Health and Safety Executive

OCE Drilling waste treatment

Offshore COSHH Control approach 3 essentials Containment

This information will help offshore What this sheet covers dutyholders (owners, operators and This sheet describes good practice for control of exposure to drill contractors) to comply with the Control cuttings and associated waste handling and treatment systems. It of Substances Hazardous to Health covers the key points you need to follow to help reduce exposure to an Regulations 2002 (COSHH), as amended, to acceptable level, as part of your COSHH assessment. protect workers’ health. Hazards This guidance consolidates good control 3 Individual substances should meet workplace exposure limits (WELs). practice and reinforces existing knowledge 3 Skin exposure arises from handling of drilling fluids and drill cuttings, with additional information. which may lead to skin irritation and dermatitis. 3 Drilling fluids and non-aqueous base fluids at high temperature produce It will help you carry out COSHH mists and vapour that may cause respiratory and skin irritation. assessments, review existing assessments, deliver training and in supervising activities Access involving substances hazardous to health. 3 Restrict access to authorised personnel. 3 Impose ‘confined space entry procedures’ for entry to enclosed It is aimed at staff whose responsibilities cuttings treatment equipment. include the management of substances 3 Keep access doors closed. hazardous to health on offshore installations (eg occupational health Equipment and procedures specialists, COSHH assessors, supervisors Substitution etc). It is also useful for trade union and employee safety representatives. 3 Use low toxicity base fluids with high flash point and low vapour pressure. Control equipment Following this guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But 3 Where practical, enclose transport and storage equipment. if you do follow this guidance, you will 3 Provide enough fresh air to dilute and remove air contaminants to a safe area. normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek 3 Provide fixed alarms for flammable and hazardous gases. to secure compliance with the law and may Cuttings transfer from solids control equipment refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice. 3 Enclose the transport equipment, eg closed augers or pneumatic conveying systems.

Also see essential information on the back 3 Regulate flow to reduce potential for system overload and spillage. of the sheet. Cuttings storage 3 Use enclosed skips and keep hatches closed. 3 Use skip-filling equipment which does not require manual levelling of skip contents.

3 Ensure equipment vents on pneumatic storage systems are vented to a Employee checklist safe area. Is the equipment in good 3 Keep tank hatches and sampling points closed when not in use. condition and working properly? Skip and ship Is the extraction working? 3 Ensure hatches are closed and sealed before lifting onto vessel. Is your respirator 3 Visually inspect skip integrity prior to lifting. working properly? Check it every time. Waste injection Look for signs of leaks, 3 See OCE9 Use of drilling muds (shale shaker and mud pit areas) for wear and damage before guidance on the addition of solids and liquid chemicals to the waste every job. injection slurry mix system. Look for signs of wear 3 Check integrity of injection system and flow line, including a successful and damage to pressure test, before starting pumping. equipment. If you find any problem, Cleaning and housekeeping get it fixed. Don’t just 3 Clean the work area regularly and clean spilled materials immediately. carry on working. 3 Label bags of oil-contaminated clothing to warn the laundry about the Co-operate with health hazard. surveillance. Use, look after and store Waste your PPE in accordance 3 Store and dispose of waste safely, clearly label waste containers. with instructions. Wash hands before Personal decontamination and skin care eating, drinking or using 3 Provide warm water, mild skin cleansers, nailbrushes, and soft paper, the lavatory. fabric towels or hot air for drying. Avoid abrasive cleansers. 3 Instruct workers in how to clean their skin effectively. 3 Tell workers to wash hands before every break. 3 Provide pre-work skin creams, which will make it easier to wash dirt from the skin, and after-work creams to replace skin oils.

Health surveillance 3 Conduct low-level health surveillance for dermatitis involving skin checks by suitably trained responsible person.

Training and supervision 3 Provide supervision – ensure that safe work procedures are followed. 3 Educate personnel in the hazards associated with their work. 3 Explain the early symptoms of health hazards associated with chemical exposure. 3 Training should include: n how to properly use equipment;

n how to check that extraction is working properly;

n how to use respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and check that it

is working; n how to clean up spills correctly; and

n what to do if something goes wrong.

Other hazards Essential information n Noise

OCE0 Advice for managers n Musculoskeletal disorders –

OCM1 Confined spaces manual handling awkward OCM2 Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) heavy items in restricted OCM3 Personal protective equipment (PPE) places. OCM4 Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) n Hydrogen sulphide (H S) 2 OCM7 Health surveillance n Substances harmful to the

marine environment

Further information Petroleum Industry Training Service Non Water-based Drilling and Completion Fluids Industry Recommended Practice IRP Vol.14 2002

Drilling fluids and health risk management: a guide for drilling personnel, managers and health professionals on the oil and gas industry OGP/IPIECA 2009

Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide HSG53 (Third edition) HSE Books 2005 ISBN 978 0 7176 2904 6 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ hsg53.htm

Controlling airborne contaminants at work: A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV) HSG258 HSE Books 2008 ISBN 978 0 7176 6298 2 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ hsg258.htm

Other countries’ exposure limits GESTIS www.dguv.de/bgia/en gestis/limit_values/index.jsp

Workplace exposure limits 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

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