A series of PSA audits in recent years has looked at follow-up of alarm systems on drilling units and production facilities as well as at land plants, and has found that they fail to meet requirements.
Other audits by the PSA have seen that high alarm rates and many standing alarms often occur. That suggests deficiencies may exist both in following up the systems and in understanding the impact of high alarm rates and many standing alarms on working conditions for control room operators and on their opportunities to understand and manage events as they unfold.
Control-room audits were conducted by the PSA in 2021 with most Norwegian offshore facilities and plants on land – 54 in all – to verify that the operator companies were following up alarm systems and working conditions for control-room operators in accordance with the regulations and the companies’ internal requirements. Each audit is summarised in a separate report (see bottom of page).
The collective report now available on the PSA’s observations from the audit series is intended to communicate information to the industry as a basis for developing expertise on and making further improvements to following up alarm systems and working conditions for control-room operators.
Report (in Norwegian only): Ansvar, kompetanse og vedlikehold av alarmhåndteringssystemer i kontrollrom