ISO 15544:2000

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 15544
First edition
2000-09-15
Petroleum and natural gas industries —
Offshore production installations —
Requirements and guidelines for
emergency response
Industries du pétrole et du gaz naturel — Installations de production en
mer — Exigences et lignes directrices pour les réactions d'urgence
Reference number
©
ISO 2000
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ii © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword.iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope .1
2 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms .1
3 Framework for emergency response.5
4 Emergency response strategy (ERS) .6
5 Emergency response plan (ERP) .7
6 Command and control.8
7 Detection of the need for emergency response .9
8 Competence .10
9 Maintenance of emergency response equipment .11
10 Communications.12
11 Escape, refuge, evacuation and rescue .14
12 Environmental emergency response.15
13 Medical emergency response.16
Annex A (informative) Guidelines on the development and assessment of an emergency response
strategy.18
Annex B (informative) Guidelines on emergency response plans.22
Annex C (informative) Guidelines on detection .29
Annex D (informative) Guidelines on competence .31
Annex E (informative) Guidelines on communication.33
Annex F (informative) Guidelines on escape, refuge, evacuation and rescue .35
Annex G (informative) Guidelines on environmental emergency response .42
Bibliography.43
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 15544 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and
offshore structures for petroleum and natural gas industries, Subcommittee SC 6, Processing equipment
and systems.
Annexes A, B, C, D, E, F and G of this International Standard are for information only.
iv © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The successful development of the arrangements required to promote safety and environmental protection during
the recovery of hydrocarbon resources requires a structured approach to be applied to the identification and
assessment of the hazards which may be present during the various phases in the lifecycle of an offshore
installation. These principles also apply to the development of the strategy, arrangements and procedures required
to respond to emergencies. An understanding of the hazards can be achieved by the application of ISO 17776 [4],
which gives guidelines for the processes of hazard identification and assessment for the offshore industry.
The content in this International Standard on escape, refuge, evacuation and rescue is consistent with the content
of ISO 13702 [1] but addresses in more detail how these aspects are built into development of emergency
response measures.
This International Standard has been prepared primarily to assist in the development of new installations, and as
such it may not be appropriate to apply some of the requirements to existing installations. Retrospective application
of this International Standard should only be undertaken where it is reasonable to do so. During the planning of a
major change to an installation there may be more opportunity to implement the requirements, and a careful review
of this International Standard should be undertaken to determine those clauses which can be utilized in the change.
This International Standard is based on an approach where the selection of measures for emergency response is
determined by an evaluation of hazards on the offshore installation. The methodologies employed in this
assessment and the resultant recommendations will differ depending on the complexity of the production process
and facilities, type of facility (i.e. open or enclosed), manning levels, and the environmental conditions associated
with the area of operation.
The verbal form “shall” indicates provisions that are mandatory and “should” indicates provisions to be considered.
Users of this International Standard should note that, while observing its requirements, they should at the same
time ensure compliance with such statutory requirements, rules and regulations as may be applicable to the
individual offshore installation concerned.
The principal objectives of this International Standard are to describe both the approach to be used and important
considerations in determining the emergency response measures that are required on an offshore installation in
order to:
� assure the safety of all personnel;
� minimize impact on the environment;
� minimize impact on assets and operations.
The technical guidance in clauses 4 to 13 of this International Standard is arranged as follows:
Objectives identify the goals to be achieved by the emergency response measures being described.
Functional requirements represent the minimum conditions which shall be satisfied to meet the stated objectives.
The functional requirements are performance-orientated measures and, as such, should be applicable to the
variety of offshore installations utilized for the development of hydrocarbon resources throughout the world.
Guidelines describe recognized practices which should be considered in developing the measures for emergency
response. The guidelines are limited to principal elements and are intended to provide specific guidance which, due
to the wide variety of offshore operating environments, may in some circumstances not be applicable.
The functional requirements and guidelines are supplemented by annexes A to H. The guidelines and annexes
should be considered in conjunction with statutory requirements, industry standards and individual company
philosophy, to determine the particular measures that are necessary for emergency response.
vi © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 15544:2000(E)
Petroleum and natural gas industries — Offshore production
installations — Requirements and guidelines for emergency
response
1 Scope
This International Standard describes objectives, functional requirements and guidelines for emergency response
(ER) measures on installations used for the development of offshore hydrocarbon resources. It is applicable to
fixed offshore structures or floating production, storage and off-take systems.
NOTE For mobile offshore units, the ER plans developed in conformance with the requirements and recommendations of
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are generally adequate for the normal, independent operation of the unit in most
locations. The following aspects of ER planning are generally not addressed by IMO and should be specially considered:
� area evacuation, e.g. precautionary evacuation in areas of tropical revolving storms;
� combined operations wherein an integrated command and ER system should be developed;
� arctic operations;
� uncontrolled flow from a well.
2 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this International Standard, the following terms, definitions and abbreviated terms apply.
2.1 Terms and definitions
2.1.1
abandonment
act of personnel onboard leaving an installation in an emergency
2.1.2
accommodation
place where personnel onboard sleep and spend their off-duty time
NOTE It may include dining rooms, recreation rooms, lavatories, cabins, offices, sickbay, living quarters, galley, pantries
and similar permanently enclosed spaces.
2.1.3
control
limiting the extent and/or duration of a hazardous event to prevent escalation
2.1.4
control station
place on the installation from which personnel can monitor the status of the installation, initiate appropriate
shutdown actions and undertake emergency communication
2.1.5
embarkation area
place from which personnel leave the installation during evacuation
EXAMPLES A helideck and associated waiting area or a lifeboat/liferaft boarding area.
2.1.6
emergency
hazardous event which cannot be handled by normal measures and requires immediate action to limit its extent,
duration or consequences
2.1.7
emergency command centre
location from which the person in overall charge coordinates ER activities
2.1.8
emergency response
ER
action taken by personnel on or off the installation to control or mitigate a hazardous event or initiate and execute
abandonment
2.1.9
emergency response arrangement
plant and equipment provided for use under emergency conditions
2.1.10
emergency response measure
anything provided to facilitate the management of an emergency
NOTE This is a generic term which includes emergency response arrangements, as well as the planning, procedural and
organizational aspects of managing emergencies.
2.1.11
emergency response team
group of personnel who have designated responsibilities in an emergency for the safety of the installation, the
safety of others or for environmental protection
2.1.12
emergency station
place to which emergency response personnel go to undertake their emergency duties
2.1.13
escalation
increase in the consequences of a hazardous event
2.1.14
escape
act of personnel moving away from a hazardous event to a place where its effects are reduced or removed
2.1.15
escape route
route leading to the place where people muster, or to an area from which people may leave the installation in an
emergency
2.1.16
essential safety system
system which has a major role in the control and mitigation of a hazardous event and in any subsequent
evacuation, escape and rescue activities
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2.1.17
evacuation
planned method of leaving the installation in an emergency
2.1.18
evacuation, escape and rescue
EER
range of possible actions in an emergency
NOTE Such actions may include escape, muster, refuge, evacuation, escape to the sea and rescue/recovery.
2.1.19
evacuation, escape and rescue strategy
EERS
strategy that results from an evaluation of events that may require EER
NOTE This strategy describes the measures required and their role.
2.1.20
evacuation route
escape route which leads from the muster area to the place(s) used for primary or secondary evacuation from the
installation
2.1.21
hazard
potential for human injury, damage to the environment, damage to property or a combination of these
2.1.22
hazard assessment
process whereby the results of an analysis of a hazard or hazardous event are considered against either
judgement, standards, or criteria which have been developed as a basis for decision-making
2.1.23
hazardous event
incident which occurs when a hazard is realized
EXAMPLES Release of gas, fire, loss of buoyancy.
2.1.24
life-jacket
device worn by personnel which has sufficient buoyancy and stability in water to turn the body of an unconscious
person and keep the person’s mouth clear of the water
2.1.25
mitigation
limitation of the undesirable effects of a particular event
2.1.26
manned installation
installation which is normally occupied
2.1.27
mobile offshore unit
mobile platform, including drilling ships, equipped for drilling for subsea hydrocarbon deposits and/or for purposes
other than production and storage of hydrocarbon deposits
2.1.28
muster
movement of people to a designated area so that the person in overall charge can account for all people and
thereby facilitate subsequent emergency response actions
2.1.29
muster area
designated area to which personnel report when required to do so in an emergency
2.1.30
prevention
reduction of the likelihood of a hazardous event
2.1.31
primary method
preferred method of leaving the installation in an emergency which can be carried out in a fully
controlled manner under the direction of the person in charge
2.1.32
rescue
process by which those who have entered the sea directly or in survival craft/liferafts are retrieved to a place where
medical assistance is available
2.1.33
risk
combination of the chance that a specified hazardous event will occur and the severity of the consequences of the
event
2.1.34
secondary method
method of leaving the installation in an emergency which can be carried out in a fully controlled
manner under the direction of the person in charge, independent of external support
2.1.35
survival suit
protective suit made of materials which reduce body heat-loss of a person wearing it in cold water
2.1.36
survival craft
craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in it from the time of abandoning the installation
2.1.37
temporary refuge
TR
place provided where personnel can take refuge for a predetermined period whilst investigations, emergency
response and evacuation preparations are undertaken
NOTE A temporary refuge, where provided, need not necessarily be useable under all accident scenarios.
2.1.38
tertiary method
method which relies considerably on the individual’sown action
2.2 Abbreviated terms
EPIRB emergency position-indicating radio beacon
ERP emergency response plan
ERS emergency response strategy
ESD emergency shutdown
F&G fire and gas
4 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

HSE health, safety and environmental
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IMO International Maritime Organization
SOLAS Safety Of Life At Sea (Conference)
TR temporary refuge
3 Framework for emergency response
Effective management systems are required to address the health and safety aspects of the activities undertaken
1)
by all companies associated with the offshore recovery of hydrocarbons . These management systems should be
applied to all stages in the life cycle of an installation and to all related activities. Such a management system,
which has been developed for environmental issues, is described in ISO 14001 [2] and the principles contained
therein can also be applied to issues relating to health and safety.
One key element of effective management systems is a systematic process of identification of hazards, followed by
evaluation and risk management. Risk reduction is an important component of risk management, and the selection
of risk reduction measures will predominantly entail the use of sound engineering judgement. However, such
judgements may need to be supplemented by recognition of the particular circumstances which may require
variation to past practices and previously applied codes and standards. In certain circumstances, risk assessment
may be able to provide useful input to the decision-making process providing that the operator has established
criteria for this purpose. Risk reduction measures should include those to prevent incidents (i.e. reducing the
probability of occurrence), to control incidents (i.e. limit the extent and duration of a hazardous event) and to
mitigate the effects (i.e. reducing the consequences). Preventative measures such as using inherently safer
designs and ensuring asset integrity should be emphasized wherever practicable. Measures to recover from
incidents should be provided based on the evaluation and should be developed taking into account possible
failures of the control and mitigation measures. Based on the results of the evaluation, detailed health, safety and
environmental objectives and functional requirements should be set at appropriate levels.
The above is general and applies to all hazards and potentially hazardous events. ER should be treated in the
same manner, and ER measures should be provided based on an evaluation that takes into account possible
failures of the control and mitigation measures. It is these ER measures which, as an integrated system, provide
the appropriate response to an incident occurring on or near the installation.
The results of the evaluation process and the decisions taken with respect to the need for, and role of, any
measures required for ER should be fully recorded, in which case the record shall be available to those who
operate the installation and to those involved in any subsequent change to the installation. This record is the
emergency response strategy (ERS).
ISO 13702 introduced the concept of strategies but stated that such strategies do not have to be separately
documented, as the relevant information may be included with other HSE information for an installation or may be
contained in recognized codes and standards that are relevant to the operating location. Indeed there can be
significant overlap between strategies and other HSE information, so that combining this information into one
source is likely to assist the understanding by the people on the installation of how the various measures are
integrated.
The ERP should set out the operational and procedural requirements to be followed under the various emergency
scenarios that are relevant for a particular installation.
1) For example, operators should have an effective management system. Contractors should have either their own
management system or conduct their activities consistently with the operator's management system.
The resources that typically are involved in ER can be divided into three categories:
a) unit resources
Resources which are under the direction of the person in overall charge of the installation, and which are
immediately available. They include personnel and equipment, vessels and helicopters that have been
assigned ER duties.
b) area resources
Resources which are not under the direction of the person in overall charge of the installation, but which are
located in the same area. The resources are made available by a mutual aid or cooperation agreement, and
may include installations in the vicinity, supply vessels, other vessels and helicopters.
c) external resources
Resources which are not under the direction of the person in overall charge of the installation, and which are
not located in the area. Such resources may be the organization and resources of national and international
rescue services, as well as other resources which professional bodies or others may place at the disposal of
the field or installation manager. This may include aircraft, helicopters, coast guard and navy vessels, shore-
based personnel resources, regional or national oil pollution resources, the public health service and resources
governed by international agreements and other agreements among the operators of installations.
4 Emergency response strategy (ERS)
4.1 Objectives
� To identify in broad terms the means to be used to secure an adequate ER.
� To provide a statement which will permit monitoring of the adequacy of the ER measures so that they can be
modified when necessary.
4.2 Functional requirements
An ERS shall be available for all offshore installations based on an assessment of the events that can arise.
The ERS shall address the issues of organization, procedures, equipment, information, training and the role of any
other measures that are necessary to achieve a successful ER.
Functional requirements for ER measures shall be set at appropriate levels, as part of the ERS, against which the
adequacy of the measures can be judged.
ER measures shall be developed taking into account possible failures of the control and mitigation measures.
In developing the ERS, the reliability and availability of equipment shall be considered to determine whether
additional components are required to deal with periods of non-availability, e.g. due to maintenance or breakdown.
Strategies shall be periodically reviewed to confirm that they are still appropriate, and updated whenever there is a
change to the installation or external situation which may significantly affect the content of the strategy.
4.3 Guidelines
The emergency planning and the communications arrangements should be sufficiently flexible and robust to allow
effective assessment of the emergency as it develops and to ensure that all personnel are informed as to the action
that must be taken.
For new installations, the development of ERS and the measures required should be an integral part of the design
process.
6 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

Any key assumptions used in the development of the ERS should be clearly stated, so that they can be reviewed to
confirm that they are still valid.
The ERS should be periodically reviewed for adequacy by the custodian of the strategy.
ER measures to deal with acute oil pollution should be integrated into the overall ERP. The company responsible
for an offshore installation should liaise with relevant authorities to develop plans to deal with any oil spills that may
affect the shoreline.
When developing the ERS, the maximum number of people who might be involved in an emergency should be
considered. During some phases of life cycle of an installation, such as during major construction work, the number
of people on the installation can be significantly higher than assumed in the ERS. Prior to such phases of work, the
impact on ER should be considered so that changes to the ER measures can be implemented before the
complement increases.
Further guidance in strategies is given in annex A.
5 Emergency response plan (ERP)
5.1 Objective
� To provide a clear statement of the key ER information and the actions expected under emergency conditions.
5.2 Functional requirements
The ERP shall cover all stages of an ER, from detection of the emergency until the emergency is over and persons
are considered to be in a place of safety. The ERP shall embrace all types of emergency, from minor incidents with
no potential to require installation abandonment to major accidents.
The ERP shall address the operational and procedural requirements for all persons that have a role in managing
an emergency, from detection of the event until the emergency is considered to be over and all people are in a
place of safety.
In preparing the ERP, the various emergency scenarios requiring a response shall be considered and the
appropriate organization to deal with these scenarios put in place. However, to avoid excessive detail and
repetition it may be appropriate, for the purposes of planning, to group emergencies into generic types.
The ERP shall contain a clear statement of key individuals' responsibilities during emergencies.
Personnel shall be available to carry out their designated role when required to do so, or adequate alternative
arrangements shall be provided.
The ERP shall address the actions required in an emergency on any other installations connected by pipelines.
The ERP shall cover other groups who are expected to provide services in the event of an emergency, but who are
not themselves directly involved in the installation operations.
Those individuals or organizations who have specific actions during an emergency shall be consulted during the
development of the ERP.
5.3 Guidelines
The alarm signals used on the installation and their meaning should be described in the ERP. The general
procedures to be followed in the event of each alarm should also be included in the ERP.
Practices and drills should be undertaken as frequently as necessary to ensure that all personnel on the
installation, whether direct employees, contractors or visitors, are aware of and fully familiar with their
responsibilities under the plan.
The consequences of a loss of containment can be significantly increased if installations connected by pipelines
continue to export hydrocarbons in the event of an emergency. Clear instructions should be included in the ERP on
the actions to be taken on these connected installations under emergency conditions. The ERP should also detail
how connected installations are alerted of the need to respond.
To ensure that there is an effective and comprehensive ERP, the following should be considered in preparing the
plan:
� clearly identified responsibilities for decision-making;
� clearly identified lines of command, including how the 'on-scene' commander interfaces with area and external
resources;
� competence of those with responsibility for decision-making;
� contingency arrangements to cope with key personnel being unavailable;
� effective communications to provide sufficient information for decision-making and to ensure that all personnel
are adequately informed of the action they should take;
� resources available to provide assistance;
� the drills and practices required to ensure that the ERP will be effective.
In order to maintain the ERP, there should be a process to verify that:
� all the basic assumptions made in establishing the ERP are met in practice;
� people with roles in an emergency have the required competencies;
� ER equipment is being adequately maintained;
� the ER procedures are appropriate for the current understanding of the events that require ER and how they
may escalate;
� area and external resources are able to perform their roles.
The ERP should be subject to the same assessment and development procedures as all other measures
necessary to achieve a satisfactory ER.
Where it can be safely undertaken, consideration should be given to conducting some drills without prewarning in
order to test the effectiveness of the ER procedures.
Examples of the issues that should be taken into account in drawing up the ERP are described in annex B.
6 Command and control
6.1 Objectives
� To provide a command structure which is suitable to deal with foreseeable emergencies.
� To establish the roles of any individuals or organizations that may have a role in the management of an
emergency.
8 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

6.2 Functional requirements
The measures provided for command and control shall ensure that
� an effective command structure is established which is sufficiently flexible to cope with the full range of
emergencies;
� the command hierarchy is clear and unambiguous and is well understood by all people on the installation;
� all personnel on the installation are adequately instructed on the appropriate action to take in an emergency;
� there is adequate redundancy such that successful ER is likely, even if key individuals are not able to perform
their assigned roles;
� liaison with area and external resources can be undertaken effectively.
A command structure shall be established that will, so far as is reasonable, remain effective throughout all stages
of an emergency.
6.3 Guidelines
Any emergency should have a single person accountable for the coordination of ER actions. Command and control
arrangements in an emergency should be developed which take into account the normal lines of command.
For emergencies likely to be confined to the installation, the individual with responsibility for coordinating ER is
likely to be the person in overall charge of the installation. For escalating emergencies, requiring assistance by
area or external resources, the overall coordinator of ER is likely to be on another installation or onshore.
The command structure should be capable of functioning in different circumstances and, in particular, there should
be contingency arrangements to ensure that if individuals are, or become, unavailable there will be others identified
as capable of discharging the relevant responsibilities so that the ER remains effective.
The respective responsibilities between offshore and onshore support facilities, and among those on the
installation, should be specified and clearly understood by all those involved. There should be adequate
arrangements for hand-over of command and control functions, where necessary for different stages of the
emergency.
In allocating tasks, care should be taken to avoid the assigning to an individual of multiple responsibilities that may
be incompatible in an emergency.
7 Detection of the need for emergency response
7.1 Objective
� To provide arrangements and procedures that indicate the need for ER in sufficient time for the necessary
actions to be successfully executed.
7.2 Functional requirements
The method and speed of response of the arrangements used to detect the need for ER shall be based on an
understanding of the speed with which the incident can escalate.
All appropriate persons shall be alerted in a timely manner of the need to perform their allocated ER activities as
described in the ERP.
Alarms to alert people of the need for ER shall include audible and visual alarms and voice communication
systems.
7.3 Guidelines
The detection system should provide sufficient information on the nature and location of the incident to allow the
appropriate ER activities to be initiated.
The primary alarm should be audible, supplemented by flashing lights in high noise areas. Alarms should be kept
as simple as possible to avoid misinterpretation. The characteristics and severity of the incidents that trigger them
should determine the nature and location of alarms.
Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that the alarm is raised at locations where individuals are expected
to initiate control or mitigation measures. Alarm and other key status information should always be annunciated at
the main control point.
Where it is not reasonable to give an alarm automatically (for example in a remote, rarely visited part of an
installation), there should be clear procedures for communicating information to the appropriate people in the event
of an incident being detected.
The detection system should be adequately maintained, and contingency arrangements which may require limiting
operational activities should be established for situations where all or part of a detection system is not available; for
example during maintenance.
More guidance on detection of the need for ER is given in annex C.
8 Competence
8.1 Objectives
� To identify the competencies that are required to deal with emergencies.
� To provided individuals with the proven ability to fulfil their role in an emergency.
8.2 Functional requirements
Key individuals, such as the person in overall charge and the control room operator, shall be shown to be
competent to perform their emergency duties before they are appointed.
When an installation is manned, there shall be sufficient competent personnel present on the installation at all
times to carry out the required emergency duties, including the operation of equipment specifically provided for
emergencies.
The required level of competence shall be assessed for
� the general workforce on the installation;
� people on the installation with specific emergency duties;
� senior staff in the company’s organization, including the person in overall charge;
� people on other installations or vessels and onshore, who have a role in an emergency.
Individual competencies shall be periodically tested to determine whether further training and knowledge is
required to allow them to effectively perform their emergency duties. The ERS shall include the measures to be
taken to maintain this competence by, for example, drills, practices and refresher training.
10 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

8.3 Guidelines
In order to be considered competent, the individual concerned should have been assessed to have the proven
ability to apply training, experience and knowledge to undertake the tasks for which he/she is responsible. Where
practical the assessment should be carried out under simulated conditions, either individually or with the
appropriate ER team.
So far as is possible, the organization that is used for ER should reflect the organization that is used in normal
operating conditions. In this way ER is emphasized as a responsibility embodied in the normal management
structure. However, in the case of non-routine activities such as combined operations with a crane barge or flotel,
an alternative organization for ER may be appropriate.
The ER organization should be flexible, taking into account human behaviour under stress and that key personnel
may be unavailable or injured in the emergency. Flexibility in the ER organization should therefore be included in
training, practices and drills to ensure that those required to substitute for key personnel are competent to do so.
Generally a person should have only one duty in an emergency. However, if a person must have more than one
duty in an emergency, care is needed to ensure that assigned roles are compatible and do not introduce unrealistic
expectations for the actions that can be undertaken by one individual (e.g. combining medical and radio operator
roles).
Adequate arrangements should be made for visitors or other special groups, such as short-term contractors, who
may be particularly unfamiliar with the installation or who may have particular activities to carry out in emergencies.
These arrangements should include general training in emergencies, installation-specific induction training and
training based on the ERP. Information, instruction and training should be refreshed periodically as necessary.
More guidance on competence is given in annex D.
9 Maintenance of emergency response equipment
9.1 Objective
� To maintain the arrangements required for ER in such a condition that they will reliably perform their role when
required to do so.
9.2 Functional requirements
As part of an overall management system, each operator shall establish effective operations, inspection, testing
and maintenance procedures to ensure that the functional requirements of the equipment and systems provided for
ER are maintained. These procedures shall take due account of the safety of personnel, protection of assets and
the environment and compliance with any local regulatory requirements.
In order to provide effective procedures, the following shall be carried out:
� systems shall be subjected to appropriate testing prior to first use, to confirm that they meet the appropriate
functional requirements;
� a schedule shall be prepared, detailing the inspection, testing and maintenance routines and frequencies to be
followed;
� all systems shall be thoroughly inspected, following established procedures. This determines if remedial
measures are needed to ensure that the item inspected will function satisfactorily;
� adequate records of the results of the inspection, testing and maintenance shall be kept and shall be
periodically reviewed to confirm that the written scheme is appropriate and is being adequately implemented;
� maintenance procedures shall include regular visual inspection;
� appropriate operational tests shall be conducted;
� use, impairment and restoration of equipment or systems shall be recorded and reported as appropriate;
� any identified failures or impairments shall be promptly corrected. Where equipment cannot be promptly
returned to service, contingency plans shall be implemented.
9.3 Guidelines
Where arrangements provided for ER will not be available for any reason, the person in overall charge should
consider the impact of this on the ability to respond to an emergency and introduce any controls that are needed to
ensure that effective ER is still possible.
It can be readily foreseen that some ER equipment will be unavailable from time to time (e.g. survival craft for
routine maintenance). The ERP should contain preplanning to define the actions that are required when such non-
availability occurs.
Certain facets of the ER arrangements such as adequate escape and evacuation routes should be provided at all
times. Every effort should be made to retain diversity of routes from all work locations to the muster area.
Equipment provided for ER purposes should not be used for any other purpose, even temporarily, if this could
jeopardize the ability of the equipment to perform its functions under emergency conditions.
Maintenance, inspection and testing of emergency equipment should only be undertaken by people who are
competent to perform this role and interpret the results of any tests. In some cases this may require resources from
the supplier of the equipment or other expertise not routinely available on the installation.
As a minimum, plans for periodic inspection and testing should be established to ensure that there are no hidden
failures which would prevent a system needed for ER achieving the essential functions and reliability targets given
in the functional requirements.
On some installations, a risk-based approach is used to determine the inspection and testing requirements. In this
case the inspection and testing frequencies will be developed for individual installations.
The frequency of inspection and testing of ER equipment on normally unattended installations should be balanced
to reflect the need to maintain the equipment in good condition but not to require unnecessary visits to maintain an
arbitrary inspection programme.
Examples of typical frequencies of inspection and testing of equipment associated with mitigation and control of
fires and explosions and in evacuation, escape and rescue are addressed in ISO 13702.
10 Communications
10.1 Objectives
� To provide sufficient reliable information to people on the installation so that they are able to take the
appropriate emergency action.
� To provide means for those on the installation to communicate with the person in overall charge.
� To provide reliable arrangements to allow the person in overall charge to communicate with all people on the
installation regarding the nature of any emergency and the actions they are required to take.
� To provide reliable means to allow the person in overall charge to communicate with area and external
resources who have a role in ER.
12 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

10.2 Functional requirements
Information, instruction and training on ER shall be given on or before arrival at the installation. Personnel with key
ER roles shall be trained and competent prior to arrival offshore.
Communications related to ER shall be given in a manner that will be readily understood by the recipient. In
particular, the communication arrangements, such as the installation alarm system, shall ensure that people know
when they are required to muster.
The means of communication shall be selected based on the need for communication in likely scenarios.
Arrangements shall be in place to enable effective communication between persons with command and control
responsibilities and all others on the installation or engaged in activities connected with it, to enable them to take
appropriate action in an emergency.
10.3 Guidelines
Suitable equipment, information processing and procedures should be in place to enable effective communication
between persons with command and control responsibilities and all others on the installation or engaged in
activities connected with it (e.g. diving, support or
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