What is the purpose of the Shift Operations Management System (SOMS)?

The Shift Operations Management System (SOMS) serves a crucial role in facilitating seamless operations within an organization, particularly regarding safety and equipment handling. The correct answer highlights that one of its key functions is to aid in the management of computer-based tag-outs, which are essential for ensuring that equipment is properly secured before maintenance or repair work begins. This is vital to protect personnel from potential hazards associated with the accidental operation of machinery or systems under maintenance.

SOMS helps streamline the tag-out process by allowing operators to easily log, manage, and track the status of equipment that is out of service. This ensures compliance with safety protocols and minimizes the risk of accidents during maintenance operations. By providing a systematic approach to managing tag-outs, SOMS enhances the overall efficiency and safety of operational procedures.

In contrast, the other choices, while related to operational and safety management, do not accurately represent the primary purpose of SOMS. Managing personnel deployment, providing instructions for equipment use, and organizing safety drills are important functions but do not encompass the specific focus on tag-outs that SOMS is designed to support.