What is Operator Qualification?
The requirements of the Department of Transportation Operator Qualification Rule (49 CFR Parts 195 and 192, hereinafter referred to as “the OQ Rule”) will place a significant compliance burden on operators and contractors. The following paragraphs explain how the Operator Qualification Solutions Group (OQSG) will benefit both operators and contractors by providing information, recommendations and solutions that will ease the burden of compliance with the OQ Rule. Due in large part to an increasing number of accidents involving operations on natural gas and liquid petroleum pipelines, the U.S. Department of Transportation established guidelines that require pipeline operators to develop a written program for qualifying personnel that perform certain types of work on DOT pipelines. Operators were required to have a completed written qualification plan in place by April 27, 2001. The objective of requiring pipeline operators to have a written qualification program is to make the operators
