“I Just Got My PSM Report- Now What?" for the Team Player | Blog No. 76
- Chris Foster
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
[ This is two of three in a "Now What?" blog series by Chris Foster, a Macha PSM Consultant]
A Dive into Some Practical and Often Overlooked Uses of PMS Reports
If you missed our first installment of this “Now What?” blog series for Macha PSM, go back and give the previous blog a read. We’re exploring the strange and uncanny feeling that comes over someone who just received a detailed PSM report. The feeling that the project is done, yet unfinished at the same time. While there should be actionable and resolvable recommendations included in your report, there is also a sense in which the job is never done, which is true if the job in question is the safety of the personnel around an active refrigeration system. To put it another way, if the system is running, then the PSM work isn’t done. To help assuage the discomfort of this “Now What?” feeling when receiving a PSM report, we first considered the role of the fearless leader and how they could best utilize the report to their advantage. Today, we’re considering the role of the team player.
Who is the Team Player?
The team player describes the person on the PSM team, but not the one in charge. The temptation to avoid in this role is the “go along to get along” mindset of feeling that just showing up to the PSM meeting with a pulse and mostly not falling asleep is adequate for the role. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, after speaking with many PSM team leaders, the most common feedback is that they wish they had more feedback from their team members, not less. Another thing to consider is that no one person knows it all or can see it all when it comes to your system. A well operating PSM program consists of multiple sets of eyes scanning the system and considering potential risk. Even if you are the newest member of the team or least experienced operator, for example, your input is just as valuable to the team because you offer the benefit of not becoming blind to the little hazards littered throughout the system that the other members walk by on a daily basis. Let’s use a test case of a five-year mechanical integrity audit. In regards to the “Now What?” feeling for the team player after the report is completed, we’ll offer a few helpful insights for how to make the most of the report.
Make a game plan before tackling the recommendations. As a team player, you will likely be tasked with going out into the facility to complete the report recommendations. While a good report should have the recommendations organized, you are the true expert of your facility, and you should game plan how to tackle recommendations efficiently so you’re not running around your facility like the proverbial decapitated chicken. Tip: this doesn’t always mean going in numerical order down the recommendations, the main thing is that it all gets done, so if you have to skip over some while you order supplies or receive quotes from contractors, then don’t just wait, move on to a recommendation that’s easy to accomplish, like moving the unnecessary junk out of the machinery room.
Use the report as an opportunity to become an expert on your system. We use the phrase your system because it truly is your system as a team player in the PSM process. Many personnel who are not leading the PSM process feel like it’s the team leader’s system or the company’s system, but in reality, it’s often the PSM team members who have the opportunity to be most hands on with the refrigeration system and therefore, poised to be the most informed on its safe operation. The reality is that if a regulator were to pay a visit to your facility, it isn’t just the PSM team lead, but often team members who will be interviewed about their roles and responsibilities in operating the system. So take the opportunity now, with the report in hand, and equip yourself to be an expert in your system so that there is no need to fear a regulatory inspection in the future.
In our next installment, we'll consider a different role within the facility and offer a few practical tips to help that individual squeeze the most juice out of their PSM data orange.
Until next time, stay safe, stay compliant!