Operator Qualification
 To assure safety in the transport of hazardous gases and liquids in the nation's pipelines, pipeline operators who perform covered tasks must be qualified. Qualified means that an individual has been evaluated and can perform assigned covered tasks and recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions. Successful qualification must include hands-on and written evaluation. Find OQ Workshops by visiting the SIF Calendar. If you have registered for an OQ Workshop before, you have been entered into our database. When signing up online to attend a new workshop please hit 'forgot password' or call us at 202 370 6211 to get your username and password. The Operator Qualification (OQ) Program stems from a mandate in 1992 and continues through present Pipeline Safety Acts. Based on concerns from Congress, current event accidents, the Act of 1992, and again in 1996, the Office of Pipeline Safety developed regulations addressing OQ. Based on the wording associated with the Acts, specific areas, such as operating and maintenance tasks, were required language in the pending regulation. Also, it was emphasized that the ability to recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions is imperative.
Initially in 1994, the old rulemaking approach was initiated and out of this came a training proposed rule. Industry, through negotiation, indicated that the vast majority of employees were presently qualified and capable of doing the jobs tasked by the operator. In turn, there was concern about subjecting employees to hours of training when, in fact, they were already qualified. The regulatory side concurred and requested a verification process be established for employees to substantiate their qualification. This verification involves written and hands-on evaluation along with the ability to recognize abnormal operating conditions and confirms that an operator is qualified to perform the associated task. On December 7, 2009 the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a pipeline safety Advisory Bulletin informing operators about the standardized notification process for operator qualification (OQ) plan transmittal from the operator to PHMSA. This advisory is consistent with how APGA Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF) has always used observation as an evaluation tool.
APGASIF offers both qualification and training. Qualification simply verifies the operator already knows how to perform a task and recognize abnormal operating conditions through written and performance testing. Training is more in-depth and specific and may or may not lead to successful qualification of the operator. |
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