Omniflex: changing negative attitudes towards alarms

The easiest way to avoid major disasters in pipelines is if personnel quickly identify, and act upon, imminent danger. For example, if there is an unreliable cathodic protection (CP) system installed, leakage from a corroded pipeline carrying hazardous materials could go undetected. Unfortunately, as simple as it sounds, many pipeline infrastructure managers have struggled to implement this approach over the years. In Canada alone they have experienced ten gas and oil pipeline leakages since 2015, some requiring the evacuation of homes and animal rescue operations.

Typically, the simplest solution is the most effective one and that is why alarm annunciators remain key pieces of mission-critical safety systems to this day. Alarm annunciators are panel-based alarms that are hard-wired directly into relevant safety-critical processes. If an abnormal event occurs, the relevant window on the panel lights up and the alarm emits a sound, immediately giving operators the necessary information to act quickly. However, it is up to operators to take the appropriate action when alerted to the problem.

Put checks in place

It’s common sense that operator response time is hugely important in a crisis and can be the deciding factor in avoiding serious consequences. With an alarm annunciator having a fixed matrix display format, operators know the nature and scale of the problem at a glance due to pattern recognition, compared to the complexity of a PC-based SCADA system screen that can be overwhelming for operators to act on while under pressure.

Worryingly though, there have been recent reports of operators adopting a culture of ignoring local alarms and not taking appropriate action quickly, if at all. To combat this, many companies are turning to remote monitoring technology to monitor the status of their hardwired alarm annunciators. This has several major benefits for pipeline managers looking to increase the likelihood of on-site operators responding to alarms quickly and efficiently.

First of all, it offers peace of mind for pipeline managers worried about the safety of their infrastructure because they can access all live and historical alarm data whenever necessary. Next, the increased accountability and traceability that comes with remote monitoring technology improves the chances of operators responding to local alarms. Modern alarm systems typically come equipped with in-built alarm logging to record all alarms and operator pushbutton actions meaning that, as well as monitoring operator actions, they also monitor and record the time between the alarm alert and action being taken.

Finally, alarm annunciators equipped with remote monitoring capabilities can be configured to send direct push notifications to relevant personnel using SMS and email when there is an abnormal event. This means asset managers and engineers are all aware of the problem immediately and can ensure action is taken without leaving it to chance that a local pipeline operator has seen and responded to the alarm.

All Omniflex’s alarm annunciators exceed the latest safety requirements and include an ethernet interface to the site’s top-end system, as well as built-in alarm logging to record all alarm alerts and operator pushbutton actions. Furthermore, they’re supplied with individual hardwired repeat relay outputs that facilitate further connection possibilities.

To find out more about how you can get the most out of your industrial alarm annunciators, contact us on 0161 491 4144 or visit the website.

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World Pipelines’ May 2021 issue

The May issue of World Pipelines includes a regional report on Canada’s oil and gas sector, as well as technical articles on integrity management software, leak detection, NDT, and project case studies. Don’t miss our feature on young pipeliners, in which World Pipelines’ Senior Editor Elizabeth Corner interviews the winners of the John Tiratsoo Award for Young Achievement, awarded by Young Pipeliners International, in partnership with PPIM.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/special-reports/10052021/omniflex-changing-negative-attitudes-towards-alarms/