At Crowder Construction, Inc., the health and safety of company employees and the public is of primary importance. Candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment drug screening, criminal background check and a motor vehicle report. Upon hire, new employees must complete safety orientation courses. All employees complete multiple operator qualification (OQ) courses. Mandatory company-wide safety courses are held on an ongoing basis. Job Safety Analysis (JSA) reports are completed for each project on a daily basis. Crew leaders also conduct tailgate safety meetings each morning before work begins.
Operator Qualification, commonly known as “OQ”, is a non-descriptive, performance-based regulation implemented by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). The regulation, which went into effect on October 28, 2002, requires each pipeline operator to develop a written assessment program for the qualification of individuals performing certain functions related to general pipeline operations and maintenance. The purpose of the regulation is to ensure that individuals performing work on or near petroleum pipelines are adequately trained and qualified in order to reduce pipeline accidents attributable to human error.
The OQ regulation stipulates that pipeline operators be charged with evaluating the ability of their personnel to perform certain (covered tasks) on hazardous liquid or gas pipelines. The rule also requires that these covered personnel be able to recognize and respond to abnormal operating conditions while performing these covered tasks.
The OQ rule applies to all individuals who perform covered tasks, whether they are employed by the operator, a contractor, a sub-contractor, or any other entity performing covered tasks on behalf of the operator. Non-qualified individuals are allowed to perform covered tasks provided a qualified individual is directing and observing the non-qualified individual.
Crowder Construction, Inc. is certified by Energy World Net as an Assessment Center for the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). This designation allows Crowder Construction to test and train its employees who perform OQ covered tasks.
Crowder Construction maintains a strict drug and alcohol testing program. The Company’s drug and alcohol testing program complies with the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations 49 CFR Parts 40 and 199, and is approved by National Compliance Management Services (NCMS).