Operations - Temporary
Description
Procedures must be provided for temporary operations, which are completed as needed over short time periods and are not considered part of normal operations (Scholtz & Maher, 2014).
These procedures are used to ensure that tasks during temporary operations are performed correctly and the operation status of the process returns to normal after temporary operations are complete.
Temporary operations are often difficult to write procedures for because they will not have been identified prior to their being needed (Sutton, 1995).
Unique Considerations (Peres et al., 2016)
- Operators may be unfamiliar with the procedures.
- Operators may experience elevated stress due to unfamiliarity with and uncertainty of temporary operations
- Time pressures often greater than during normal operations
- Unforeseen or overlooked hazards, errors, and omissions may exist
Guideline: Temporary Operations Procedure Level of Detail
More detailed information should be provided within the steps for temporary operations, as temporary operations often involve infrequently performed tasks.
Support
Procedures for nonroutine tasks are associated with high utilization, as operators are less familiar with the steps (Sasangohar et al., 2018).
Example
Use:
Remove the plug and open vent on top of float cage, venting to a location away from any personnel. Slowly open the vent, releasing pressure a little at a time.
Instead of:
Remove the plug and open the vent.
Remove the plug and open vent on top of float cage, venting to a location away from any personnel. Slowly open the vent, releasing pressure a little at a time.
Instead of:
Remove the plug and open the vent.