SEMS Auditing Services

 

M&H Auditing’s heritage comes providing services to world-class companies throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) – from small, independent contractors to major oil and gas companies. 

 

M&H Auditing now continues the tradition of helping operators specifically comply with the auditing portion of the regulation.

 

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) SEMS Regulation (30 CFR 250 Subpart S) requires operators of oil and gas operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to have their SEMS Audited by an Independent Third-Party (I3P) Audit Service Provider (ASP) who has been accredited by the Center for Offshore Safety (COS). M&H Auditing was formed to provide COS accredited SEMS I3P auditing services for OCS operators and contractors involved in OCS oil and gas operations.

 

 

Regulatory Required SEMS

Audits & COS Certificate Audits

 

M&H Auditing has the expertise in offshore safety, operations and regulations to evaluate the implementation, maintenance and effectiveness of your SEMS.

M&H Auditing offers a comprehensive and enhanced process designed to most efficiently perform the audit, comply with the regulation and offer additional value added services. Our process for organizing, conducting and documenting the audit is thorough, effective and efficient. M&H Auditing has developed a formal process which, together with the audit plan developed jointly with the client, guides the process and ensures an objective measureable result.

 

M&H Auditing Policy & Procedures

 

Accreditation

M&H Auditing is an Audit Service Provider (ASP) accredited by the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) to conduct Safety & Environmental Management System (SEMS) audits conforming to 30 CFR 250 Subpart S.

 

COS is also known as the Accreditation Body (AB). The AB is recognized by the US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) who enforces its’ applicable regulations.

 

Accredited COS Certification Process

The M&H Auditing COS Certification process is meant to provide a repeatable and consistent approach to SEMS Auditing. The process consists of the all of the following steps:

 

• Application submittal by Client

   o An application is submitted by the Client to provide information to develop the

      proposal and the Audit Plan.

 

• Proposal and estimate

   o A proposal and estimate is prepared by M&H Auditing which provides scope, cost

      estimates, and schedule estimates.

 

• Contract award

   o A contract is executed to authorize M&H Auditing to begin work and provide

      appropriate indemnification and confidentiality protections for each party.

 

• Preparation and submittal of the Audit Plan to BSEE

   o M&H Auditing assists in the preparation of the Audit Plan so that it can be

      submitted by the Operator to BSEE

 

• Review of Documentation

   o The audit begins with a kickoff meeting and a review of the available

      documentation.

 

• Review at Clients Office

   o The audit typically moves to the Clients offices to review additional documentation

      and perform interviews.

 

• Review onsite at Facility

   o The audit moves to facilities controlled by the Operator where additional

      documentation reviews and interviews are held.

 

• Closeout Meeting

   o A closeout meeting is held to provide management with a summary of the findings

      and to answer questions about the findings.

 

• Audit Report

   o A written Audit Report is finalized and issued to the Operator.

 

• Transmittal of M&H Auditing SEMS Audit Report to BSEE by the Operator

   o The Audit Report and the Operator’s Corrective Action Plan is submitted to BSEE

      by the Operator

 

• Request a COS CAP Audit and Certificate (COS Members Only)

   o If the Client is a COS member, the client may additionally request a COS CAP Audit

      and COS Certificate.

   o A validation audit is performed to confirm that corrective actions for all non-

      conformances have been implemented and are effective.

 

• Issue a COS Certificate to Operator (COS Members Only)

   o If all non-conformances have been implemented then M&H Auditing can issue a

      COS Certificate.

 

Impartiality

Impartiality of the persons and organizations involved in the certification process is assured through the use of various controls built into the process. These controls include a combination of conflict of interest reviews, impartiality committee reviews, annual internal audits, and external audits by COS.

 

Complaints

The complaint procedure was developed to ensure that complaints and appeals are formally addressed and processed in a timely manner. The process is meant to handle any complaint raised by a potential Client, Client, or any stakeholder who has an objection to our auditing services, a specific decision in our certification process, or processes.

 

The complaint should include the following at a minimum:

• Name of person filing the complaint

• Company name or association of the Complainant (if applicable)

• Post Office Address or e-mail address

• The reason for the complaint

• The complaint can be sent either by email or by letter.

 

The complaint will be handled in the following manner using all of these steps:

• Complaints are received by M&H Auditing and logged into the process

• A person will be appointed to handle the complaint

• Confirmation of the complaint receipt will be sent to the Complainant

• The person appointed will prepare an analysis of the issue

• A written response shall be prepared and sent to the Complainant. The Complainant

   will be informed of their ability to escalate a complaint if they are not satisfied with

   the initial response.

• The Complaint will be kept confidential unless otherwise agreed to by the

   Complainant.

• If the complaint concerns one of our Clients then the complaint will be forwarded to

   that client for their review and consideration.

• Complaints can be addressed to M&H Auditing, 19450 Hwy 249 Suite #600,

   Houston, Texas

• 77002 or can be sent to the M&H Auditing project contact.

 

Appeals

The appeals procedure was developed to ensure that appeals of an adverse certification decision associated with a COS SEMS Corrective Action Plan are formally handled in a timely manner.

 

An appeal shall include the following items at a minimum:

• Name of person filing the appeal

• Company name of the Appellant

• Post Office Address or e-mail address

• The reason for the appeal

• The appeal can be sent either by email or by letter.

 

The appeal will be handled in the following manner using all of these steps:

• Appeal received by M&H Auditing and logged

• A person will be appointed to handle the Appeal

• Conformation of the appeal receipt will be sent to the Appellant.

• The person appointed will prepare an analysis of the issue

• A written response shall be prepared and sent to the Appellant.

• Appeals can be addressed to M&H Auditing, 8319 Thora Lane, A2, Spring,

   Texas 77379i or can be sent to the M&H Auditing project contact.

 

Rules for Use of COS Certificate and Mark

• The COS-provided certificates shall remain the property of the COS and may not be

   altered by the COS Member Company once issued.

• Use of the COS marks and/or logo by the COS member operator shall be governed

   by the operator’s COS participation agreement with API.

• The Audit Service Provider (ASP) shall report to COS any instance where the COS

   marks and/or logo are being used by the COS member company on equipment or

   materials intended for use in exploration or production activity.

 

Additional Information

Please contact M&H Auditing in writing for additional information about:

• The geographical areas in which we operate;

• The status of a given certification;

• The name, related normative document, scope and geographical location (city and

   country) for a specific certified client.

 

Other Information

Please go to the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) website for more information regarding audit processes, processes for refusing, maintaining, renewing, suspending, restoring or withdrawing certification or expanding or reducing the scope of certification
(http://www.centerforoffshoresafety.org/Documents)

 

 

 

Contact Information

 

WWW.MHAUDIT.NET

800.780.9079

Contact us at sales@mhaudit.net to discuss

future audit opportunities or to ask any questions regarding SEMS or SEMS auditing.

Our mailing address is:

M&H Auditing

8319 Thora Lane, A2

Spring, TX 77379