A workplace of every kind should be safe and secure. No matter at what scale the workplace manages tasks, safety should always come first. And this safety concern gets aggravated during maintenance and repairs. 

Whether the IT or industrial sector, each needs maintenance and repair works. But what happens when the organisation has to execute multiple repair activities? This is a critical situation; thus, extra care and a set of rules must be implemented to ensure the smooth execution of the processes.

These are known as SIMOPS. SIMOPS are simultaneous (and crucial) operations. It is when two or more potentially conflicting activities are being executed in the same location at the same time. 

Risks Involved

SIMOPS operations involve the risks and exposures of many tasks combined in one. Therefore, departments must carry out these operations only when necessary. 

The risks involved are;

• Combined hazards of the operations
• Individual dangers of the operations
• Analysis of risk levels, combined and separate

Therefore, the SIMOPS risk assessment requires conduct and vigilance. The team must identify the correct and planned control measures and the additional risk reduction measures. 

SIMOPS operation consists of an expert team as described below. Each member is crucial and must do their job efficiently, leaving no room for error.

The Team

A successful SIMOPS task is performed through several dedicated meetings by the concerned team. This team comprises of :- 

SIMOPS Leader:

They are involved with the entire operation from start to end. They ensure that all the teams perform their duties per the defined rules and proper communication between them. The SIMOPS leader is also responsible for foreseeing that the task is completed in time without jeopardising any dedicated schedules.

Task Supervisor:

The task supervisor ensures that all permits are up to date and there is no reason for the delay in operations. They check that the necessary personnel, equipment and compliances are followed according to the defined standards. They must ensure transparent communication between the team & leader.

Team Workers:

The team members should ensure that they have understood the work briefs appropriately. They should solve any concerns before the tasks, and in case of confusion, they should not delay communication with the supervisor/leader. They should perform the tasks with precision and wear proper PPE. 

The Digital Solution 

We have given you a brief of what SIMOPS is, and we are sure you know the basics and more about this operation. The name may be simplified for understanding, but the processes are complex as they get. Managing multiple operations requires micro-management, whether we like it or not. A digital solution must be implemented to reduce every possibility of human error. And the good news is that there is a digital system that assists in seamless SIMOPS.

Let us consider this example of SIMOPS with a digital solution.

On a construction site, a crane lift has to be positioned in an area wherein existing work is carried on. The type of work could be electric, civil, or anything else. Thus, before, during, and after the movement, specific steps must be taken to prevent the other operation from being affected. Also, there should be no accident or incident during the move.

A digital solution helps incredibly in such a situation. It has an inbuilt list of precautions to be taken during every operation, so when a SIMOP is entered, it combines that list. So we have a ready combined list of hazards. Moreover, a PTW module allows knowing whether all the permits for work are in place and if any extra precaution needs to be taken. This centralised platform provides everyone involved in the tasks to be on the same page.

Advantages of the Digital Management System

The above information stated how uniform the SIMOPS process is if a digital system is involved. Additionally, there are more advantages to the digital strategy of SIMOPS. We have listed a few of them.

• It provides an additional list of risks.
• Systematic application of risk reduction measures.
• Centralised information and data
• Records and easy access to past incidents.
• Easy alert system and personalised dashboard.
• Provides an application accessible from all devices.

The Conclusion

SIMOPS is risky. Therefore it should be avoided as much as possible. But when there are unavoidable situations, extra care must be taken to prevent any incidents. And this extra care also implies introducing a digital system to reduce manual errors. The digital system also synchronises tasks and mitigates hazards while amplifying safety measures.