Page 75 - Pipeline Risk Management Manual Ideas, Techniques, and Resources

3154 Third-party Damage Index
Mailouts to contractorslexcavators 2 pts way, the value is obtained as the audience is made aware or
Advertisements in contractor/utility publications reminded of its role in pipeline safety.
once per year 1 Pt
Add points for all characteristics that apply. The best public edu- F. Right-of-way condition (weighting: 5%)
cation program will score 15 points according to this schedule. This item is a measure of the recognizability and inspectability
Regular contact with property owners and residents who live of the pipeline corridor. A clearly marked, easily recognized
adjacent to the pipeline is thought to be the first line of defense ROW reduces the susceptibility of third-party intrusions and
in public education. When properly motivated, these people aids in leak detection (ease of spotting vapors or dead vegeta-
actually become protectors of the pipeline. They realize that tion from ground or air patrols) (Figure 3.7).
the pipeline is a neighbor whose fate may be closely linked to The evaluator can establish a point schedule with clear
their own. They may also act as good neighbors out of concern parameters. The user of the schedule should be able to tell
for a company that has taken the time to explain to them the exactly what actions will increase the point value. The less sub-
pipeline’s service and how it relates to them. Although it is jective the schedule, the greater the consistency in evaluation,
probably the most expensive approach, door-to-door contact is but simplicity is also encouraged. The following example
arguably unsurpassed in effectiveness. This is perhaps espe- schedule is written in paragraph form where interpolations
cially true where pleasant and direct contact between large cor- between paragraph point values are allowed.
porations and concerned citizens is rare. The door-to-door
contact, when performed at least once per year, rates the highest Excellent 5 pts
points in the example schedule. Clear and unencumbered ROW route clearly indicated; signs
Other techniques that emphasize the good neighbor and markers visible from any point on ROW or from above,
approach include regular mailouts, presentations at community even if one sign is missing; signs and markers at all roads,
groups, and advertisements. Mailouts generally take the form railroads, ditches, water crossings; all changes of direction
of an informational pamphlet and perhaps a promotional item are marked; air patrol markers are present.
such as a magnet, calendar, memo pad, pen, rain gauge, tape Good 3 pts
measure, or key chain with the pipeline company’s name and Clear route (no overgrowth obstructing the view along the
24-hour phone number. The pamphlet may contain details on ROW from ground level or above); well marked: markers
pipeline safety statistics, the product being transported, and are visible from every point of ROW or above if all are in
how the company ensures the pipeline integrity (patrols, place; signs and markers at all roads, railroads, ditches, water
cathodc protection, etc.). Most important perhaps is informa- crossings.
tion that informs the reader of how sensitive the line can be to Average 2pts
damage from third-party activities. Along with this is encour- ROW not uniformly cleared; more markers are needed for clear
agement to the reader to notify the pipeline company if any identification at roads, railroads, waterways.
potentially threatening activities are observed. The tokens often Below average I pt
included in the mailout merely serve to attract the reader’s inter- ROW is overgrown by vegetation in some places; ground is not
est and to keep the company’s name and contact number handy. always visible from the air or there is not a clear line of sight
Consideration should be given to all languages commonly spo- along the ROW from ground level; indistinguishable as a
ken in the area. Written materials in several languages and pipeline ROW in some places; poorly marked.
bilingual contact personnel will often be necessary. Poor Opt
Mailouts can be effectively sent to landowners, tenants, other Indistinguishable as a pipeline ROW no (or inadequate) mark-
utilities, excavation contractors, general contractors, emer- ers present.
gency response groups, and local and state agencies.
Professional, entertaining presentations are always wel- Select the point values corresponding to the closest descrip-
comed at civic group meetings. When such presentations can tion of the actual ROW conditions observed in the section.
also get across a message for public safety through pipeline Descriptions such as those given above should provide the
awareness, they are doubly welcomed. These activities should operator with enough guidance to take corrective action. Point
be included in the point schedule. Any regular advertisements values can be more specific (markers at 90% of road crossings:
aimed at increasing public awareness of pipeline safety should 2 pts; at 75% of road crossings: 1 pt; etc.), but this may be an
similarly be included in the evaluation schedule. unnecessary complication.
Meetings with public officials and local contractors serve
several purposes for the pipeline operator. While advising these
people ofpipeline interests (and the impact on their interests), a G. Patrol frequency (weighting: 15%)
rapport is established with the pipeline company. This rapport
can be valuable in terms of early notification of government Patrolling the pipeline is a proven effective method of reducing
planning, impending project work, emergency response, and third-party intrusions. The frequency and effectiveness of the
perhaps a measure of consideration and benefit ofthe doubt for patrol should be considered in assessing the patrol value.
the pipeline company. Points should be given for this activity to Patrolling becomes more necessary where third-party activi-
the extent that the evaluator sees the value of the benefits in ties are largely unreported. The amount of unreported activity
terms of risk reduction. will depend on many factors, but one source [ 1 I] reported the
Advertising can be company specific or can represent the number of unreported excavation works around a pipeline sys-
common interests of a number of pipeline companies. Either tem in the United Kingdom to be 25% of the total number of