---
title: "Approval Work Process"
slug: "approval-work-process"
tags: ["Approval", "General", "ONE IMS"]
updated: 2026-10-27T23:11:28Z
published: 2026-10-27T23:11:28Z
canonical: "ims-handbook.cenosco.com/approval-work-process"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ims-handbook.cenosco.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Approval Work Process

ECH’s and Schedules are required to be Final Approved before being in effect. The **Approve** and **Disapprove** buttons in the Approval sidebar can be used to change the Approval Status for the [Event](/v414/docs/inspection-events-approvals).

![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/approval-work-process-image-ulg3lvou.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T13%3A36%3A04Z&se=2026-10-28T14%3A36%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3i0XYES8H1iTdjYvH%2FUoVsVGrMAEMR4vvS2hOm9ITq8%3D)

Approve or Disapprove buttons in the Approval sidebar.

The prerequisites to Approve [Events](/v414/docs/inspection-events-1) is set out in [Approval Levels](/v414/docs/approval-levels). The flow / process for Approval is schematically shown below.

### Draft

By default, an object (e.g. Schedule, ECH) is created in DRAFT status. Only when there is a ‘Preferred’ User for the applicable Unit and the User has at least Approval Level 0 authorization within that Unit, the object can be approved to Writer Approved.

Note that when the User has both a Level 0 and Level 1 Approval level assigned, the Writer Approved status will be ‘skipped’ during Approval; the Status will go immediately to Level 1 Approved.

### Writer Approved

The prerequisites (e.g. Preferred) as described for Draft also apply for the Writer Approved. Only Users, with a Level 1 Approval level, can Approve an object to Level 1 Approved.

### Level 1 Approved

Level 1 Approved objects can only be approved to Final Approval when the User has a Level 2 approval level.

## The Approval Process Flow

![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/schematic-illustration-of-the-approval-process-image-9n2jaz7o.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T13%3A36%3A04Z&se=2026-10-28T14%3A36%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3i0XYES8H1iTdjYvH%2FUoVsVGrMAEMR4vvS2hOm9ITq8%3D)

Schematic illustration of the Approval process.

> ### RBI reassessment Schedule example
> 
> The Approval Status for an RBI Reassessment Schedule changes as follows:
> 
> | Steps | Action | Approval Status |
> | --- | --- | --- |
> | Step 1 | Input and Save data | Draft |
> | Step 2 | Review data and Approve | Level 1 Approved |
> | Step 3 | Approve again | Final Approved |
> 
> When the Schedule is Final Approved, it is seen as “Approved and on the books”.

## Disapproving an Event

The IMS disapproval function is typically used when someone other than the unit inspector creates an [Event](/v414/docs/inspection-events-approvals), e.g., an [ECH](/v414/docs/approving-echs). When this ECH is forwarded to the unit inspector, the unit inspector may discover that some of the data is incorrect or missing. The unit inspector would then **Disapprove** the ECH and usually ask the originator to update this record.

Here’s how the DISAPPROVAL process works. Suppose during a recent turnaround another inspector inspected a column, but the inspector forgot to record in the ECH that Nozzle N-3 had been replaced. The unit inspector wants this fixed!

To disapprove an ECH:

- Open the ECH details page:
- Click the status button: ![A close up of a device Description automatically generated](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/disapproving-an-inspection-event-image-x5yhri21.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T13%3A36%3A04Z&se=2026-10-28T14%3A36%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3i0XYES8H1iTdjYvH%2FUoVsVGrMAEMR4vvS2hOm9ITq8%3D)
- Click on **Disapprove:**
  - The Approval Status goes back to “Draft”.
  - The ECH is again editable.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> To be able to **Disapprove** an ECH, your user needs to have the *Writer Approval* Approval Level. This applies even if the user has been assigned a higher Approval level, such as *Level 1 Approval* or *Final Approval* Approval levels.
> 
> To be able to **Backout** an Approved ECH, your user only needs the *Final Approval* Approval level.