AAOM Handbook

WA.06 Is the Work Necessary? Context

The people working within a business area generally know what is required to have that area functioning sustainably (i.e. dealing responsibly with safety, the environment, employees, communities, governments and asset life), effectively and efficiently. They can recognise when work is required to rectify something that will affect the achievement of these objectives, and they can provide some basic information needed to process each Work Request. While an employee may recognise a potential issue, they may not understand all of the circumstances surrounding the issue they observe, some of which may reduce or remove the need for action on the issue observed by the employee. The technical review of each Work Request must establish that:  Valid contributing causes of the issue are identified,  Appropriate corrective actions are identified, and  The issue that has been identified raises a genuine need for work. There will be instances where an issue that is observed and raised by an employee will not require work. For example:  A noise reported to be coming from equipment may, on further assessment, not indicate a problem,  A minor oil leak on a truck transmission may not require repair if the transmission is due to be changed in the next few weeks, or  A damaged drain line may not need repair if a new drain is due for installation. If there are criteria or circumstances that make the Work Request unnecessary it should not be approved. Purpose To approve only those Work Requests that are necessary. Quantity One decision whether to approve or cancel the Work Request.