In 2012, at the request of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an industry-commissioned work team developed the American Petroleum Institute’s API RP 1173 framework.  This recommended practice (RP) establishes a pipeline safety management system structure for organizations that operate hazardous liquids and natural gas pipelines jurisdictional to the U.S. Department of Transportation.  This RP is not a program or project, but a journey and a complete culture change for pipeline operators that choose to adopt its guidelines.  It is based on continuous improvement and participative management goals and objectives.  Its fundamental core is built around the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.  It is a structure of goals, objectives, processes and procedures which are applied by employees and enabled by technology to ensure the organization fulfills the tasks that ensure safety and business success, and executes tasks using risk management, established controls, self-assessment and continuous improvement to meet safety and business objectives.  It is built on processes that provide a more disciplined use of data and other information for better decision making. 

The webinar will cover the methodology for the process and the challenges an organization will face when it takes this journey, such as:

• Commitment from top management
• The large impact across the organization structure
• Commitment from all levels in the organizational structure
• Process-owner accountability
• Process documentation
• Staffing and dollars required
• Finding the right pace to get it done

The webinar is presented by Doug Gapp, Manager of Engineering Staff/System Integrity/Pipeline Safety Planning, at Southwest Gas Company.  Southwest Gas participated in the development of RP 1173 along with other pipeline operators and natural gas utilities.  Doug has more than 30 years of experience in natural gas distribution and transmission operations, including pipeline system design; measurement; pressure regulation; pipeline flow simulation modeling; environmental compliance; development of company material and design standards; material failure; corrosion control systems; compressor station design and operation;  and incident investigation.  Doug holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona.