CASE STUDY

Pisys Permit to Work at Technip FMC

Summary

Technip FMC  – a global oil and gas engineering company,  uses Pisys PTW on their vessels to manage Permits to Work and Isolations while operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The software is installed on a server on board of each vessel and is accessed via the vessel’s WiFi network.

Background

The company had undergone a merger and was left with two legacy permit systems – one a complex ISSOW software, one an admin-intensive paper system.
Having reviewed both systems, management at the company’s UK sites concluded that neither system gave them exactly what they wanted. They decided to start afresh.

Challenge

Overcoming Legacy Systems while Retaining Company Processes

Technip FMC had undergone a merger and was left with two legacy permit systems – one a complex ISSOW software system, one an admin-intensive paper system.
Having reviewed both systems, management at the company’s UK sites concluded that neither system gave them exactly what they wanted. They decided to start afresh.
The challenge was:
  • to find a permit system which would be easily introduced to all, regardless of legacy system.
  • to keep the company’s tried and tested permit process of approvals, suspensions and daily re-issues.
  • to manage permits when out at sea and without access to phone or WiFi signal.
Further requirements were to:
  • incorporate Isolations Management as part of the permit process,
  • improve management of concurrent jobs and facilitate communications between the different teams on board of a large vessels, and
  • to comply with UK HSE regulations and guidance.

Solution

Self-Hosting Pisys PTW – A Simple System with Extended Functionality

A major benefit to Technip FMC  was the simplicity of Pisys PTW, which is modelled on already familiar processes and the paper systems commonly used in large organisations – including a virtual permit board and plot plans which show the location of permit. The software has the additional advantage of better control over complex workflows and visibility of permit information from any computer – meaning that personnel do not need to visit the project office just to look at the permit board and plot plans.
To overcome the issue of connectivity with mobile networks while out at sea, it was decided that the best solution would be to self-host the system on servers on board of their vessels instead of using the cloud version. All access to the system is via the vessel’s local WiFi network, and computers/laptops in offices, as well as intrinsically safe tablets can be used.

Workflow Functionality and the Isolations Module

Technip FMC had some key priorities including:
  • The system would accommodate existing permit workflows, including multi-level approvals, the daily re-validate process, as well as permit suspensions and re-issues.  The system is highly configurable allowing existing permits to be quickly replicated . This ensured that the switch to Pisys PTW was easy for personnel, as they were already familiar with the PTW process
  • Handle Isolations – This was achieved within the PTW isolations module, covering creation and multi-step approval of isolations, a long-term isolation register, a link between isolations and permits, and a visual representation of isolations on the existing permit plot plans.

Customisation to Tailor the System

Once the software was capable of handling the more complex workflows required, the customer’s team were to customise the permit creation forms, using their existing permit questions as a template, and including forms for Hot Work, High Voltage, Confined Space Entry, Working at Height/Over Side and Complex Lifts.
The Pisys Tech team added the ship’s plot plans – one for each deck, with an option to show them all, or select a single deck for display from a dropdown menu.

Successful Roll-Out

The Company’s senior Operations and HSE Management introduced key personnel to the Pisys PTW software during their annual offshore seminars using a slides provided by Pisys as part of the service . Personnel were excited.
The system was installed by the company’s own IT team on the dedicated servers, and rolled out on one vessel initially, with more of the vessels phased in gradually.

Results

Pisys PTW Unites All

The new system is a success:
  • There is a consolidated Permit to Work Process including Isolations Management, which has allowed company personnel to move on from legacy systems and work with a software that unites them all.
  • The system is simple to use and simple to look after, and it fits in with the company’s way of working.
  • Vessels can use the system regardless of their location.
  • Concurrent jobs are clearly visible on the Permit Board and Plot Plans and can therefore be managed better.
  • Management and staff on board save time and work safer, because they can see permit information from anywhere.

Looking Ahead: ‘Offline Mode’, ‘Risk Manager’ and More Vessels

  • PTW is working so well for this customer that they are planning to introduce the software on more of their vessels and also in onshore offices.
  • Technip FMC have commissioned an ‘off-line mode’, which is already under development: vessels will self-host the permit systems – but they will be linked to a central system which combines all vessels and offices. When a vessel comes back into range, the permit information synchs with central system, allowing onshore management to get a fleet-wide overview of ongoing work everywhere.
  • The customer is also interested in the development of a Risk Manager and talks between Pisys and companies within the offshore/shipping industries have started.

Don Davies, HSEQ Manager said :

“TechnipFMC engaged Pisys in 2019 to provide their cloud-based Electronic Permit to Work System (PTW) across our worldwide vessel fleet and two onshore sites. The accurate and timely creation and management of permits is critical to the smooth operation of projects we’re involved in worldwide.

“Pisys’s team understands the unique challenges faced by offshore personnel in some of the most hostile environments on the planet. We have found the system to be extremely capable, easy to use and highly flexible, requiring minimal end-user training. The PTW system is available 24/7 across all vessels, via our secure internal networks.

“The ability to synchronise Pisys’s locally hosted installations with the onshore system is very useful, and it was easy to activate dual English/Portuguese operations for our Brazil-based vessels.

We have embedded the PTW system in our procedures, helping us enhance value to our clients through quick and effective creation and management of permits”

SIMPLE

Management

POWERFUL

Workflows

GLOBAL

Access

Testimonial

Pisys’s team understands the unique challenges faced by offshore personnel in some of the most hostile environments on the planet. We have found the system to be extremely capable, easy to use and highly flexible, requiring minimal end-user training. The PTW system is available 24/7 across all vessels, via our secure internal networks

Don Davies One Fleet HSEQ Manager

Pisys Permit to work system is fully customisable and supports compliance with HSE/ISO/OHSAS Standards

It can be adapted to support your existing Control of Work or HSE Management System and is compatible with HSE Guidance on Electronic Permit to Work Systems, as per HSG250 and because existing control of work systems can be transferred onto PTW, set-up & training times are kept to a minimum. Our Permit to Work system integrates with the Action Tracker and Task Risk Manager modules of the Pisys 360 Suite.

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