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Providing professional services for the natural gas industry.
QUALIFIED OPERATOR
In August 1999, the U. S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) promulgated new regulatory requirements as part of 49 CFR 192 and 195, which have become known throughout the pipeline industry as the Operator Qualification (OQ) Rule.
The purpose of the rule is to reduce accidents related to human error by ensuring that individuals who perform covered tasks are qualified to perform those tasks. The rule requires operators of pipelines to develop a qualification program to evaluate an individual’s ability to perform covered tasks, and to recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions (AOC) that may occur while performing covered tasks.
OQ applies to all individuals that will perform “Covered Tasks.” A “Qualified Person” must be able to perform the covered task and recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions that may arise while performing the covered task. To become qualified, individuals must be evaluated and qualifications documented.
Southeast Diversified Services Company, Inc. has executed a “Professional Services Agreement” with VeriForce to evaluate key company employees. Richard L. Firebaugh was evaluated by a VeriForce evaluator in September of 2003. As a result, Mr. Firebaugh has been qualified on the below listed tasks:
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VeriForce Task # DOT OQ VF 122 – Perform Pipe Fabrication
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VeriForce Task # DOT OQ VF 404 – Perform Leak & Strength Testing of Piping
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VeriForce Task # DOT OQ VF 406 – Monitoring of Pipeline Pressure within The Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP)
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VeriForce Task # DOT OQ VF 408 – Start Up/Shut Down of Pipeline to Assure Operation within MAOP
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VeriForce Task # DOT OQ VF 410 – Isolating Units or Sections of Pipe for Purging Before Returning to Service
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VeriForce Task # DOT OQ VF 412 – Purging of Pipelines
