Introduction
Every task should be understood in the context in which it is being performed. In CRM, work can generally be grouped into three categories:
Planned Work
Unplanned Work
Live Work
Understanding the difference is important because unplanned work and live work often create higher fatality risk. These tasks may involve changing conditions, unfamiliar hazards, unclear procedures, or critical controls that are not yet fully established.
Before work starts, the team must identify the type of work, confirm the critical risks, and verify that the required critical controls are in place and effective.
1. Planned Work
Planned work includes routine tasks that are known, scheduled, and prepared for before the work begins.
These tasks are usually discussed during the pre-start meeting. The team is normally familiar with the work steps, the critical risks have been identified, and the critical controls are established.
Planned work may include:
Replacement of a water pump
Operating cranes and hoists
Using a forklift
Erecting scaffolding
For planned work, the team should still complete the required CRM verification before starting the task. Familiar work can still become unsafe if a critical control is missing, damaged, or not effective.
CRM focus for planned work:
Confirm the task is understood.
Confirm the critical risks are identified.
Verify the critical controls are in place and effective.
Stop work if any critical control is missing or not effective.
2. Unplanned Work
Unplanned work includes tasks that are unexpected, not routine, or not fully prepared before they begin.
These tasks may not have a clear procedure, and the critical risks and critical controls may not be fully identified. People involved in unplanned work may be less prepared to recognize hidden hazards or changing conditions.
Unplanned work may include:
Equipment breakdown
Unexpected maintenance
Spontaneous lifting requirements
Emergency situations
Unplanned work must be treated carefully because the team may be making decisions under time pressure. This can increase the chance of missing a critical risk or starting work without the right controls.
CRM focus for unplanned work:
Stop and reassess the task.
Identify the critical risks before continuing.
Confirm which critical controls are required.
Involve the supervisor if the work is outside the original plan.
Complete the required CRM verification before work starts or resumes.
Do not continue if critical controls are missing, unclear, or not effective.
3. Live Work
Live work occurs when equipment must remain energized, pressurized, moving, or otherwise active while the task is being performed.
Most tasks must be performed with equipment isolated, locked out, de-energized, depressurized, or made safe before work begins. However, in some cases, live work may be required for testing, fault finding, or controlled operational reasons.
Live work may involve exposure to additional hazardous energy. This can include electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, thermal, stored, or pressure energy.
Live work may include:
Testing for hydraulic leaks in a vehicle
Fault finding on energized electrical equipment
Repairing or testing electrical breaker circuits
Testing equipment while it is running
Live work must only proceed when the risks are clearly understood and additional critical controls are established and verified.
CRM focus for live work:
Confirm why the work must be performed live.
Confirm isolation or de-energization is not practical for that specific task.
Identify all hazardous energy sources.
Confirm additional critical controls are required and in place.
Ensure only competent and authorized people perform the work.
Verify controls before starting and reassess if conditions change.
Stop work immediately if controls are missing, not effective, or conditions change.
Summary
This module explains the importance of identifying whether work is:
Planned Work
Unplanned Work
Live Work
Planned work may be familiar, but it still requires verification of critical controls before work begins.
Unplanned work requires the team to stop, reassess, identify critical risks, and confirm the correct critical controls before continuing.
Live work requires extra caution because hazardous energy may still be present. Additional controls may be required before work can safely proceed.
If the work is unplanned or live, the team must increase situational awareness, involve the right people, verify the critical controls, and stop work if the controls are missing, unclear, or not effective.