Photo: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Washington — Alarmed by a “recurring trend” of equipment misuse contributing to fire and explosion hazards during offshore oil and gas operations, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has issued a safety alert.
BSEE, which oversees safety for the offshore energy industry, cites recent incidents in which workers used tools not rated for electrical work on live circuits or mismatched hydraulic or pneumatic hand tools not rated for high-pressure systems.
Although crews completed Job Safety Analyses and obtained hot work permits, operators didn’t notice unsafe conditions during inspection, the agency reports. The alert details one instance in which workers used a plumber’s plug not rated for high-temperature service while performing welding on a blowdown scrubber. A photo shows the resulting severely damaged equipment.
BSEE offers best practices for operators and contractors covering proper use of equipment and tools. Among them:
- Conduct formal evaluations to ensure all workers understand tool limitations and offshore-specific hazards.
- Assign qualified technical workers to review training programs and identify compliance gaps.
- Enhance maintenance programs for all tools, including those that contractors bring on board.
- Use durable labels to mark tools with pressure, temperature and electrical ratings fit for the offshore environment.
- When possible, complete hazardous tasks in controlled onshore environments or designated safe zones offshore.
- Ensure qualified workers inspect tools before use in hazardous areas.
- Require briefings that address tool selection and hazard zone requirements for each work location.
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.
Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication