March 30, 2026
The Top 5 Ways to Lead an Effective OQ Program
Chris Taylor, ITS Vice President of Learning and Product hosted Gordon Tipton for Regulation Navigation, a quarterly webinar on pipeline industry news and trends. Gordon is an industry veteran with experience managing the training program at a large, multi-state operator and the current director of the Evaluator and Proctor Services program at ITS. They discussed Gordon’s background in becoming an OQ manager and his story of managing a large-scale, multi-year program change, including ways to get more buy in from everyone involved and how to ensure your programs remain objective while prioritizing integrity. The conversation covered the following 5 key takeaways about how to lead an effective OQ program:- Know the Regulations and Your Program Inside and Out
Know how to access regulations and also the PHMSA FAQs, guidance documents such as the American Gas Association’s GPTC, your OQ covered task list, who’s responsible for what in the field, and how your task list compares to your industry peers. Remember, you are the one advising leadership on your organization’s compliance obligations. - Get in the Field and Learn the “Why”
Keep up with what’s done in the field to understand the work and then explain the why for your program. Learn from your regulators, your SMEs, and your industry peers. Attend seminars and industry calls. Absorb as much as possible so you understand the reasoning behind the rules and what’s coming down the road. - Build Strong Relationships and Communicate Effectively
Invest in your processes and your people. Prioritize face to face communication, hold department-level meetings, and remember that communication must run both ways. Be transparent about the challenges you’re encountering each day. - Evaluate with Integrity and Accountability
Maintain a clear separation between training delivery and OQ testing to protect the credibility and integrity of the program. You and your staff may have personal integrity, but that’s not the same as objectivity in testing and evaluating in an OQ program. - Focus on Safety and Continuous Improvement
While they’re certainly an important tool, OQ programs aren’t about just keeping a checklist. They protect the workforce and the public and therefore require regular review and updates. Use audits, findings, and even crises as opportunities to improve your program and strengthen safety outcomes.
