This document discusses building on a valid control framework for electrical engineering control plans. It presents an overview of goals and theory, including the Cynefin framework. It discusses applying a valid control approach through identifying effective controls that describe required operating states. This can reduce complexity and help demonstrate compliance. The document suggests critical electrical controls and control support activities to constrain erosion factors and maintain required operating states. It promotes further sharing of this approach to strategic risk assessment.

1. Electrical Engineering Control Plans
- Building on a Valid Control
Framework
A Paper for the 2017 Electrical Engineer
ing Safety Seminar by Peter Standish of
OpRM

2. Presentation
Overview
● Goals and Intent
● Some Theory
● Valid Controls - a Step Change in Thinking
● Getting the Terminology Right
● Control Support Activities and Demonstrable
Compliance
● Where to from here?

3. Goals and
Intent
Goals - to share findings from applying a Valid or
Effective Control approach to strategic risk
assessments
Intent - help encourage companies and
operations be aware of an approach that is a fail
safe way to demonstrate compliance

4. Theory
The Cynefin
Framework
(It’s sort of
Welsh for
Habitat)
COMPLEX
Unknown Unknowns
Probe-Sense-Respond
Trigger a Response =>
Complicated
COMPLICATED
Known Unknowns
Sense-Analyse-Respond
Apply Skills and Adaptive
Processes
SIMPLE
Known Knowns
Sense-Categorise-
Respond
Apply Procedure
CHAOTIC
Unknowable
Unknowns
Act-Sense-Respond
Trigger a STOP,
Regroup => Complicated
DISORDER
We don’t know where we are...

5. With thanks to Wikipedia at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynefin_framework#/media/File:Cynefin_framework_by_Edwin_Stoop.jpg

6. Theory
Enhanced
● Based on ACARP Project C23007 Selection and
Optimisation of Risk Controls (Joy, Hassall, Punch,
Doran, 2015):
○ Act, Object or Technological System
○ Of Itself Prevents or Mitigates an Incident
○ Can be Specified, Measured and Audited
● Leads to the development of a very concise set of
Valid and Effective Controls - that describe the
Required Operating States for an Organisation
addressing a type of Incident
● Addresses the issues which arise from the CYNEFIN
framework

7. Applying the
Theory
ACARP Valid
Control Guidance
Control Management Sheet
Approach to Strategic
(BBRA) Risk Control
Identification
Incident Analysis
and Site
Refinement

8. A Step Change
in Thinking
about Controls
● Applying new and valid Control logic to
reduce complexity
● Valid Controls describe the Required
Operating State and Workers just “get it”
● When you’re solid on the controls the risk
levels are visible from site and industry
incident data

9. Control
Support
Activities and
Demonstrable
Compliance
● Who has re-written or significantly changed
their Management Plans as a result of the
change in statute?
● 2 o’clock on a Thursday morning - who will
know whether the approved document the
supervisors have grabbed is aligned with the
latest version of the Control Plan??

10. Control
Supports as
Unchanging
Points of Truth
● Control Support Activities match to
fundamental states of operating - they
shouldn’t change due to any (non-physical)
external change
● Changes in what is mandated and
recommended should only trigger a change in
mapping - not a change in activity

11. Databases as a
Solution
Control
Supports
Erosion
Factors
Incident
Outputs
Corporate
Standards
Statute
Monitor
and Verify
(Auditing)
Control Plans and
PHMPs

12. Getting the
Terminology
Right
● Terms/Language Used are important
● Consistency can avoid confusion
○ Valid or Effective Controls - are the Required Operating
States that are Acts, Objects or Technological Systems
○ Erosion factors are the People / Equipment / Controlled
Work Environment events or conditions which disrupt
the Required Operating State
○ Control Support Activities are Specified, Implemented,
Monitored and Verified to constrain the Erosion Factor
and move the operating state back to that required

13. Where to from
here?
● Well considered Effective Controls/Required
Operating States form the basis of a powerful
taxonomy of business sensible activities (Control
Support Activities)
● Incidents can be analysed by reviewing which
Controls were compromised by what Erosion Factors
and guide towards which Control Support Activities
that need to be performed or strengthened
● Well cross mapped external (statutory) and business
(corporate standards etc.) imperatives generate a
very sensitive and sensible way to monitor and audit
your system

14. Critical
Controls for
Electrical
Engineering
● Suggested set of Electrical Controls
○ Preventative
■ Workers identify all electrical energy sources
present and apply appropriate work method
■ Workers identify electrical energy being
introduced and respond appropriately
■ Electrical enclosures/insulation constrain
electrical energy
■ Equipment trips due to load/fault condition
■ Workers identify changes in the work
environment whilst exposed and respond
appropriately
○ Mitigating
■ Co-workers/bystanders react to an electrical
fault and prevent harm to the worker
■ Workers deploy appropriate (LV) protection
gear to avoid harm

15. Shameless Self
Promotion
Moment
● We would love to share more of our passion
and enthusiasm for this approach with you
○ Sign up for an online course on the approach
(no charge to EESS attendees)
○ Call - Peter Standish 0417 419 709 or drop me
an email peter.standish@oprm.com.au
● Thanks for your attention and
interest!