Exxon's OMIS

The ExxonMobil Bible - - OMIS, which stands for Operational Integrity Management System. The document, posted on Exxon's website, provides a framework for facility design, training, operations, handling contractors and implementing change. It calls for rigorous documentation, measurement, and analysis - - a company run by engineers in a highly complex technological environment.

OMIS was developed and implemented after the 1989 Valdez spill. The system has been implemented in 80% of Exxon's operations. The 11 tenets in OMIS are:

1. Management, leadership, commitment and accountability - - Management establishes policy, provides perspective, sets expectations and provides the resources for successful operations. Assurance of Operations Integrity requires management leadership and commitment visible to the organization, and accountability at all levels.
2. Risk Assessment and management - - Comprehensive risk assessments can reduce safely, health, environmental and security risks and mitigate the consequences of incidents by providing essential information for decision-making.
3. Facilities design and construction - - Inherent safety and security can be enhanced, and risk to health and the minimized, by using sound standards, procedures and management systems for facility design, construction and start-up activities.
4. Information and documentation - - Accurate information on the configuration and capabilities of processes and facilities, properties of products and materials handled, potential Operations Integrity hazards, and regulatory requirements is essential to assess and manage risk.
5. Personnel and training - - Control of operations depends upon people. Achieving Operations Integrity requires the appropriate screening, careful selection and placement, ongoing assessment and proper training of employees, and the implementation of appropriate Operations Integrity programs.
6. Operations and maintenance - - Operations of facilities within established parameters and according to regulations is essential. Doing so requires effective procedures, structured inspection and maintenance programs, reliable Operations Integrity critical equipment, and qualified personnel who consistently execute these procedures and practices.
7. Management of change - - Changes in operations, procedures, site standards, facilities, or organizations must be evaluated and managed to ensure that Operations Integrity risks arising from these changes remain at an acceptable level.
8. Third-party services - - Third parties doing work on the company's behalf impact its operations and its reputation. It is essential that they perform in a manner that is consistent and compatible with ExxonMobil's policies and business objectives.
9. Incident investigation and analysis - - Effective incident investigation, reporting and follow-up are necessary to achieve Operations Integrity. They provide the opportunity to learn from reported incidents and to use the information to take corrective action and prevent recurrence.
10. Community awareness and emergency preparedness - - Effective management of stakeholder relationships is important to enhance the trust and confidence of the communities where we operate. Emergency planning and preparedness are essential to ensure that, in the event of an incident all necessary actions are taken for the protection of the public, the environment and company personnel and assets.
11. Operations integrity assessment and improvement - - Assessment of the degree to which expectations are met is essential to improve Operations Integrity and maintain accountability.