Stakeholder Engagement is one of the core elements of Pipeline Safety Management Systems (Pipeline SMS) outlined in API 1173. It is a critical element that can be applied to each of the 10 core elements of PSMS as a mechanism to collect feedback from stakeholders to identify and prioritize corrective actions and areas for improvement.
Yet, many pipeline operators are challenged to support Stakeholder Engagement because of a lack of integrated systems and tools.
In most cases, “Stakeholder Engagement” looks more like sending notifications to internal and external stakeholders. Due to lack of tools, any feedback that is received may not be followed up on, and operators do not have a mechanism to track whether the feedback is being used to drive toward safety improvements. In other words, the “Check” and the “Act” are missed in the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle that is embedded in PSMS.
That’s why we published a new whitepaper, “Advancing Pipeline SMS Through Stakeholder Engagement,” providing information on how to optimize Stakeholder Engagement to support operational effectiveness and pipeline safety. Once optimized, operators will be able to drive toward continuous improvement that supports an effective pipeline safety culture.
What is Covered in the Pipeline SMS Whitepaper?
The new whitepaper addresses common constraints that operators face when attempting to implement Pipeline SMS and follow through on Stakeholder Engagement as a means to support quality control. Specifically, we address how to set up an effective evaluation of your operation’s safety/quality culture in terms of the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology required by API 1173.
After reading the whitepaper, you will gain a better understanding of how to set up an integrated Program Management system and utilize software tools to effectively measure and document Stakeholder Engagement across all 10 core elements of Pipeline SMS.
When operators develop effective two-way communication that is recorded, tracked, and managed, then you will be positioned to support the full Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle in a manner that sets up your operation to achieve continuous improvement on the path to zero safety incidents.
Our Software Tool That Supports Stakeholder Engagement
In the whitepaper, you will also learn more about our robust tool, pSEc (Program Stakeholder Engagement Communications, which facilitates effective communication and information exchange between internal and external stakeholders to drive toward process improvements. Consider how Stakeholder Engagement is supported by pSEc:
- Enables stakeholders to submit feedback.
- Enables your assigned personnel to receive and act on the feedback.
- Creates pathways for feedback to be implemented through corrective actions.
- Facilitates the communication of changes to affected stakeholders.
- Provides one location to share lessons learned across the operation.
- Tests each stakeholder’s comprehension of information presented.
Through the use of pSEc, operators are equipped to achieve continuous improvements across the operation, track the resolution of corrective actions, and measure whether improvements have made a positive impact on the safety culture.
We encourage you to download the whitepaper to find out more about why having the right systems and tools will help your operation advance Pipeline SMS through more effective Stakeholder Engagement. Discover the path forward to support your pipeline safety goals.
