10-07-2012, 01:00 PM
Oil Field Safety
OilFieldSafetyNEO1.ppt (Size: 4.24 MB / Downloads: 48)
COMMON SOURCES OF H2S
Naturally in nature
Oil Fields – Mines – Volcanoes –Geothermal Exploration
Through decay of organic matter
Fishing industry – Tanneries - Manure Processing
Municipal sewers - Brewery Industry – Landfills
Chemical Processes
By Product – Catalyst – Felt Making – Asphalt Roofing
H2S or Toxic Gas Exposure
Hydrogen Sulfide – characterized by an odor
of rotten eggs. A very small concentration
can be fatal. When encountered, employees must wear
approved type masks when their work requires them to be
exposed to the gas,in any way.
Hydrogen Sulfide is highly toxic, colorless, and heavier
than air. It has the odor of rotten eggs, initially.
Most frequently encountered in the production and refining of high sulfur
petroleum and in natural gas. It burns with a blue flame and produces Sulfur
Dioxide.
It forms an explosive mixture with air. The LFL is 4.3%
and the UFL is 45.5%.
Its odor is NOT a reliable warning signal because
higher concentrations of the gas temporarily
destroys the sense of smell. This is the primary
reason for employees not detecting the presence
of H2S and consequently inhaling a lethal
amount. The only positive means is by testing
with an approved H2S detector. DO NOT RELY
SOLELY ON THE SENSE OF SMELL!
General Procedures
Any area where H2S has been reported or
encountered, or where the is insufficient oxygen,
there should be NO entry until sufficient tests
have bee made to determine the extent of the
hazard and the area is purged to reduce the
hazard to allowable concentrations.
General Procedures-cont’d
Toxic atmospheres, the employer should require proper
respiratory equipment to be used by a trained employee,
required to enter the area.
Employees required to enter should be required to wear a
safety harness with tail line for emergency retrieval. A
rescue watch, stationed outside of the hazard area with
proper rescue equipment is also required to assist in case
of emergency.
General Procedures-cont’d
Canister-type filter masks should not be used.
Employees should be required to wear self
contained respirators (SCBA) in those
atmospheres where tests indicated oxygen content
is less than necessary to sustain life.
General Procedures-cont’d
All employees should be trained and periodically
refreshed in the use and operation of breathing
equipment available on the job.
Medical personnel readily available for consult
on matters of occupational health. Emergency
numbers should be conspicuously posted.
General Procedures-cont’d
At least one employee, if not more, per shift
trained in 1st aid and CPR, and be on-site.
Where harmful chemicals are being used, readily
accessible facilities should be available for rapid
flushing of the eyes and/or skin areas.
GENERAL FIRST AID CONSIDERATIONS
-Fresh air ! (Rescuers must exercise caution!)
-If unconscious/not breathing – immediately provide rescue
breathing.
-Summons a doctor ASAP!
-Give oxygen after cleaning oil from the injured employee’s
face.
NEVER FORGET THAT HYDROGEN
SULFIDE IS A DEADLY GAS.
TAKE NO CHANCES WITH IT!
KNOW WHAT CONCENTRATION OF THE GAS IS PRESENT BEFORE DOING ANY WORK IN IT.
The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) regulates
lockout/tagout through the Control of
Hazardous Energy standard, found at 29
CFR 1910.147.
Before the standard went into effect in 1984,
OSHA estimated the failure to control
hazardous energy sources caused:
10 percent of serious industrial accidents
33,000 lost workdays each year
Loss of about 140 lives each year
Scope and Application
General Industry employees covering the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected start-up or the release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. (If employees are performing service or maintenance tasks that do not expose them to the unexpected release of hazardous energy, the standard does not apply.)
The standard does not apply in the following situations:
While servicing or maintaining cord and plug connected electrical equipment.
(The hazards must be controlled by unplugging the equipment from the energy source; the plug must be under the exclusive control of the employee performing the service and/or maintenance.)
Normal Production Operations
The lockout/tagout rule may apply during
normal operations in some instances.
If a servicing activity - such as
lubricating, cleaning, or un-jamming the
production equipment - takes place
during production, employees performing
the servicing are covered by
lockout/tagout when any of the following
conditions occurs:
The employee must either remove or bypass machine guards or other safety devices
The employee is required to place any part of his or her body in contact with the point of operation of the operational machine or piece of equipment; or
The employee is required to place any part of his or her body into a danger zone associated with a machines’ operating cycle.
In the above situations, the equipment
must be de-energized and locks or
tags must be applied to the energy-
Isolation devices.
What is Lockout?
The process of preventing the flow of energy from a power source to a piece of equipment, and keeping it from operating.
Is accomplished by installing the lockout device at the power source so that equipment powered by the source cannot be operated.
What is Tagout?
The placement of a tag on the power source. It acts as a warning, not to restore energy
It is not a physical restraint. Tags must
clearly state: DO NOT OPERATE or the
like, and must be applied by hand.
Energy-Isolating Device
Mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy. Such as manually-operated electrical circuit breakers, disconnect switches, line valves, and blocks.
Energy-Isolating Devices
Guards against accidental machine or equipment start-up or the unexpected re-energizing of equipment during servicing or maintenance.
These include things such as, manually operated electrical circuit breakers, disconnect switches, line valves, and blocks.
Energy-Isolating Devices (cont’d)
When the energy-isolating device cannot be locked out, the employer must use tagout or modify or replace the device to make it capable of being locked.
When using tagout, employers must train their employees in the limitations of tags.
Whenever major replacement, repair, renovation or modification of machines or equipment is performed and whenever new machines or equipment are installed or purchased, the energy-isolating devices for such machines or equipment must be lockable.
Authorized Employees
Authorized employees physically lock or tag out equipment for servicing or maintenance. Note that these individuals are not necessarily the people who normally operate the equipment.
Affected Employees
Are those workers whose job requires them to operate equipment subject to lockout/tagout, or those employees who work in areas where lockout/tagout is used. Your employer will inform you if you are an affected employee.
An affected employee becomes an “authorized” employee whenever he or she performs servicing or maintenance functions on machines or equipment that must be locked or tagged.
Some of the energy sources that require Lockout/Tagout
Electrical
Mechanical
Pneumatic(involving gases, especially air)
Hydraulic(involving fluids, especially water)
Chemical
Thermal
Water Under Pressure (or steam)
Gravity
Potential
Employee Training
The employer must provide effective initial training and retraining as necessary and must certify that such training has been given to all employees covered by the standard. The certification must contain each employee’s name and dates of training.
The employer’s training program for authorized employees (those who are charged with the responsibility for implementing the energy control procedures and performing the service and maintenance) must cover, at minimum, the following areas;
> details about the type and magnitude of the hazardous energy sources present in the workplace.
> the methods and means necessary to isolate and control those energy sources (that is, the elements of the energy control procedure)
Affected employees (usually the machine operators or users) and all other employees need only be able to (1) recognize when the control procedure is being implemented, and (2) understand the purpose of the procedure and the importance of not attempting to start up or use equipment that has been locked or tagged out.
Every training program must ensure that all employees understand the purpose, function and restrictions of the energy control program and that authorized employees possess the knowledge and skills necessary for the safe application, use and removal of energy controls.
Retraining must be provided, as required, whenever there is a change in job assignments, a change in machines, equipment or processes that present a new hazard, or a change in energy control procedures.
Additional retraining must be conducted whenever a periodic inspection reveals, or whenever the employer has reason to believe, that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of the energy control procedure.