure that everything runs smoothly, minimizing...

Common Problems with Permit to Work Systems

Permit to work systems (also ‘Control of Work’) are an ideal way to ensure that work is managed correctly and performed safely and efficiently, but choosing the wrong type of system can sometimes cause more problems than it solves. At the risk of appearing pretty simple and obvious, any one of these issues can, if...

SIMOPS and PERMIT TO WORK

SIMOPS stands for Simultaneous Operations, describing the situation when two or more potentially conflicting activities are taking place simultaneously in the same vicinity The increasing complexity of modern industrial sites makes it increasingly likely that SIMOPS will occur, and the impact of an unmanaged SIMOP could be catastrophic as the interaction between activities is likely...

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