Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE)

Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE)began mandating Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) in 2010, following one of the most catastrophic offshore blowouts in U.S. history.  Until then, the Safety and Environmental Management Program (SEMP) was a voluntary program for all oil & gas operations in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).  Much like OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 that has 14 elements, SEMS outlines 13 key elements that aid employers in their efforts to prevent or mitigate episodic chemical releases that could lead to a catastrophe, endangering workers as well as the surrounding environment. 

Impact

To control these types of hazards, employers need to develop the necessary expertise, experiences, judgment and proactive initiative within their workforce to properly implement and maintain an effective process safety management program as envisioned in the SEMS regulation.

The BOEMRE has four principal SEMS objectives:

1. focus attention on the influences that human error and poor organization have on accidents;
2. continuous improvement in the offshore industry's safety and environmental records;
3. encourage the use of performance-based operating practices; and
4. collaborate with industry in efforts that promote the public interests of offshore worker safety and environmental protection.

Challenge

All oil & gas operations in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) must have SEMS in place by November 15, 2011.  Many operations will find that they are nearly compliant, with many one-off safety systems in place for various parts of the SEMS regulation.  But an effective SEMS program requires a systematic approach to evaluating the whole process. Process safety management is the proactive identification, evaluation and prevention of chemical releases that could occur as a result of failures in process, procedures or equipment. It is easy to become overwhelmed with information while completing all the stages of SEMS and to find more problems than solutions. Without a mechanism to link information from each requirement it becomes extremely difficult to manage all the information and ensure that each element is followed as required and that all documentation is captured.

The Dyadem Solution

Consider that each PSM element is the spoke of a wheel, and that the purpose of the wheel is to prevent catastrophic events. Each spoke must remain healthy and must be connected to the wheel in order for the wheel to accomplish its purpose effectively. Limited communication can limit success.

Dyadem provides the foundation for that wheel and the integration framework to link information from one step to the next. Dyadem’s Operational Risk Management platform not only simplifies your SEMS practices with configurable workflows but also organizes all of your data – whether a dynamic HAZOP, Management of Change request, static document, P&ID schematic, multimedia file or photo. Sharing information between the various groups (or companies) that are responsible for SEMS allows you to work on multiple parts of compliance simultaneously, and mitigates risks and addresses SEMS more efficiently. As both resources and regulatory pressures continue to grow tighter, you simply can't afford to waste time or money as you work to keep your overall risks tolerable.