by The planning and carrying out of operations and activities should be in such a way that they are conducted under specified operating conditions. Operational controls may be documented through the use of work instructions, operational procedures or manual codes.
Examples of operational controls for handling, storage & disposal of Hazardous waste.
Procedure for establishing Operational Control
- The list of Significant Impacts / Risks becomes the major input for the setting of operational control procedures. All significant impacts / Risks are considered for conducting a study on the establishment of objectives and operational control procedures. CFT members carry out this study.
- For all those activities calling for an operational control procedure, the respective operational team members ensure that the operational control procedures are prepared and followed at the area of the significant impact/risk.
- Operational control procedures are also made for activities significantly interacting with the environment/safety eg: G sets, Hazardous waste handling & disposal, etc.
- These procedures include instructions for controlling Environmental Aspects / OH&S Hazards relating to the operations carried out at XXX.
- These procedures are also applicable to sub-contractors/suppliers at XXX where their absence could lead to deviation from EHS objectives and targets.
- These operational control procedures are prepared to carry out the operations associated with the Significant Impact/ Risk in a controlled manner.
- The Dept HODs approves operational controls. The details of operation Control Instructions / Work Instructions are available with respective departments. A Master List of Operation Control procedure is available with EHS MR.
- Operational controls are also established wherever hazards & risks associated with changes.
- Controls related to purchased goods, types of equipment & services including contractors & visitors related to the workplace. Environmental aspects & OH&S Hazards will be identified by CFT for the purchase of goods & services. For significant, control methods will be established and the same will be communicated to concerned suppliers. At security Information on EOH&S system will be given for the visitors and the supplier visiting XXX for the compliance with EHS management system.
Communication of Operational Controls to Employees
The respective Implementation team members shall identify the employees who undertake the activities and operations associated with the operational controls and ensure that the requirements and operating criteria are communicated to and understood by them. For employees, this may be undertaken by including the operational controls in the training needs analysis or communication programs.
Communication of Operational Controls to Suppliers
The respective team members shall identify the contractors, suppliers, members of the regulated community, and other members of the public who undertake activities associated with the operational controls. Requirements for these suppliers shall be communicated. For suppliers who are members of the regulated community, requirements may be communicated through letters / verbal mode wherever required.
Factors Affecting Control
Strategic control can be affected by external factors and external data. Operational control is concerned with internal operating factors. The environment and the market have a lot more to do with strategic control, whereas operating control deals with everyday issues that may arise, such as personnel problems or technological meltdowns.
- Time Frame
The time frame element in the two types of control is very different. Strategic control deals with a process over time, looking at the different steps to evaluate how effective they are and where changes could be made. The process could take weeks or months to finish, yet strategic control lasts longer than that. Once the process is completed, the evaluation continues. Operational control takes place on a day-to-day basis, examining everyday problems that arise and working on improving them on the spot.
- Corrections
Correcting mistakes or taking action to fix problems is more effective in operational control because it happens right away. With strategic control a problem may be found, but with evaluation and analysis having to be done regarding what brought on the problem in the first place, it takes a lot more time. With operational control, problems are addressed immediately to ensure the organization can continue running effectively.
- Reporting Intervals
Much like corrective actions, reporting intervals in strategic control take time over a period of months, whereas operational control has reports compiled daily and weekly. Strategic control looks at bigger organizational issues, such as a new market to break into, so it takes longer to collect research and make reports. Operational control looks at production numbers, sales figures and daily operations. These numbers present themselves much more easily and therefore can be reported quickly and more efficiently.
