POM Lesson 1

What basic observation should an Operator make with his ears?

• Listen for vibration, walkie-talkie, abnormal noise, housekeeping

• Listen for vibration, radio, abnormal leaks, fire & alarms

• Listen for leaks, radio, abnormal smell, vibration & alarms

• Listen for leaks, walkie-talkie, abnormal noise, vibration & alarms

What basic observation should an Operator make with his nose?

• Smell the inside of a confined space

• Be aware of unusual smells

• Smell the inside of an unmarked drum

• Be aware of lubricating oil leak

Problems on the Plant must be reported immediately either to the Control Room Operator or to Supervisor.

• True

• False

At the end of the shift, a field operator should drain the battery of the walkie-talkie and allow the next shift to charge the battery.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Field operators should always make sure their walkie-talkie is fully charged at the beginning of each shift and check with the Control Room that their radio is operational. If the battery has low power, he should charge them accordingly.

 

Most operations must be shutdown or start-up in a any random order

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Most operations must be shutdown or start-up in a specific order!

What will happen if the operator fails to follow the right procedures?

• Oxygen release

• Natural disaster

• Unqualified samples

• Catastrophic release or system failure

During a routine field inspection, the pressure indicated on a process line gauge is significantly lower than the normal operating range, while upstream equipment appears to be running normally. What is the MOST appropriate first action?

• Increase the pressure by adjusting the control valve immediately

• Verify the gauge accuracy and check for possible blockage or leakage

• Ignore the reading if no alarm is activated

• Shut down the entire process line immediately

Answer explanation

A low reading may be caused by a faulty gauge, partial blockage, or leak. Verification is required before taking corrective action.

During a walk-on-line inspection, which observation requires IMMEDIATE reporting?

• Missing equipment tag

• Slight rust on pipe support

• Dust accumulation on cable tray

• Liquid dripping from a flange joint

Answer explanation

Active leakage is a direct sign of LOC and poses immediate safety and environmental risks.

Which of the following is considered an abnormal operating condition that should be logged and reported?

• Stable flow rate with no vibration

• Equipment running within design temperature

• Repeated minor alarms that reset automatically

• Normal operating noise level

Answer explanation

Repeated alarms—even if they reset—indicate an underlying issue that requires investigation.

While checking running equipment, which parameter combination is MOST critical for early fault detection?

• Equipment color and label condition

• Temperature, vibration, and noise

• Equipment installation date

• Manufacturer nameplate data

Answer explanation

Temperature, vibration, and noise are key indicators of mechanical and operational health.