Business Challenge

A premier, highly scrutinized pipeline project in British Columbia required robust oversight of Prime Contractor health and safety performance. Three Prime Contractors — overseeing pipeline construction, tunnelling, and facility construction — operated simultaneously across sensitive environmental zones, populated corridors, and remote, high-risk terrain. The client needed a rigorous, standardized audit program to manage contractor performance, ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements, and reduce risks associated with complex, high-profile construction activity.

Objectives & Success Criteria

The client’s objectives were to:

• Develop a new OHS audit protocol tailored to the risk profile of each Prime Contractor’s scope of work.
• Leverage PMO’s expertise in pipeline construction, HSE auditing, and regulatory compliance to ensure thorough, practical audit tools.
• Conduct three audits annually for each Prime Contractor (field-based and desktop reviews).
• Provide clear reporting to Prime Contractors and client senior leadership, with measurable follow-up and closeout of audit findings.

Success criteria included: consistent application of audit protocols, measurable risk reduction, improved contractor accountability, and actionable insights for trending safety performance across the project lifecycle.

PMO Solution (What We Did)

PMO assigned a senior pipeline HSE auditor to lead the initiative. Working collaboratively with the client, the team integrated multiple frameworks and requirements into the protocols, including:

• Elements of the client’s HSE Management System.
• ISO 45001 standards.
• Project risk assessments and Prime Contractor contractual obligations.
• Prime Contractor HSE Management Systems.
• Applicable WorkSafeBC legislation.
• PMO’s extensive field auditing experience on pipeline construction projects.

These customized protocols were designed for consistency, enabling “apples-to-apples” comparisons across Prime Contractors and over time. They provided a basis for continuous improvement, trend analysis, and enhanced client oversight throughout the multi-year project.

Key Components / Activities

• Development of customized audit protocols for each Prime Contractor.
• Integration of ISO 45001, WorkSafeBC legislation, and client/project requirements.
• Annual schedule of field and desktop audits (three per Prime Contractor per year).
• Delivery of audit results to Prime Contractors and client senior representatives.
• Tracking and verification of audit closeout actions by the client.

Outcomes & Impact

• Enhanced Safety Oversight: Provided the client with a structured, multi-year audit program to manage high-risk activities.
• Standardized Approach: Delivered consistent, comparable protocols that enabled trend analysis across Prime Contractors and over time.
• Risk Reduction: Early audits identified and drove closure of high-risk gaps, particularly in tunnelling operations and remote construction sites.
• Improved Accountability: Prime Contractors received transparent feedback, strengthening compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations.
• Efficiency & Cost Avoidance: By identifying risks early, the client avoided potential delays, costly incidents, and reputational impacts.

Lessons Learned / Challenges Overcome

Challenges included developing protocols robust enough to address diverse scopes — from tunnelling in sensitive environments to pipeline construction in remote terrain — while remaining practical for consistent implementation. PMO overcame this by designing modular audit protocols that addressed common requirements while tailoring risk controls to each scope. A key lesson was the importance of integrating client, regulatory, and contractor systems into one cohesive framework to drive accountability.

Value Proposition Summary

PMO delivered a multi-year OHS audit program that enabled the client to effectively oversee three Prime Contractors on a high-profile, high-risk pipeline project. By combining ISO standards, regulatory frameworks, and practical field experience, PMO provided actionable insights, reduced risk, and strengthened contractor accountability. The consistent, repeatable approach allowed the client to track performance trends over time, reinforcing PMO’s reputation as a trusted partner for safety assurance in complex energy infrastructure projects.

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