Underground Construction - July 2018 - 23

establish a program that delivers a more-consistent OQ
process and ensures regulatory
compliance, exceeds minimum
requirements, focuses on core
competencies, ensures program
effectiveness, and provides verifiable audits and records.
Addressing the many workforce capacity challenges may
result in an added benefit of
the OQIP process. Credentials
for trainers, proctors, evaluators and auditors are currently
based on the B31Q standard.
OQIP would include specific
requirements related to testing
(allowance of true/false questions, testing time limits, minimum passing scores, etc.), and
provide a detailed description
of core competencies.
A pilot program conducted in
several states will test whether an updated approach to OQ
compliance can elevate the
integrity of OQ program, while
increasing consistency and
providing a set of standardized
processes. The panel discussion
was followed by an extensive
Q&A period where the audience
expressed positive feedback
and the coalition described significant interest among several
operators and representatives
from the National Association of Pipeline Safety in pilot
testing OQIP over the next few
years.

Evaluation of pipeline
inspection

Because pipeline inspection
requirements are constantly
changing in different parts
of the country, this panel
addressed sensitive issues and
challenges during the inspection process by both in-house
and third-party inspectors.
Regardless of who the inspector
is or where he/she came from,
there is a need for qualified,
extensively experienced
inspectors. The panel, which
included a third-party inspector

PHMSA explained the principles behind a riskbased regulatory approach: the administration
establishes minimum safety standards and enforces
them with a focus on safety performance. Pipeline
operators hold the responsibility of understanding
and managing risks...When industry and government
work in good faith with these concepts in mind,
pipeline safety and program effectiveness can be
achieved at the highest levels
and a gas utility representative,
agreed that while technology
is playing an increasing role in
today's pipeline inspections, the
need for effective and experienced inspection personnel
remains.
The panel evaluated the traditional inspection process, and
if and how the use of third-party inspectors can be improved.
A third-party inspector on the
panel described the need for a
"smart" inspector platform and
"smart" tools to support that
platform. This inspector was
clear that the goal should be to
"raise the performance and reliability of the average inspector"
through thorough identification and selection, training,
motivational incentives and
inspection technologies.
Like the entire pipeline industry, inspectors face workforce capacity issues and the
constant search for talent. One
solution to is recruiting older
workers ,who may not perform
pipeline work, but can inspect
the work of others. Experienced inspectors also need to
be provided, and embrace, contemporary "smart" technologies. Comparing "people versus
technology" was described as a
false choice.

Preventing, mitigating
IR situations

Representatives of DCA's
Horizontal Directional Drilling
(HDD) Committee described

an increasing problem in the
gas distribution construction
industry. While HDD is widely
considered a safe and environmentally sound method of
installing distribution pipelines,
"inadvertent returns" (IRs) are
gaining attention and need to
be addressed.
IRs are the unintended transfer of drilling mud to the surface during boring operations
by way of fractures or fissures
that can occur naturally, not
necessarily as a result of boring
operations. There is no shortage
of confusion about what HDD
is, IRs and the fluids that are
used, and how IR situations can
be prevented and mitigated.
DCA is planning to discuss and
resolve this confusion with a
range of stakeholders, including
federal agencies and even environmental groups.
In what turned out to be
the largest panel of this year's
workshop, a panel of contractors, operators, plastic pipe
manufacturers, service providers and experts in drilling fluids
discussed the many intricacies
related to today's electrofusion
process used in HDD operations. Recent questions about
whether ingredients in drilling
mud lead to ineffective bonding
of electrofusion joints have led
to extended public discussions
on the subject.
The panel spent time to
describe the electrofusion process, including the fittings and

components that are involved.
The importance of all related
activities (wiping, scraping,
pre-cleaning, etc.) was made
clear. Greases, oils, soil and
HDD fluids could potentially
compromise an electrofused
joint.
While the panel generally
agreed that those involved
in electrofusion must ensure
correct installation through
strict adherence to manufacturers' standards, the process must be consistent and
well-documented. Conflicting
electrofusion guidelines can
exacerbate this problem, and
a new best practice is being
developed by several industry
stakeholders.

Gold Shovel Standard
update

In the final panel of the workshop, the audience was updated
on the Gold Shovel Standard
(GSS), which continues attempting to establish performance metrics from damage
prevention for excavators,
operators and locators. While
it seems that some operators
involved in GSS are backing off
the coercive approach of mandating contractor participation
as a condition of doing business, most on the contractor
side still believe GSS is a slap
in the face of "shared responsibility" in damage prevention
as promoted by the Common
Ground Alliance.
Contractors in the audience
weighed in during this conversation, stating that they have
seen no benefit in participating
in the program and that GSS
communications appear to be
"little more than a marketing
ploy." A final question raised
from the contractor perspective
was about the significant revenue that has been provided
to GSS from the contractor
community, and where it's
being spent.
UConOnline.com | JULY 2018

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Underground Construction - July 2018

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