Safely Managing Construction & Operations at the Same Time
Construction, maintenance, commissioning, shutdowns, and live process operations often need to occur simultaneously. While each activity may be safe on its own, the interaction between them can introduce unexpected hazards that are easily overlooked.
A SIMOPs (Simultaneous Operations) Study identifies these potential conflicts before work begins, helping project teams reduce safety risks, avoid operational disruptions, and improve coordination between operations and construction personnel.
At xSeriCon, we facilitate structured SIMOPs workshops using a practical HAZID-based methodology that goes beyond simple activity matrices to identify the real risks associated with simultaneous operations.
What is a SIMOPs study (Simultaneous Operations)?
A SIMOPs Study is a structured risk assessment that evaluates hazards arising when two or more activities take place simultaneously within the same facility.
Typical applications include:
- Brownfield expansion projects
- Plant modifications
- Construction adjacent to operating facilities
- Commissioning new process units
- Shutdown and turnaround activities
- Offshore platforms and FPSOs
- LNG terminals
- Petrochemical and refinery projects
The objective is to identify potential interactions between activities, evaluate the associated risks, and define practical mitigation measures before work starts.
Contact us to find out about our cost-effective SIMOPs solutions.
Why is SIMOPs Important?
Many industrial incidents occur not because individual activities are unsafe, but because separate teams unknowingly create hazards for one another.
For example:
- A construction laydown area blocks emergency access.
- A utility shutdown affects an operating process unit.
- Vehicle movements interfere with plant operations.
- Tie-in work introduces unexpected process hazards.
- Construction noise prevents operators from hearing alarms.
- Shared evacuation routes become congested during an emergency.
These situations may not be identified by conventional construction planning or process safety studies alone.
A SIMOPs Study provides a structured forum for operations, project, maintenance, and contractor teams to identify these interfaces before they become incidents.
Our Approach
Unlike traditional SIMOPs studies that rely solely on activity interaction matrices, xSeriCon adopts a structured HAZID-style workshop to examine how construction and operating facilities interact.
Typical discussion topics include:
Site Access and Space Utilization
- Construction laydown areas
- Emergency access
- Escape routes
- Marine and offshore access
Utilities
- Electrical power
- Instrument air
- Cooling water
- Steam
- Nitrogen
- Communications
Contractor Coordination
- Shared responsibilities
- Communication between work groups
- Permit-to-work interfaces
Vehicle and Traffic Management
- Pedestrian safety
- Traffic congestion
- Heavy equipment movement
- Visibility and collision risks
Materials and Waste Management
- Hazardous material storage
- Waste handling
- Fire loading
- Environmental risks
Tie-ins and Live Systems
- Process piping
- Electrical systems
- Utilities
- Instrumentation
- Control systems
Decommissioning Activities
- Isolation strategies
- Residual inventories
- Temporary modifications
Working Environment
- Dust
- Noise
- Vibration
- Lighting
- Communication effectiveness
Emergency Response
- Evacuation planning
- Muster areas
- Shared emergency resources
- Incident coordination
Each identified scenario is assessed for its credibility, potential consequences, existing safeguards, and the need for additional mitigation measures.
Deliverables
• Following the SIMOPs Study, clients receive comprehensive documentation, including:
Identify and manage risks from simultaneous operations. Improve safety, reduce project delays, and protect operating facilities.
Benefits to Your Project
A well-executed SIMOPs Study provides benefits that extend far beyond regulatory compliance.
Why Choose xSeriCon?
At xSeriCon, we believe effective SIMOPs management requires more than completing a checklist.
Our consultants combine practical process safety experience with structured HAZID facilitation techniques to encourage discussion, challenge assumptions, and identify risks that might otherwise be overlooked.
Rather than focusing solely on construction activities, our methodology examines the critical interfaces between people, equipment, utilities, procedures, and operating facilities—helping clients manage simultaneous operations safely while keeping projects on schedule.
Learn more details about SIMOPs from our article here.
Planning a Brownfield Project or Plant Modification?
If your project involves construction, commissioning, maintenance, or shutdown activities alongside operating facilities, a SIMOPs Study can help identify and manage the risks before work begins.
Contact xSeriCon today to discuss how our SIMOPs specialists can support your next project.
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