Health and Safety Executive

OCE Breaking containment – hydrocarbon lines Offshore COSHH Control approach 1 essentials General ventilation

This information will help offshore What this sheet covers dutyholders (owners, operators and This sheet describes good practice for opening hydrocarbon lines. It contractors) to comply with the Control covers the key points you need to follow to help reduce exposure to an of Substances Hazardous to Health acceptable level, as part of your COSHH assessment. Regulations 2002 (COSHH), as amended, to protect workers’ health. Hazards 3 Process fluids are complex This guidance consolidates good control mixtures in the liquid state practice and reinforces existing knowledge (crude oil, condensate) and will with additional information. contain BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes), It will help you carry out COSHH natural gas (predominantly assessments, review existing assessments, methane), and liquefied deliver training and in supervising activities petroleum gases (butane and CRUDE involving substances hazardous to health. propane). DIRECTION OF FLOW

3 Health risks include cancer, It is aimed at staff whose responsibilities genetic damage, narcosis, and include the management of substances toxicity by inhalation, or skin contact hazardous to health on offshore 3 The workplace exposure limit (WEL) for benzene is 1 ppm (8-hour installations (eg occupational health time-weighted average (TWA)). Keep exposure as far below this as specialists, COSHH assessors, supervisors reasonably practicable. etc). It is also useful for trade union and 3 Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) may be present in hydrocarbon process employee safety representatives. systems, particularly when reservoirs begin to mature and water out (see OCE6). Following this guidance is not compulsory 3 Mercury may also be present in process plant and vessels (see and you are free to take other action. But OCE14). if you do follow this guidance, you will normally be doing enough to comply with Access and equipment the law. Health and safety inspectors seek 3 Erect barriers and notices. to secure compliance with the law and may 3 Restrict access. refer to this guidance as illustrating good 3 See sheet OCM1 if work is in a confined space. practice. Planning and procedures Also see essential information on the back Planning of the sheet. 3 Define the isolation standards and routines for draining, purging and venting. 3 Provide for drainage to appropriate drains, eg closed drains. 3 Provide for gas venting to a safe place, eg a flare stack or cold vent.

Breaking containment – hydrocarbon lines OCE12 General ventilation

Control equipment Employee checklist 3 In poorly ventilated areas, provide enough fresh air to dilute and remove Are you sure about safe air contaminants. work procedures? 3 Provide a benzene-specific monitor. Is the equipment in good 3 Provide a spillage clean-up kit. condition and working 3 Provide eyewash equipment and an emergency shower close to the properly? work site. Is your portable/personal alarm fully charged and Control procedures working properly? 3 Isolate the line for safe opening. Is your respirator working 3 Connect via valves and lock the pipework to the appropriate drain. properly? Check it every Purge and drain the fluids. time. 3 Vent pressurised gases to a safe place. Look for signs of leaks, 3 Prove isolation. Carry out pressure build-up (PBU) checks. wear and damage before 3 Prove it is free of gas, if necessary, have the authorised tester perform every job. the gas test. Do you have a spill clean- 3 Workers should break joints gently. In the event of an unexpected up kit handy? release, workers should evacuate the area immediately and raise the If you find any problem, alarm. get it fixed. Don’t just 3 Fit ‘Disturbed joint’ tags on broken joints. carry on working. 3 Fit and leak-test blind flanges within 12 hours if the work is not finished. Discard single-use gloves 3 Never allow pipe ends to remain open. every time you take them 3 Test for leakage on remaking the joint. off. Discard other gloves at the end of the shift. Personal protective equipment (PPE) Wash hands before 3 Where necessary, provide CE-marked respiratory protective equipment eating, drinking or using (RPE) with an assigned protection factor of at least 10 for vapour. the lavatory.

Other protective equipment 3 Where necessary, provide chemical eye protection (visor or goggles) in addition to standard eye protection. 3 Provide disposable coveralls (type 6). 3 Provide clean chemical-resistant gloves, eg nitrile, and new gloves when these are damaged.

Maintenance, examination and testing

Checking and maintenance 3 Make and follow schedules for preventative maintenance of plant and monitoring equipment. 3 Before each use, check that portable monitors are fully charged and working properly. 3 Check for signs of damage to control equipment before starting work. Records 3 Keep records of all examinations and tests for at least five years. Exposure monitoring 3 Prove that you are using the right level and type of RPE – use monitoring records or carry out personal air monitoring. 3 Use personal monitoring results to decide if you need to carry out biological monitoring for benzene.

Breaking containment – hydrocarbon lines OCE12 General ventilation

Cleaning and housekeeping Other hazards 3 Place a temporary bund to contain any spillage. n Flammability 3 Clear up small spills with inert absorbent pads. Dispose as hazardous n Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) waste. n NORM (naturally occurring

radioactive material) Waste n Substances harmful to the

3 Residues are ‘hazardous waste’. Label containers clearly – include a marine environment UN number where appropriate. Store and dispose of waste safely. Further information Respiratory protective Personal decontamination and skin care equipment at work: A practical 3 Provide warm water, mild skin cleansers, nailbrushes, and soft paper, guide HSG53 (Third edition) fabric towels or hot air for drying. Avoid abrasive cleansers. HSE Books 2005 3 Provide pre-work skin creams, which will make it easier to wash dirt ISBN 978 0 7176 2904 6 from the skin, and after-work creams to replace skin oils. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ Caution: ‘Barrier creams’ or ‘liquid gloves’ do not provide a full barrier. hsg53.htm

The safe isolation of plant and Training and supervision equipment HSG253 3 Provide supervision – ensure that safe work procedures are followed. HSE Books 2006 3 Tell workers, including maintenance workers, what the hazards and ISBN 978 0 7176 6171 8 risks are. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ 3 Training includes toolbox talks on: hsg253.htm n following safe working procedures;

n how to use equipment properly; Guidance on permit-to-work n how to use the benzene monitor; systems: A guide for the n how to react to alarms and evacuate safely; petroleum, chemical and allied n how to use RPE and check that it is working; industries HSG250 HSE Books n how to clean up spills correctly; and 2005 ISBN 978 0 7176 2943 5 n what to do if something goes wrong. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ 3 Involve managers and supervisors in health and safety training. hsg250.htm

Developing process safety Essential information indicators: A step-by-step guide OCE0 Advice for managers for chemical and major hazard OCM1 Confined spaces industries HSG254 HSE Books OCM3 Personal protective equipment (PPE) 2006 ISBN 978 0 7176 6180 0 OCM4 Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ OCM5 Emergency planning hsg254.htm OCE6 if hydrogen sulphide is present ORE1 if NORM is present Workplace exposure limits OCE14 if mercury is present EH40 www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/ table1.pdf

You can find the full Offshore COSHH essentials series at www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm

This guidance was developed by representatives from the UK offshore oil and gas industry and trade unions, with HSE.

© Crown copyright 2011 Published by the Health and Safety Executive 03/11