Guide to the Preparation of a Safety, Reliability, Maintenance and Technical Management Plan

The following provides some guidance for the preparation of a Safety, Reliability, Maintenance and Technical Management Plan (SRMTMP). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of requirements, as these will vary with the type of infrastructure covered by the plan.

The plan should make particular reference to the technical and safety standards adopted by the entity. These standards should be consistent with the requirements of the Technical Regulator, including the Electricity Act 1996 and Electricity (General) Regulations 1997.

Contents of the Plan

The operator should establish, monitor and maintain a SRMTMP. The plan should include:

• A policy for protection of personnel
• A policy for the protection of property
• A policy for the protection of the public
• A technical standards compliance policy

The plan should also cover the lifecycle phases of all elements of the electrical infrastructure, being:

• Planning
• Design
• Acquisition (construction, testing and commissioning)
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Repair and modification
• Decommissioning/disposal 

There should be evidence of formal or other appropriate systems to ensure implementation of the plan, and the provision of at least the following:

• Organisational structure and defined responsibilities
• Competencies of persons appropriate to their responsibilities
• Auditing of activities (Key performance indicators)
• Records and traceability
• Special Notes

Competencies

Design, construction, testing, commissioning and operation shall be carried out by persons qualified or experienced in the work performed.

For construction, testing and commissioning, a relevant national competency standards certificate or other demonstration of competency that also meets the operator???s requirements, shall be sufficient proof of qualification.

The asset operator shall ensure all persons involved in the design are competent appropriate to their responsibilities with sound knowledge of relevant standards and their application.

Records

Records shall be taken and maintained to enable demonstration of effective management of all significant risks throughout the operating life, including but not limited to the following:

Records should be taken of design, construction, testing commissioning and operation sufficient to show compliance with the design. Such records be maintained up-to-date, and shall include as-built details, verification of calibrations of equipment, readings taken during testing, results of testing on test pieces, competencies, and all relevant information.

Records should be made of all relevant operational activities necessary to ensure gas safety.

Records should be made of all modifications to electrical infrastructure.

Buried asset location details shall be suitably recorded and maintained up-to date with sufficient accuracy to provide for future location by the owner and by others engaged in underground work near the asset.

The owner shall record the details of decommissioned assets that may pose future risk, and provide information on the location to anyone needing that information for safety reasons.

Extract from the Regulations under the Electricity Act 1996

The following are matters that must be dealt with by a safety, reliability, maintenance and technical management plan:

• The safe design, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of electricity infrastructure owned or operated by the person;
• The maintenance of a supply of electricity of the quality required to be maintained by or under the Act, these regulations, the person's licence or the conditions of any exemption granted to the person;
• The implementation and conduct of safety measures and training programs for the purpose of:
• • reducing the risk of death or injury, or damage to property, arising out of the operation of electricity infrastructure owned or operated by the person;
  • ensuring that employees performing work in respect of electricity infrastructure owned or operated by the person are competent and properly trained, perform their work safely and are provided with a safe system of work;
  • ensuring that contractors performing work in respect of electricity infrastructure owned or operated by the person have processes and procedures for ensuring that the persons personally performing the work are competent and properly trained, perform their work safely and are provided with a safe system of work;
• The manner in which accidents and unsafe situations are dealt with reported and investigated;
• Monitoring compliance with safety and technical requirements imposed by or under the Act, these regulations, the person's licence or the conditions of any exemption granted to the person;
• Monitoring electricity infrastructure owned or operated by the person for the purposes of identifying infrastructure that is unsafe or at risk of failing or malfunctioning.

A more detailed guide for generators is also available.