SIMOPS: Safe and Efficient Operations for Onshore Facilities

Why This Course

In complex onshore industrial environments, multiple operations — such as construction, maintenance, commissioning, and production — often occur simultaneously.

Managing these overlapping activities demands precision, collaboration, and control, as a single oversight can lead to operational disruptions, safety incidents, or costly downtime.

The SIMOPS: Safe and Efficient Operations for Onshore Facilities program provides participants with the knowledge, methodologies, and leadership competencies required to plan, assess, and execute simultaneous operations safely and efficiently.

It integrates risk management, communication protocols, and control-of-work systems, enabling professionals to ensure productivity without compromising health, safety, or environmental integrity.

Through real-world case studies, scenario-based simulations, and hands-on exercises, participants will learn to establish and enforce SIMOPS frameworks that drive operational safety and excellence.

What You’ll Learn and Practice

By joining this program, you will:

• Understand the concept, scope, and criticality of Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS).
• Learn to identify, assess, and mitigate risks in concurrent operations.
• Develop SIMOPS management plans for complex onshore activities.
• Apply control-of-work (CoW), permit-to-work (PTW), and isolation systems effectively.
• Coordinate safely between operations, maintenance, and construction teams.
• Implement communication and command protocols during multi-activity phases.
• Integrate SIMOPS into project planning, commissioning, and shutdown phases.
• Build a culture of safety leadership and operational discipline in high-risk environments.

The Program Flow

Day 1: Foundations of SIMOPS and Operational Context

• Definition and objectives of Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS).
• The importance of SIMOPS in onshore facilities — refineries, terminals, and gas plants.
• Common SIMOPS scenarios and critical risk intersections.
• Organizational responsibilities and communication channels.
• Case study: Lessons learned from major SIMOPS-related incidents in the energy sector.

Day 2: Risk Identification and Assessment

• Identifying SIMOPS interfaces between different work scopes.
• Hazard identification (HAZID), Job Safety Analysis (JSA), and Task Risk Assessment (TRA).
• Evaluating overlapping hazards: process, electrical, mechanical, and confined space activities.
• Risk ranking, control hierarchy, and mitigation strategies.
• Workshop: Conducting a SIMOPS risk assessment for a refinery maintenance shutdown.

Day 3: SIMOPS Planning and Control Frameworks

• Developing a SIMOPS matrix — mapping interfaces, activities, and responsibilities.
• Planning tools and documentation: SIMOPS register, checklist, and control plan.
• Control-of-Work (CoW) and Permit-to-Work (PTW) integration.
• Managing isolations, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and simultaneous operations boundaries.
• Simulation: Designing a SIMOPS management plan for a multi-phase project.

Day 4: Communication, Coordination, and Emergency Preparedness

• Command and communication structure in multi-contractor environments.
• Pre-job briefings, toolbox talks, and coordination meetings.
• Monitoring, supervision, and reporting during SIMOPS execution.
• Emergency response planning and incident management in SIMOPS environments.
• Group exercise: Simulating SIMOPS coordination and emergency response escalation.

Day 5: Leadership, Continuous Improvement, and Performance Assurance

• Safety leadership and culture in complex operational environments.
• Auditing, monitoring, and verification of SIMOPS effectiveness.
• Performance metrics and key indicators (KPIs) for SIMOPS safety and efficiency.
• Lessons learned and feedback integration for future operations.
• Final project: Developing a SIMOPS safety and efficiency improvement strategy for your facility.

Individual Impact

• Gain comprehensive knowledge of SIMOPS planning, assessment, and execution.
• Strengthen risk-based decision-making and operational leadership skills.
• Build confidence in managing communication and coordination under pressure.
• Learn to foster a safety culture and accountability across multi-functional teams.
• Position yourself as a SIMOPS-certified professional capable of leading safe and efficient onshore operations.

Work Impact

• Improve operational safety and prevent conflicts in simultaneous work activities.
• Reduce downtime, incidents, and unplanned disruptions.
• Enhance collaboration between departments and contractors.
• Strengthen compliance with regulatory and corporate safety standards.
• Promote continuous improvement in operational risk management.

Training Methodology

This program blends technical frameworks, applied learning, and leadership development to ensure deep understanding and real-world competence.

Learning methods include:

• Case studies from refineries, gas plants, and large onshore facilities.
• Interactive workshops on SIMOPS risk and planning frameworks.
• Simulation exercises for coordination and emergency response.
• Group discussions and lessons learned from major industry events.
• Practical templates, matrices, and SIMOPS toolkits for professional use.

Beyond the Course

Upon completion, participants will be equipped to plan, manage, and control simultaneous operations safely and effectively within any onshore industrial setting.

Graduates of this program will emerge as SIMOPS Leaders — professionals who combine safety awareness, operational discipline, and teamwork excellence to deliver safe, efficient, and compliant onshore facility operations.