Petroleum Development Oman L.L.C.

UNRESTRICTED
Feb, 2006

Document ID: PR-1081

Filing Key: EDMS

TheBuddySystem
Procedure
Rev3

Keywords:
This document is the property of Petroleum Development Oman, LLC. Neither the whole nor any part of
this document may be disclosed to others or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form by any means (electronic, mechanical, reprographic recording or otherwise) without prior written
consent of the owner.

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The following is a brief summary of the 3 most recent revisions to this document. Details of all revisions
prior to these are held on file by the issuing department.
Revision No.
Rev 1
Rev 2

Date
Oct 98
Feb 01

Author
UOP/1
UOP/1

CDFP
UOP/1
UOP/1

Rev 3

Feb 06

UOP/1

UOP/1

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Scope/Remarks
SI-12 rewritten to new format.
Revision to 2.2.2.3 & 2.8 to incorporate user
comments
Updated section 2.2 to add condition for
production operators working alone

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Contents
1.

INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................7
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

2.

BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................................7
PURPOSE..............................................................................................................................................7
DISTRIBUTION/TARGET AUDIENCE......................................................................................................7
STRUCTURE OF THIS DOCUMENT.........................................................................................................7
BUSINESS CONTROLS PROCEDURE.............................................................................................8

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8

SCOPE..................................................................................................................................................8
PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION...................................................................................................................8
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.............................................................................................................8
EXECUTION OF THE PROCEDURE.........................................................................................................9
RELATED FORMS..................................................................................................................................9
RELATED BUSINESS CONTROL DOCUMENTS.......................................................................................9
REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT...............................................................................................................9
STEP-OUT APPROVAL...........................................................................................................................9

APPENDIX A.................................................................................................................................................11
ATTACHMENT 1............................................................................................................................................13

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1.

Introduction

1.1

Background
Safe working practices are fundamental to Company operations. As part of Company
Safety Policy, the Buddy System provides a structured approach to ensuring that
workers performing potentially hazardous tasks, or working in high-risk locations,
work together to ensure each others safety.

1.2

Purpose
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the requirements for the Buddy System
and the principles that individuals must adhere to in ensuring their personal safety and
also monitoring that of their colleague(s) who may be working in a hazardous area, or
undertaking a hazardous task.

1.3

Distribution/Target Audience
Operations and Maintenance personnel.

1.4

Structure of this Document

Procedure description.

Roles, authorities and responsibilities of key players.

Schedule of when to apply this procedure.

Forms to be used.

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2.

Business Controls Procedure

2.1

Scope
This procedure is applicable to ALL situations where work may be carried out in
potentially hazardous circumstances.

2.2

Procedure Description

2.2.2.1

The Buddy System is based on the principle that workers not only look after their own
safety, but they also observe the safety of their co-workers so as to provide an early
warning of hazards or an unsafe situation.

2.2.2.2

Where the work is of a hazardous nature or in a potentially hazardous or toxic area, there
shall be two persons with valid entry/work permits attending a specified operation. One
person must remain in a safe location (the buddy), whilst observing the other who is
carrying out the work.
Where more than one worker is needed there should be a minimum of one to five
observer/worker ratio e.g one buddy for 1 to 5 workers and 2 buddies for 6-10 workers
etc.

2.2.2.3

Production operators operating high risk sour facilities shall always have buddy in place
whereas those operating sweet or low risk sour facilities can work alone providing
following conditions are met:
Activities to be performed are of a non hazardous nature i.e those listed at PR1100 Operator Routine Functions
Follow existing HSE, production and maintenance procedures and standards
Regular communication with area central control room

2.2.2.4

PR-1078, Hydrogen Sulphide Management Procedure, specifies the situations where the
buddy system shall be applied in H 2S designated facilities. It is to be noted that whilst
the requirements specified in PR-1078 are on basis of toxic atmospheres, the buddy
system shall be applied to ALL situations where work may be carried out in potentially
hazardous circumstances; e.g., vessel entry or hot tapping.
When working in H2S designated locations, the 'Worker' and the 'Buddy' shall carry or
wear appropriate personal protection as detailed in the Hydrogen Sulphide Management
Procedure PR-1078.

2.3

Roles and Responsibilities

ROLE

RESPONSIBILITY

Buddy or Buddies
Co-worker(s)

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Observing co-workers working situation.

Performing the work task.

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2.4

Execution of the Procedure

This procedure is invoked on an ad-hoc basis whenever there is a need for one or more
persons to be working in a potentially hazardous workplace.

2.5

Related Forms
Not applicable.

2.6

Related Business Control Documents

DOCUMENT

2.7

TITLE

NUMBER

Procedure

Hydrogen Sulphide Management

PR-1078

Procedure

Operator Routine Functions

PR-1100

Review and Improvement

This procedure is valid for a nominal period of two years from the date of issue or
revision. A one year grace period extension is valid with a notice issued by the CFDH
that the procedure is under review. Feedback received from end users will be
considered in the review cycle and improvements incorporated where appropriate.

2.8

Step-out Approval
This procedure is mandatory. In circumstances where compliance with the procedure is
considered inappropriate or when the intended activity cannot be effectively completed
or safely performed, then step out approval must be obtained from the Asset Manager using the Operations Procedure Variance Form (PR-1001e) -prior to the commencement
of the activity.

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Appendix A
Glossary of Terms, Definitions & Abbreviations
CDFP

Corporate Discipline Focal Point

CFDH

Corporate Functional Discipline Head

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Attachment 1

USER FEEDBACK SHEET FOR OPERATIONS PROCEDURES

Any user who identifies an error, inaccuracy or ambiguity in this Operations Procedure document is
requested to advise the document custodians, OTB, by completing this form and sending it to one of the
custodians with comments.

Users Name:
New Operations Procedure required?

Ref. Ind: .

Yes / No

(delete as applicable).

New Operations Procedure/name or error location

(e.g. Procedure number, page, paragraph).

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Date:

New Operations Procedure/Comment/Error/

Suggestion

13

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