Inspections

OHS inspectors may conduct inspections and audits of facilities. Inspections and audits are used to monitor compliance with the legislation and ongoing implementation and compliance with safety cases, pipeline safety management plans, and diving safety management systems including diving project plans.

Planned inspections focus on facilities (including pipelines). The subject of planned inspections will include both control and management of Major Accident Events and Occupational Health and Safety. There will be at least two inspections per year for each normally manned installation, where practicable.

During the inspections and audits, OHS inspectors will communicate with all levels of the workforce including Health and Safety Representatives (HSR). Inspections and audits may take several days and incorporate overnight stays on facilities.

The controls and SMS elements inspected will be reviewed as far as practicable in line with a range of factors:

  • Are the controls implemented? - do the controls exist as described in the safety case, Pipeline Safety Management Plan (PSMP) or Diving Safety Management System/Diving Project Plan (DSMS/DPP)? That is, are the right number and type of controls provided, etc?
  • Are the controls functional? - do the controls function as described in the safety case, PSMP or DSMS/DPP? That is, do they perform as desired and in accordance with their performance standards, etc?
  • Are the controls maintained? - are maintenance activities on the controls as frequent and cover the issues identified in the safety case, PSMP, or DSMS/DPP? That is, do they check the functionality assigned above to the required standard, as often as described, etc?
  • Are the controls audited? - are the maintenance and inspection results checked and acted upon and, if the functionality is not as expected, what corrective action is taken, etc?
  • Is the workforce competent? - is the competency of personnel demonstrated? Are personnel assessed for positions, tasks etc?

Each planned inspection will focus on:

  • Verification of operator commitments regarding the recommendations from previous inspections and audits and incident investigations.
  • Controls and/or management system elements selected in relation to at least one of the following:
    • a major accident event (MAE)
    • an occupational health and safety hazard.
  • For pipeline facilities in State designated coastal waters, controls and/or management system elements from the PSMP, of which at least one has a Significant Pipeline Accident Event (SPAE) focus and at least one has an OHS focus.
  • For diving operations, controls and/or management system elements from the DSMS/DPP.

Inspections of FPSOs and FSOs will also employ a checklist focused on sail away preparedness.

For more information see the Planned Inspection Policy.