How we operate

BP’s operating management system (OMS) provides the basis for managing our operations in a systematic way

Conformance to our OMS is a dynamic process designed to continuously improve our group standards, manage risk and drive performance improvements. Our standards and practices, assessments, actions and activities are guided by and live within our OMS.

What is it?

Our OMS integrates BP requirements on health, safety, security, the environment, social responsibility and operational reliability, as well as related issues, such as maintenance, contractor relations and organizational learning, into a common management system. It provides us with one systematic and controlled holistic approach for how businesses are managed.

How does it work?

Integrated into the OMS are guiding principles and requirements for safe, reliable and compliant operations. It addresses eight ‘elements of operating’, under the areas of people, plant, process, and performance.

How we manage safety

Our operating management system

Each operating function or unit has an OMS which describes how it addresses specific operating risks and delivers its operating activities. Business needs, applicable legal and regulatory requirements and group-wide BP requirements are translated into practical plans to reduce risk and deliver strong, sustainable performance.

Mike Barnes

Vice President, Safety and Operational Risk, BP

"In 2013 and beyond we will continue to focus on applying OMS to our operations. We'll drive conformance by delivering our plans, executing the performance improvement cycle, and using continuous improvement."

Driving conformance and continuous improvement

Our OMS was introduced in 2008. All of our operations, with the exception of those recently acquired, are applying our OMS to govern their BP operations and are working to achieve ongoing conformance with its requirements.

Operations undertake an annual assessment, checking their performance against each of the requirements set out in their OMS. Resulting plans put in place by local operations to close any gaps and identify improvements are prioritized with the aim of continually driving reductions in the level of risk at the sites. Conducting assessments on an annual basis is a means to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. We update and enhance our group requirements within OMS as needed to reflect these as well as the company’s priorities and experience. For example, we have been updating our procedures around oil spill preparedness and response, crisis and continuity planning and learning from incidents.

John Sieg

Group Head of Operations, Safety and Operational Risk, BP

"Our OMS is designed to drive a rigorous and holistic approach to safety, risk management and operational integrity. It provides considerable detail describing what we expect, and what good performance looks like, yet it is built around a handful of simple operating principles and concepts. Most importantly, OMS is designed to help leaders focus on the few things that are most important when delivering safe, compliant and reliable operations. I've seen great things happen when leaders use the simplicity of OMS to clarify and establish their operating priorities and expectations. The principles of OMS are fundamental to how we deliver safe operations at BP."