Midstream Gas & Liquids
The System Integrity Plan (SIP) is Midstream’s management system for controlling physical risk. It contains the critical environmental, health and safety standards that apply to all employees. When fully implemented, SIP will ensure that the risks associated with our business operations are managed effectively and that our employees, the public and the environment are protected.
Our goals are simply stated: no accidents, no injuries and no releases.
SIP is our plan to achieve these goals. Through SIP we will continuously and relentlessly enhance the environmental, health and safety performance of our operations by:
- Improving our work practices
- Holding ourselves accountable
- Measuring the results
- Continuously improving the process
The 14 Elements
The 14 Elements in the System Integrity Plan provide the structure for Midstream’s management system for controlling physical risk. There is one or more initiative within each element. The initiatives contain standards that define the critical activities for controlling risk, preventing accidents and ensuring compliance. The standards assign accountability for the critical activities and include a measurable performance expectation. Supporting the standards are numerous processes, programs, procedures, templates, forms and electronic systems that form the backbone of the SIP. Nearly all of these documents and tools are linked electronically to the initiatives.
A brief description of each of the 14 elements is listed below:
1. Williams’ Commitment – Our success or failure as a business depends upon our ability to effectively manage the risks associated with our operations. The SIP focuses on this task. Employees at all levels of the organization are responsible for leading and engaging the workforce in meeting our goals for SIP. Management’s leadership, commitment and support are essential. This element focuses on those activities that must be performed to ensure that the SIP achieves its objectives.
2. Training – Training provides employees with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to ensure personal safety and the safe and environmentally sound operation and maintenance of the Company’s assets. Our employees will be well trained and their skills and competencies will be regularly assessed. This element defines standards for initial, periodic and on-going training of employees in the critical facets of our operations.
3. Contractor Management – Contractors are key to our business performance. The contractors we utilize will have the critical safety and environmental programs in place to ensure the protection of their employees as well as Company employees, Company assets and the environment. This element defines the critical activities for contractor approval, utilization and monitoring.
4. Engineering Controls – Properly engineered assets provide the foundation for excellent operations. Our assets will be designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure safe, secure, healthy and environmentally sound performance throughout their operating life. Conformance to recognized industry standards and applicable regulations is the minimum. This element defines the initiatives that are critical for ensuring that this happens.
5. Human Protection – The protection of human life is our first priority. Our behaviors will be guided by a consistent set of best practices, procedures and processes that focus on accident and injury prevention. This element defines the critical initiatives for preventing injuries in the work place. The initiatives involve identifying, controlling and/or eliminating unsafe conditions in the work place, establishing safe work practices and achieving consistently safe employee behaviors.
6. Environmental Protection – An effective environmental protection system is essential to our business. We will continue to drive down the environmental impact of our business operations by reducing waste, emissions, discharges and by using energy efficiently. Compliance with the applicable environmental regulations is the minimum. This element defines the critical initiatives for reducing or eliminating the environmental impact of our operations on the environment.
7. Pipeline Integrity – We must systematically identify, assess and control the risks associated with our pipeline assets to ensure that our assets operate as intended with minimal adverse impacts on people, property and the environment. This element defines the critical initiatives for managing risks associated with our pipeline operations.
8. Facility Integrity – We must systematically identify, assess and control the hazards associated with our above ground facilities to ensure the protection of our employees, the public, the environment and our assets. This element defines the critical initiatives for maintaining the integrity at our above ground facilities.
9. Operations – Our business depends upon our ability to safely and efficiently operate our assets with minimal adverse impacts on people and the environment. Furthermore, our operating practices must meet or exceed the applicable laws and regulations. This element defines the critical operating practices necessary for maintaining the integrity of our operations.
10. Community Relations – Community awareness is the key to maintaining public confidence in our operational integrity. Sharing information with the public and government officials is good business. This element defines the critical activities for informing, educating and cooperating with the communities in which we operate.
11. Management of Change – We must systematically manage changes in operations, procedures, standards, facilities and personnel to ensure that we identify, assess and control the safety, health and environmental risks that arise from these changes. This element defines the critical activities for minimizing the risks associated with change.
12. Emergency Response and Planning – In the event of an accident, emergency planning is essential to ensure that we take all necessary actions to protect the public, environment and company personnel. All company assets will have emergency response plans to ensure that we are ready to respond. This element defines the critical activities for minimizing the impact of accidents if and when they occur.
13. Incident Management – The incidents that downgrade our business are caused, they don’t just happen. We must identify, assess and control the causes of these incidents. Furthermore, the lessons learned from these incidents must be disseminated throughout the organization to ensure that we eliminate or control similar situations. A thorough incident investigation system ensures that this takes place. This element defines our critical incident investigation and notification activities.
14. Audits and Inspections – The ongoing management and success of our business requires timely and objective information on compliance with the SIP and the applicable regulations. We will perform audits and inspections on a regular basis to assure ourselves that our management system is in place and working effectively. This will involve internal as well as external assessments. This element initiative describes the various audits and inspections that will be conducted.
