SAFE WORK PRACTICE

SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS (SIMOPS)

 DISCLAIMER
This Safe Work Practice (SWP) is one in a series of SWPs published by the Center for Chemical
Process Safety (CCPS). It is sincerely hoped that the information presented in this document will
lead to an even more impressive safety record for the entire industry. However, the American
Institute of Chemical Engineers, its consultants, the CCPS Technical Steering Committee and
Subcommittee members, their employers, their employers’ officers, and directors, do not
warrant or represent, expressly or by implication, the correctness or accuracy of the content of
the information presented in this document. As between (1) American Institute of Chemical
Engineers, its consultants, CCPS Technical Steering Committee and Subcommittee members,
their employers, their employers’ officers, and directors, and (2) the user of this document, the
user accepts any legal liability or responsibility whatsoever for the consequences of its use or
misuse.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the Center for Chemical Process
Safety (CCPS) express their appreciation and gratitude to all members of the Safe Work
Practices Project Committee and their member companies for their generous efforts and
technical contributions to the development of the Safe Work Practices. The volunteer team of
authors and reviewers who developed this SWP are listed below.

Brian Farrell CCPS Consultant

Andrew Bartlett Sphera
Rajender Dahiya AIG
Cheryl Grounds CCPS Consultant
Jerry Keezer Bostik
Aamish Junaid Khan ADNOC Gas Processing
Siva Menedi Petroleum Development Oman
Andrew Moulder Inter Pipeline Ltd.

The Center for Chemical Process Safety was established by the American Institute of Chemical
Engineers in 1985 to focus on the engineering and management practices to prevent and
mitigate major incidents involving the release of hazardous chemicals and hydrocarbons. CCPS
is active worldwide through its comprehensive publishing program, annual technical
conference, research, and instructional material for undergraduate engineering education. For
more information about CCPS, please call (+1) 646‐495‐1371, e‐mail [email protected], or visit
www.aiche.org/ccps

This document is made available for use with no legal obligation or assumptions. Corrections,
updates, additions, suggestions, AND recommendations should be sent to Dr. Anil Gokhale, Sr.
Director CCPS at [email protected]. If you are reading this offline, you may not be reading the
latest version. Please check on the CCPS web site for the current release.
https://www.aiche.org/ccps/publications/safe-work-practices

Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs) 2

Table of Contents
Fundamental Intent ........................................................................................................................ 4
Need / Call to Action ....................................................................................................................... 6
Potential Hazardous Consequences ............................................................................................. 10
SIMOPS Life Cycle.......................................................................................................................... 12
Step 1 – Identify potential SIMOPS activities in the facility ......................................................... 14
Step 2 – Collect information for SIMOPS activities....................................................................... 16
Step 3 – Identify potential adverse interactions between activities ............................................ 17
Step 4– Identify possible hazardous consequences ..................................................................... 18
Step 5 – Identify existing safeguards ............................................................................................ 20
Step 6 – identify new safeguards needed for hazard control ...................................................... 20
Step 7 - Develop a plan to govern the performance of SIMOPS .................................................. 23
Step 8 - Communicate the plan to employees and contractors ................................................... 24
Step 9 - Execute the plan and the SIMOPS actvities ..................................................................... 24
Step 10 - Conclude the SIMOPS activities ..................................................................................... 25
Step 11 - Audit the work process and the execution of the plan ................................................. 25
Sample Workflow and responsibilities ......................................................................................... 29
Incidents ........................................................................................................................................ 33
DuPont Yerkes SIMOPS Incident ................................................................................................... 33
Formosa Plastics SIMOPS Incident ................................................................................................ 34
Evergreen Paper Packaging Mill – Application of the SIMOPS SWP............................................. 27
Wacker Polysilicon – Application of the SIMOPS SWP ................................................................ 26
Reference Materials ...................................................................................................................... 35
Appendix 1: Example SIMOPS Matrices ....................................................................................... 36

Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs) 3

 APPENDIX 1: EXAMPLE SIMOPS MATRICES

Maintenance involving
breach of containment
Construction Activities

Crane Operations over

Confined Space Entry

Excavation Activities

Plant/ Item Start-Up

Work at Height
Operate Wells

equipment
Hot Work
Heavy Wind > 20kts Y 1 1 N 1 N 1 1 1
Sandstorm Y 1 1 N N 1 N N 1
Night-time working
Y 3 3 3 N 3 3 3 Y
(during darkness)
Heavy Rain Y 3 1 N N N N N 2
Lightning /
3 N N N N N N N 2
Thunderstorm Cyclone

High Ambient
Y 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Y
Temperature
Drilling N 6 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Intrusive Maintenance Y 3 3 3 Y 3 Y 3 3
Non-Intrusive
Y Y Y 3 Y Y Y Y Y
Maintenance
Construction Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Hot Work 10 3 3 3 Y 3 3 Y
Heavy Lifts N Y Y 3 Y Y Y Y
Radiography 3 3 3 3 3 N
Cold Flaring N N N
LPG Loading Y Y N N Y Y N Y Y

Table A-1: Example SIMOPS Matrix 1. See Table A-2 for color coding and numerical coding.

Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs) 36

 Color Description
Yes - Activity is permitted subject to normal controls and procedures (e.g., Permit to
Y
Work system)
I Permitted subject to meeting the numbered requirements presented in this table
N Activity is not permitted while adverse condition remains

Number Requirement
All non-essential operations and maintenance activities shall be stopped. Essential
activities/ operations in progress are permitted to finish. Indoor/enclosed area
activities permitted subject to PTW, Job Safety Plan (JSP), Method Statement and risk
1 assessment. No new activities operations or activities will commence until acceptable
weather conditions are available. It is the responsibility of the Production Co-ordinator
to assess weather conditions to determine whether they are acceptable or adverse.
Only emergency activities permitted. Subject to night driving approval and risk
2 assessment.
Permitted subject to PTW, including all necessary risk assessments, certificates and
emergency arrangements. Consider whether the following are required or applicable:
· Area is Suitably lit, using zone approved light
· Breach of containment assessment, including RPE and PPE requirements
· Conflict between activities / plant or equipment conditions.
· Hot Work Permit
3 · Gas Testing
· Confined Space Entry Certificate
· Isolations in place
· Dropped Object Exclusion Zones
· Lifting plans
· Method Statement
· Access restrictions
Continued works subject to heat stress evaluation. Schedule works during cooler part
4 of day provide forced ventilation, shaded areas and cold water.
5 Drill rig shall be excluded 50m from fence line of station
6 If construction works are within 50m of drilling rig, Rig PTW system is to be followed.
Permitted subject to review and application of restrictions identified in rig
transportation method statement, rig up rig down procedure or rig movement HSE
7 Case. Clearance certificate issued by asset for all rig moves or heavy machinery
(including cranes) with requirement for goalposts to be installed before crossing lines.
No hot work permitted in vicinity of pig launcher/receiver during launching/ receiving
8 operations
New construction activities on site are subject to PTW and HAZID process. Major
9
construction activities to be justified within SIMOPS Procedure.
Permitted subject to hot work PTW on well pads. No hot work on well head permitted
10 unless fully isolated. Area Classification requirements addressed by PTW.

Table A-2: Example SIMOPS Matrix 1. Color Coding and Numerical Coding.

Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs) 37

 Work on pressurized equipment
Handling Hazardous Substances

Working on Electrical Systems

Crane and Vehicle Operations
Break Containment - Non HC

Handling Radioactive Source

Hydro and Abrasive blasting

Diving & Marine Operations

Working on Safety Systems

Leak and Pressure Testing

Well Services Operations

Non Standard Isolations
Break Containment - HC

Confined Space Activity

Spark Potential Work

General Cold Work

Working at Height
Overside Working
Lifting Operations
Manual Handling
Excavation work

Hot Work
Break Containment - HC * A P R A R A R A P P R R A R A P P R R R P
Break Containment - Non HC A * R A A R A R A R R R R A R A R P R R R P
Confined Space Activity P R * A A R A R R R R R R A R A R P R R R P
Crane and Vehicle Operations R R A * A R A R R R R R A A R A R P A R R P
Diving & Marine Operations R A A A * A A A A A A A A A A A A A A R R A
Excavation work R A R R A * A R R R R R R A R A R P A R R P
General Cold Work A A A A A A * A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Handling Hazardous Substances R R R R R R R * R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Handling Radioactive Source R R R R R R R R * R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Hot Work P R R R R R R R R * R R R R R R R R R R R R
Hydro and Abrasive blasting P R R R R R R R R R * R R R R R R R R R R R
Leak and Pressure Testing P R R R R R A R R R R * R R R R R P R R R R
Lifting Operations R R R R R R A R R R R R * A R R R R R R R R
Manual Handling A A A A A A A R R R R R R * R R R R R R R R
Non Standard Isolations R R R R R R R R R R R R R R * R R R R R R R
Overside Working R R R R R R A R R R R R R R R * R R R R R R
Spark Potential Work P R R R R R A R R R R R R R R R * R R R R R
Well Services Operations P R R R R R A R R R R R R R R R R * R R R R
Working at Height R R R R R R A R R R R R R R R R R R * R R R
Working on Electrical Systems P R R R R R A R R R R R R R R R R R R * R R
Working on Safety Systems R R R R R R A R R R R R R R R R R R R R * R
Work on pressurized equipment P R R R R R A R R P R R R A R R R P R R R *

ALLOWED - The two operations can be carried out simultaneously as long as a level one risk
A
assessment is performed SIMOPs process is in place and all normal control activities are followed.
RESTRICTED - Concurrent operations are allowed with level 2 risk assessment and additional
R
controls in place, approval at OIM level.

P PROHIBITED - Concurrent operations of the two activities are never allowed.

Table A-3: Example SIMOPS Matrix 2

Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs) 38