PUWER maintenance and inspection – what you need to know
The PUWER regulations describe how companies and individuals who own, operate, or have control over work equipment are responsible for ensuring safety.
In a time when the energy industry faces a range of challenges and scrutiny, from price fluctuations to stringent ESG requirements, it is more important than ever that efficiency, safety and sustainability are focus areas.
Forward thinking digital approaches to equipment management can improve operations for businesses and their employees. The results can be seen in bottom lines, in reduced waste, and in the development of strong safety and compliance cultures.
Three distinct themes stand out as focus areas in the energy industry in recent years: improving safety, preventing operational disruptions, and developing more sustainable practises. One element of operations that is central to all three themes is equipment management. Having a conscious and proactive approach to equipment management in the energy industry can have huge payoffs.
Work equipment is everywhere in the energy industry. One offshore rig alone typically has between 1,500 and 5,000 pieces of equipment. That can be everything from lifting equipment to machinery, gas monitors, hoses and first aid kits. This equipment, and its effective management, is integral to the successful operations of a rig. Even the smallest error in checks or documentation can result in incidents that slow down operations or even cause harm to employees.
Onix has taken on the mission of digitalizing work equipment management to address traditional challenges. Managing work equipment has traditionally been a cumbersome process characterized by manual checks, paper archives, endless spreadsheets, and a lack of overview. Within the energy sector, this has slowed down operations and opened up the risk of safety gaps, non-compliance and accidents.
Onix set about addressing these issues as early as 1995. The aim was for owners of work equipment to have all equipment data in one place – accessible anytime, from anywhere. A world where inspection reports, maintenance plans, and equipment certifications are just a click (or tap) away.
The solution was to develop an open software platform that would improve equipment oversight and allow operators to focus on core activities without compliance headaches, information gaps, unnecessary waste or uncertainty over safety.
Today these solutions have proven to significantly enhance efficiency within energy companies, and were adopted by key industry players including Equinor and Shell.
Digital equipment management is designed to bring simplicity to operations. Software such as Onix Work can take compliance and safety out of the confusing grey areas and make them a priority.
With all essential equipment information at employee's fingertips, accessible through handheld or desktop devices, there are no longer questions marks over whether equipment is safe to use. Everyone who needs it can easily access documentation and incorporate checks into their workday, whether they work on a rig or in an office.
Administrators also gain an extra level of oversight over who is using equipment, in which location, when it next needs to be inspected and if there is maintenance that needs to be scheduled to prevent delays in operations.
This ease of use for all equipment stakeholders translates to improved safety practices and makes it easier to comply with relevant laws and regulations. Energy giants such as Equinor have seen the benefits of these tools in the field. The company began using Onix software to manage over 66,000 pieces of equipment offshore and is now rolling it out as a common IT solution to manage all loose equipment.
Automated notifications ensure workers stay updated and nothing is overlooked.
Onix software isn't just about making operations safer; it's also about making operations more productive. By digitalizing processes, time-consuming paperwork is eliminated and safety grey areas are removed, freeing up employees to focus on what they do best.
These five factors contribute to increased efficiency:
A single use culture is common when it comes to equipment management, particularly in the energy industry. Often it can seem more complex, time consuming and expensive to conduct necessary upkeep on equipment than simply throw it away. This is particularly the case for lower cost items such as slings and soft lifting equipment. Such a "use and throw away" mentality is damaging for the environment and has left commentators questioning how it can be changed.
Bjarne Roland, lifting expert and contributor to Kranteknikk, has frequently expressed concerns about these single use practices. He underscores the need to address wastage, especially when considering the resources spent on monitoring soft lifting gear. The central issue is: can we devise a system that offers cost-effective sling inspection while promoting sustainable reuse?
Onix's founder, Bernt Håvardsholm, shares similar concerns about the waste created by single use practises:
This culture is a symptom of traditional equipment management practises. With manual methods that involve lots of physical paperwork, hours spent tracking down equipment, and room for error and accidents, it is understandable that cutting out management all together is simpler. But, now that digital solutions exist to simplify equipment management, there is now no need to throw usable equipment away.
With software solutions, it becomes simple and more cost effective for equipment owners to keep, maintain and inspect equipment than throw it away and buy new each time. All documentation is available digitally, it can be received directly from suppliers, while inspectors can use the same tools to deliver digital reports and complete work up to four times faster. All information is available and accessible to those who need it throughout the equipment lifecycle.
Onix Tags can be fitted to all kinds of equipment.
In addition to this, tagging of equipment can make equipment management even more efficient and further contribute to reduced waste. By tagging equipment such as slings with RFID, QR or NFC tags, it can be identified and inspected at a fraction of the time and effort . As a result, excuses for single-use practises such as complexity, time or cost no longer apply. Businesses across sectors including energy can benefit from more efficient equipment management while working towards sustainability goals.
Investing in digitalization can have significant benefits for businesses across sectors, particularly the energy sector where manual process are common. Many businesses are now fully embracing digitalization as a means to improve the bottom line, ensure compliance, improve image and attract both employees and customers.
The pursuit of increased efficiency in the energy industry is never-ending, and Onix will continue to play its role by aiding companies to stay ahead, simplify processes, enhance safety, and boost productivity.
