From the Top to the Table: Element 2 of PSMS Brings Stakeholders into the Fold
From the Top to the Table--Stakeholder Engagement Brings Everyone In
On March 25, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy dropped a bombshell for the pipeline industry, pushing all regulated operators to adopt Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS) via a PHMSA advisory in the Federal Register. In my last piece, we dug into Element 1--Leadership and Management Commitment--the heartbeat of this shift. It’s where the big dogs up top set the tone, turning safety from a poster slogan into a living, breathing mission. But a leader’s vision doesn’t mean squat if it’s just echoing in the boardroom. That’s where Element 2, Stakeholder Engagement, steps in. It’s about opening the door, pulling up chairs, and getting everyone--workers, communities, regulators--into the safety conversation.
With 3.4 million miles of pipelines pumping energy across the U.S., safety isn’t a solo act. It’s a team sport. PHMSA’s framework, tied to API Recommended Practice 1173, puts Stakeholder Engagement right after leadership for a reason: you can’t build trust or spot risks without talking to the people who live it—on the ground, in the control room, or next door to the right-of-way. Duffy’s call isn’t just about dodging the next San Bruno-sized mess--it’s about making sure pipelines don’t just run, but run right, with everyone’s eyes on the ball. Let’s break down why Element 2 is the glue that turns commitment into connection, especially for operators new to PSMS.
Stakeholder Engagement is Safety’s Two-Way Street
Leadership lights the fire, but Stakeholder Engagement fans the flames. It’s not enough to say “safety first” from a corner office… you’ve got to bring in the folks who see the pipes every day: field crews, local residents, first responders, even the regulators breathing down your neck. API RP 1173 calls it out plain as day: this is about internal and external voices--your team and the people your pipelines touch. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been beating this drum since San Pedro Bay, pointing out that closed-off operators miss the big picture. PHMSA’s Ben Kochman wants “zero incidents,” and that starts with listening, not just lecturing.
For operators, this isn’t about handing out glossy flyers or hosting a token town hall. It’s about real talk--gathering intel on risks, hearing gripes, and showing you’re not just there to pump gas and bounce. Duffy’s tying this to President Trump’s energy push: keep the fuel flowing, but don’t leave communities in the dark. Element 2 makes safety a shared gig, not a top-down dictate.
Why Element 2 Changes the Game
Element 1 got leaders to step up; Element 2 gets them to reach out. Look at the 86% of gas distribution operators already rocking PSMS--many say engaging stakeholders cut incidents and built trust. Smaller outfits, though--those under 25,000 customers--often treat safety like a one-way memo. Duffy’s advisory flips that on its head. It’s not a rule with fangs (yet), but it’s a megaphone blaring: get with it, or get left behind. The 2020 PIPES Act and NTSB’s post-incident nudges already pointed this way—Section 205 and Recommendation P-24-002 scream “talk to people.” Duffy’s just making it loud and clear: pipelines don’t thrive in a vacuum.
For newbies to PSMS, this is your shot to shine. Engaging stakeholders isn’t just about dodging lawsuits or PR headaches… it’s about tapping into real-time smarts from the folks who know where the cracks are, literal and figurative. Done right, it’s a trust-building superpower.
Making Stakeholder Engagement Work
If you’re an operator dipping your toes into PSMS, Element 2 might feel like herding cats--employees, landowners, regulators, all with their own agendas. It’s not. It’s about starting a conversation that sticks. Here’s how to dive in:
Map your stakeholders—your crews, the farmer next to the line, the fire chief down the road. Figure out what they care about. Safety’s universal, but their angles aren’t.
Host a sit-down, a hotline, pizza party, a survey--whatever works. Ask about risks they see, near-misses they’ve dodged. And don’t just nod--act on it. Show them their voice isn’t background noise.
Share your safety wins and flops. Yeah, flops too. Transparency isn’t weakness… it’s credibility. If a valve’s rusty, say so, then say how you’re fixing it.
Don’t boil the ocean. Pick one crew or one town, test the waters… listen, tweak, deliver. A win there builds buzz for the next round.
API RP 1173’s got your back… use it. Peers who’ve cracked this nut can spill their secrets too. No need to start from scratch.
This isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s a feedback loop--talk, learn, adjust, repeat. That’s how you turn a handshake into a partnership.
From Element 1 to Element 2: The Handoff
Leadership Commitment got the ball rolling--your safety policy’s signed, your point person’s named. Now, Element 2 takes it live. That senior leader you tapped? They’re your stakeholder wrangler now, turning boardroom promises into field-level trust. Your audit from Element 1 flagged risks? Share ‘em with the team and the neighbors--get their take. PSMS flows like that--each piece feeds the next. Duffy’s March 25 wake-up call says it loud: voluntary today, mandatory tomorrow. That 86% adoption rate? PHMSA’s eyeing 100%. Get ahead now, or play catch-up later.
New adopters, don’t sleep on this. Host a crew debrief. Hit up a community meeting. Use API’s playbook and swap notes with the pros. Element 2’s about building bridges--start laying planks.
The Bottom Line
Stakeholder Engagement isn’t fluff--it’s the muscle behind the mission. Sean Duffy’s PSMS push on March 25, 2025, isn’t just red tape; it’s a lifeline for an industry that powers the nation. For operators new to this, Element 2’s your chance to turn leadership’s “we care” into a chorus of voices saying “we’re in.” Listen hard, talk straight, and keep the loop alive. In a world where one leak can torch a decade of goodwill, connection beats isolation every time. Element 1 set the stage; Element 2 fills the seats.