Overview
The simplicity related to the creation of Distributed Control System (DCS) alarms has led to a high abundance of DCS and removed any requirement to limit the number of these alarms. Alarm operators as a consequence must now deal with more alarms then they are capable of monitoring.
Alarm System Management (ASM) is a system and study that identifies which alarms are redundant, those that are set to the incorrect value and the ability to improve these systems and procedures on a wider scale.
When alarm systems are poorly managed and no agreed policy has been put in place, situations arise where a large number of alarms can be incorrectly set off and can divert the operators attention from major relevant alarm signals.
Coverage
- Learn Alarm Management in a simple non-technical way
- Plan and apply the procedures required for improving alarm management within your organisation
- Analyse the performance of the alarm system using a variety of the latest alarm management techniques
- How to improve the performance and safety of the plant
- Appraise the readiness of the operators promptness and trained ability
Objectives
- Improve operation effectiveness through the use of the latest techniques, protocol and procedures in Alarm Management
- Analyse the best Alarm Management strategies based on past successful solutions
- Review past case studies to understand the implications of poor alarm performance
- Understand the methods available for alarm performance measurement
- How to implement an effective emergency response systems in case of failed alarm system
How this helps your organisation?
- Identify possible causes for false alarms
- Improve processes
- Identify abnormal situations and react accordingly
- Reduce risk
- Reduce environmental damage
- Reduce commercial loss
- Protect organisation reputation
How this helps you personally?
- Develop an effective methodology for communicating within the workplace
- Create Action Plans for use in all aspects of your skillsets
- Learn to sell your ideas to senior management
- Evaluate your campaigns properly and communicate its results to your management to ensure you are efforts are recognised.
- To build confidence and mastery through personal coaching and advice
Course Structure
Introduction
- The ideology behind Alarm Management
- Justifications for Alarm Management and it’s requirements
- Guidance document EEMUA 191
- The definition of systems
- Real Life Case Study – Milford Haven Texaco Refinery (1994)
- Project Planning
- Benchmarking
- Assessment techniques
- Alarm Analysis
- The ideology of Alarm Management
- Executing the Plan
- Functional definitions of systems
Alarm Management Fundamentals
- Assigning individual and team objectives
- Managing the improvement process
- Reviewing the alarm system and regulating modifications
- Alarm Profileration
- Use of alarms, control and protection
- Hazards and its contribution to risk
- ‘no blame’ reporting and the role of the operator in alarm management
- Increasing plant production through the use of alarm management
- Real Life Case Study & Video: Piper Alpha
Performance Measurement
- The requirement of human factors within alarm systems
- International Standard IEC61508
- How to improve the procedure of the operator
- How to work with alarms that are not wanted
- The logical processing of alarms and alarm systems
- The conflict between different organisational objectives
- Real Life Case Study & Video – Union Carbide (Dow Chemicals)
Evaluation & Legislative Procedure
- Identifying issues with the current alarm systems
- Identify problem areas, number of alarms, dealing with alarm flooding
- Legislative requirements
- Physical Assessment Tree
- Evaluating the preparedness of the plant and organisation
- Alerting staff: Communication & Warning analysis
- Creating and monitoring emergency operation procedures
- Identifying operators, control room and emergency response stress levels
- Real Life Case Study: BP Texas (2005), Alaska (2006), Gulf of Mexico (2010)
Damage Limitation & Emergency Procedures
- Departmental responsibilities
- Emergency response team objectives
- On site commander objectives
- Creating safety drill practice
- Evacuation procedures