Why Companies Must Own Their OQ Program

As the midstream industry continues to navigate the ups and downs of 2025, Operator Qualification (OQ) programs remain a cornerstone of pipeline safety and compliance. However, with evolving regulations, a widening skills gap, and increasing operational complexities, companies can no longer afford to treat OQ as just a compliance checkbox.

Owning your OQ program is critical to ensuring safety, efficiency, and regulatory defensibility. Furthermore, finding the right partner with OQ expertise will make your program even more defensible.

The Risks of Not Owning Your OQ Program

Many companies rely heavily on third-party providers for OQ compliance, but this approach can lead to gaps in oversight and accountability. While external partners play a valuable role in supporting training and documentation, the ultimate responsibility for compliance lies with the operator.

PHMSA’s OQ FAQs make this clear: Even if contractors have their own OQ programs, pipeline operators must verify that they meet the company’s standards. If a compliance issue arises, regulators will hold the operator—not the contractor—accountable.

Key Risks of a Hands-Off Approach

• Inconsistent training standards between employees and contractors
• Lack of visibility into contractor qualifications
• Regulatory vulnerabilities if the documentation is incomplete or outdated
• Safety gaps due to misaligned evaluation processes

What it Means to Truly Own Your OQ Program

Owning your OQ program doesn’t mean doing everything in-house. Instead, it means taking strategic control of how workers are trained, evaluated, and monitored. This involves:

1. Setting Clear Qualification Standards

Every pipeline system has unique risks, so OQ programs should be tailored to specific operational needs. Companies must:

• Define covered tasks based on their infrastructure
• Establish evaluation criteria that reflect real-world job requirements
• Ensure training aligns with both federal and state regulations

2. Maintain Oversight of Contractors

Since contractors aren’t required to have a written OQ program, operators must verify that their workers meet the same standards as in-house employees. A centralized OQ management system helps by:

• Digitizing training records for easy access
• Providing field verification reports to confirm worker readiness
• Ensuring all documentation is audit-ready

3. Aligning OQ with Safety Culture

An effective OQ program should reinforce a company’s safety culture, not just fulfill regulatory obligations. This means:

• Encouraging continuous learning beyond minimum compliance
• Empowering workers to report safety concerns
• Using data analytics to identify and address skills gaps

Ownership and Partnership Go Hand-in-Hand

While ownership is crucial, managing an OQ program is inefficient and error-prone. The right technology partner with industry-leading OQ expertise can streamline compliance while keeping you in control.

Your OQ solution provider should have the following key tools for a defensible OQ program:

• Training: Replace paper forms with learning modules, hands-on training, and digital records.
• Field Verification Tools: Confirm worker qualifications before they step on-site.
• Data Analytics: Track training completion, verify skills gaps, and improve program effectiveness.

The Veriforce Advantage: Expertise + Ownership

We believe midstream companies should own their OQ programs while leveraging expert support. Our team of OQ experts works alongside operators to:

• Stay ahead of regulatory changes
• Implement best practices through Veriforce’s Common Covered Task List Steering Committee
• Provide scalable software solutions that keep compliance manageable

By partnering with Veriforce, operators gain the tools and expertise needed to maintain a defensible, future-ready OQ program that aligns with their unique operational needs and safety goals.

Contact us today for a free consultation to assess your OQ needs and explore how Veriforce can help you streamline your qualification process and close the skills gap in your workforce.