Alarm Management

Course Fee : 5,000 GBP
Course Duration : 5 Days

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