What is SIMOPS and how does it apply?

What Does SIMOPS Mean in Health and Safety?

SIMOPS stands for Simultaneous Operations — a term commonly used in Work Health and Safety (WHS) to describe situations where multiple work activities occur at the same time in the same area.

While this might sound routine, SIMOPS introduces a critical layer of risk: the interaction between tasks.

Why SIMOPS Matters

Individually, tasks may be well controlled. However, when they occur together, they can create new and unintended hazards.

For example:

• A crane lifting overhead while workers install scaffolding below

• Welding (hot work) occurring near flammable substances

• Maintenance activities taking place while equipment and people are still working in the area

• Forklifts operating in areas shared with pedestrians

These overlapping activities can lead to:

• Conflicting movements of people, plant, and vehicles

• Exposure to hazardous energy sources (heat, pressure, electricity)

• Reduced situational awareness due to congestion

• One task compromising the controls of another

The WHS Perspective

Under Australian WHS legislation, managing SIMOPS is not optional — it is part of the primary duty of care.

PCBUs must ensure:

• Risks arising from interacting work activities are identified

• Work is coordinated and managed to eliminate or minimise risks

• Workers and contractors are consulted and informed

This aligns strongly with the AIHS Body of Knowledge (BOK), particularly in:

• Risk management

• Systems thinking

• Human and organisational factors

SIMOPS is ultimately a systems problem, not just a task-level issue.

Key Principle: Interaction Risk

At its core, SIMOPS is about one simple question:

What happens when these tasks interact?

Effective Health and Safety management must move beyond isolated risk assessments and consider the combined effect of concurrent activities.

Practical Controls for SIMOPS

Managing SIMOPS requires structured coordination and clear communication. Common controls include:

1. SIMOPS Risk Assessment

• Identify overlapping activities

• Map interaction points (e.g. energy, space, timing)

• Use interaction matrices where appropriate

2. Permit-to-Work Systems

• Particularly for high-risk work (e.g. confined spaces, hot work)

• Ensures visibility and control of concurrent activities

3. Task Separation

• Schedule works to avoid overlap where possible

• Use physical separation (barriers, exclusion zones)

4. Communication and Coordination

• Pre-start meetings and toolbox talks

• Defined supervision and coordination roles

• Real-time communication between teams

5. Traffic and Movement Management

• Segregation of pedestrians and mobile plant

• Clearly defined access and egress routes

Final Thoughts

SIMOPS is a common but often underestimated source of risk in workplaces. The challenge is not just managing individual tasks — it is understanding how those tasks interact within a system.

Strong SIMOPS management reflects mature Health and Safety practice:

• Proactive rather than reactive

• Coordinated rather than siloed

• Systems-focused rather than task-focused

If you’re developing procedures or improving your WHS systems, integrating SIMOPS thinking is a practical way to strengthen risk management across your operations.

BLMC is available to discuss this further, conduct a gap analysis, risk management project or provide training. Contact us at [email protected] or via the website www.blmc.com.au