HEALTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

UNIT I - INTRODUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION TO SAFETY:
 Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other non-
desirable outcomes. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to
achieve an acceptable level of risk.
 Maritime and Offshore security is frequently defined as the protection from threats to the
freedom or good order at sea. Issues clustered under the notion of maritime security include
crimes such as piracy, armed robbery at sea, trafficking of people and illicit goods, illegal
fishing or pollution. Often inter-state rivalry and violence extremism (maritime terrorism) is
also included in the definition.

2. HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT:

 Environment, health and safety (EHS) is a discipline and specialty that studies and implements
practical aspects of environmental protection and safety at work. In simple terms it is what
organizations must do to make sure that their activities do not cause harm to anyone.
 Regulatory requirements play an important role in EHS discipline and EHS managers must
identify and understand relevant EHS regulations, the implications of which must be
communicated to executive management so the company can implement suitable measures.
 From a health & safety standpoint, it involves creating organized efforts and procedures for
identifying workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and
substances. It also includes training of personnel in accident prevention, accident response,
emergency preparedness, and use of protective clothing and equipment.
 From an environmental standpoint, it involves creating a systematic approach to complying
with environmental regulations, such as managing waste or air emissions all the way to helping
sites reduce the company's carbon footprint.
 Successful HSE programs also include measures to address ergonomics, air quality, and other
aspects of workplace safety that could affect the health and well-being of employees and the
overall community.
2.1 TYPES:
2.1.1.Environmental
 Air emissions and ambient air quality
 Energy conservation
 Wastewater and ambient water quality
 Water conservation
 Hazardous materials management
 Waste management
 Noise
 Contaminated land
2.1.2. Occupational health and safety
 General facility design and operation
 Communication and training
 Physical hazards
 Chemical hazards
 Biological hazards
 Radiological hazards
 Personal protective equipment (PPE)
 Special hazard environments
 Monitoring
2.1.3. Community health and safety

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  Water quality and availability
 Structural safety of project infrastructure
 Life and fire safety (L&FS)
 Traffic safety
 Transport of hazardous materials
 Disease prevention
 Emergency preparedness and response
2.1.4. Construction and decommissioning
 Environment
 Occupational health and safety
 Community health and safety

3. HSE – BASIC CONCEPTS:

 Petroleum industry makes use of many different activities in all the sectors of the business
cycle: from upstream to downstream. Oil and Services Company’s management apply HSE
policies to all levels of operations and in all sectors. Health, Safety, Environment are separate
issues, each with its own technology, but they are often combined in the same functional groups
within the oil companies.
 These three subjects are of paramount importance to the petroleum industry and adherence to
HSE guidelines is a requirement for operators worldwide and is also dictated by internal
policies of most corporations. It is fundamental to have and implement an HSEMS (Health,
Safety and Environmental Management System) which defines the principles by which
operations are conducted and control the risks in the whole industry cycle.

3.1. Health:
 The health function typically deals with the well-being of the employees as they live and work
in their environment. It deals with the conduct of activities in such a way as to avoid harm to
the health of employees and others, and to promote, as appropriate, their health.

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  Typically, the health function focuses on the effects of oil field chemicals and oil field physical
environment on employees.

3.2 Safety:
 The safety function focuses on protecting the employee from risk involved during any type of
operation and duties. It is related to the principle that all injuries should be prevented and
actively promote amongst all those associated with their activities the high standards of safety
consciousness and discipline that this principle demands.
 The safety function seeks to minimize these risks and monitor the effectiveness of the
minimization activities.

3.3 Environment:
 The environmental function focuses on the effects that petroleum activities have on the natural
resources. The environmental issue pursuit the progressive reductions of emissions, effluents
and discharges of waste materials that are known to have a negative impact on the environment,
with the ultimate aim of eliminating them.
 It aims to provide products and services and advice which will not cause injury or undue effects
on the environment. Oil Companies are constantly researching technology which will allow
them to reconcile their operations with the protection of the environment and local ecosystems.

3.4 Common HSE aspects:

 Assess health, safety and environmental matters before entering into new activities and reassess
them in case of significant change in circumstances
 Require contractors working on their behalf to apply health, safety and environmental standards
fully compatible with their own
 Recognise the concerns of shareholders, employees and society on health, safety and
environmental matters, provide them with relevant information and discuss with them related
company policies and practices
 Develop and maintain contingency procedures, in co-operation with authorities and emergency
services, in order to minimise harm from any accidents
 Work with governments and others in the development of improved regulations and industry
standards which relate to health, safety and environmental matters
 Conduct or support research towards the improvement of health, safety and environmental
aspects of their products, processes and operations
 Occupational health and safety issues should be considered as part of a comprehensive hazard
or risk assessment, including, for example, a hazard identification study [HAZID], hazard and
operability study [HAZOP], or other risk assessment studies.
 The results should be used for health and safety management planning, in the design of the
facility and safe working systems, and in the preparation and communication of safe working
procedures.

3.5 Risks and potential impacts:

 Air emissions
 Wastewater / effluent discharges
 Solid and liquid waste management
 Noise generation
 Terrestrial impacts and project footprint
 Spills
 During the transport of petroleum, safety and environmental issues are well studied, assessed
and continuously implemented to avoid any type of problem which could affect the people
involved and the environment which can be very sensitive (land and marine). The marine
transport of oil has increased during the years and the spills are not an occasional consequence
of oil traffic.

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  The main causes of shipping accidents that cause oil spills are sinking, collisions, mistaken
manoeuvres at the loading and unloading terminals, running aground, fires and other accidents
on board.
 Indirect impacts are connected with the final use of petroleum products and pertain not so much
to the environmental management of a refinery, as to its overall configuration and to the
integration of the various processes that determine the ecological quality of the products
 Direct impacts are generated by processing units and by the activities carried out within the
refinery. The industry’s adoption of more stringent restrictions concerning environmental
safety does not always mean increased costs in the long-run, but can also provide an opportunity
for improving the overall efficiency of a productive activity as well as create conditions of
greater competitiveness.

4. SAFETY:
 Safety stands out as a core value for the oil and natural gas industry, embedded in every process
and decision for operations. This approach has led to continued advancements in technology,
improved industry standards and enhanced best practices, smarter regulations, and innovative
approaches to addressing offshore safety.
 This continued and comprehensive progress has made offshore oil and natural gas exploration
and production the safest it’s ever been. The oil and natural gas industry and the federal
government are working together to continuously improve the safety of offshore operations.
 The industry has placed a particular focus on increasing its ability to:
 Prevent spills from occurring.
 Intervene to halt any spill that does occur.
 Respond to spills with the most effective mitigation measures possible.

5. PETROLEUM HAZARDS:
 In order to provide such products that are part of our everyday lives, the widespread recovery
and use of petroleum can be a very intensive and dangerous operation, employing hundreds of
thousands of engineers, doctors, rig workers, transportation employees, and other professionals.
In addition, the use of petroleum has created serious environmental problems: it is the largest
industrial source of emissions for hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) that both may contribute to health problems and other hazards.
 The great quantities of petroleum that are burned as fuels generate most of the air pollution in
industrialised countries, and oil spilled from tankers and offshore wells has polluted oceans and
coastlines. With the extraction and use of petroleum come numerous regulations and safety
concerns over potential hazards that could occur in such activities – and all employees in this
field must have a good understanding of each subject.
 Here are the ten safety and environmental concerns over petroleum and a description of their
best safety practises:

5.1. Preventing the release of chemical hazards:

 Petroleum is made up of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and
other liquid organic compounds, meaning the improper release of these chemicals may create
a negative impact on the chemical’s surroundings.
 Chemicals such as those in petroleum have the ability to react when exposed to other chemicals,
or certain physical conditions. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) in the United States, chemicals that are not properly managed can have harmful or
even catastrophic consequences, such as toxic fumes, fires, and explosions that may result in
injury and/or death, damage to physical property, and severe effects on the environment.
 In order to ensure the safe release of chemicals, it is imperative that facilities are well designed,
safely operated, and properly inspected and maintained. For example, the European Union
requires that barges on all rivers in Europe are double-hull barges. It is also crucial that facilities
involve an effective oil spill emergency response capability that plans, prepares, and practises

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 emergency response to incidents to mitigate the consequences to the surrounding people and
the environment.

5.2. Environmental pollution prevention:

 The exploration and exploitation activities of the petroleum industry often cause environmental
degradation that has significant impact on quality of air, water, soil, vegetation, and on health
unless adequate preventive measures are planned. Petroleum activities encompass several
sources of pollution including the exhaust of engines, generators or compressors, the discharge
of natural gas directly into the atmosphere, and the increase in surrounding temperatures and
glare effects due to flare. The cause of fugitive emissions at some facilities may be associated
with vents, leaking pipes and turbines, valves, connections, pump seals, pressure relief valves,
tanks, or open pits, and loading and unloading operations.
 Exposure to petroleum-related pollutants may cause sickness or death that lead to human and
economic loss, reduced visibility, unpleasant odours, damage to agricultural crops and plants,
as well as harm to livestock. To prevent the pollution of the environment from petroleum-
related procedures and products, environmental awareness must be integrated as a part of every
job function a worker performs. There are very specific rules and regulations regarding the
amount and types of emissions, discharges, and disposals a facility is permitted. Make sure
workers know and understand the physical and chemical properties of the materials they handle
or are exposed to.
 Any debris, spilled substances or material that could pose a potential hazard should be cleaned
up immediately with proper procedures, which becomes even more critical if this substance can
be exposed to rain water. For example, petroleum and other oil-related substances can wash
away into surrounding vegetation and water systems.

5.3. Valve and pipeline safety:

 Pipelines are the most economical way to transport large quantities of oil, refined oil products,
or natural gas over land and can be found all over the world. Nearly half a million miles of
pipeline transporting natural gas, oil, and other hazardous liquids crisscross in the United States
alone, and the US is ranked as only the third country in the world for oil production, with Saudi
Arabia being number one.
 A typical petroleum pipeline runs from the gathering area, into transmission lines, through
compressor or pumping stations, to distribution lines, and finally to the end user. Since the
majority of pipeline contents and their vapours are highly flammable, pipeline safety policies
and procedures are focused on minimising worker exposure to these substances, and controlling
or eliminating sources of ignition in the work environment.
 To do this, the key issues to look at may include pipeline agency staff resources, automatic
pipeline shutoff valves, penalties for safety violations, safety regulations for oil sands crudes,
and the possible need for pipeline security regulations, as well as other concerns. In the United
States, for example, federal regulations require pipeline operators to prepare emergency
response plans for pipeline spills, and to make those plans available for inspection by the US
Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), and local emergency response agencies.
 Other industry recommended practises have been developed to improve and maintain the
mechanical integrity of upstream pipelines. They are intended to assist upstream oil and gas
producers in recognising the conditions that contribute to pipeline corrosion incidents, and
identifying effective measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of corrosion incidents.

5.4. Personal protective equipment for workers:

 Danger can be found in just about every petroleum activity, from building well foundations and
erecting lease tanks, to chemically treating or hydraulically fracturing wells. When preferred
methods like engineering controls such as machine guards, or safe work practises are neither
practical nor feasible, personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used to reduce workers’
exposure to potential hazards in the workplace. The employer is responsible for supplying the

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 PPE, but the worker is responsible for assessing their job task to identify potential hazards that
may require any necessary PPE – which they must also, of course, know how to wear correctly.
 The general PPE requirements for oil and gas workers include: eyes, face, head and extremities,
protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers. In the United States,
OSHA requires oil and gas companies to apply safety standards to both their employees and
any contractors or other visitors to the site. Employers are also required by OSHA to reassess
on the job hazards and decide whether new PPE is needed each year.
 In addition to the need for strong protection against all of these potential perils, it is best if
workers are able to work comfortably in their protective garments for their entire shift. Comfort
is essential – the PPE will often need to be worn securely throughout the day without giving
irritation. The correct choice of hearing protection, for example, can avoid the danger of
workers removing it due to discomfort, exposing their ears to damaging noise. As the employer,
it is also important to be able to provide a range of protectors so that employees can choose the
one that suits them best.

5.5. Hazardous waste disposal:

 The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimates that for every foot drilled in the United
States, approximately 1.21 barrels of total drilling waste are generated, with nearly 50% of the
total being solid drilling waste. Over the course of a year, this massive accumulation of solid
drilling waste by volume is equal to approximately 139,961,305 barrels, which is equivalent to
29,097,984 cubic yards of solid drilling waste – enough to fill almost 9,000 Olympic swimming
pools.
 All of this type of waste needs to be properly recycled or disposed of, and applicable regulations
followed in order to keep the environment and the surrounding human and animal inhabitants
healthy. Waste oil can be disposed of in different ways, including sending the used oil off site,
burning used oil as a fuel, and marketing the used oil.
 When sending the used oil off site, waste needs to be treated very carefully. All waste materials
must be placed in a sealable container that will not react to the waste that will be placed inside,
and be cautious of mixing different wastes. All containers must be labelled with the critical
information clearly visible. Periodic checks are also required during transportation and storage.

5.6. Corrosion problems and prevention:

 It is almost impossible to prevent corrosion. The next best possible solution is to attempt to
control the corrosion rate through monitoring. By recognising and understanding the
mechanisms involved in corrosion, engineers may begin to eliminate corrosion by design.
 Offshore structures are especially at risk of corrosion from the massive amounts of rain,
condensation, sea mist, and spray. To provide long term resistance to corrosion, Corrosion
Resistant Alloys (CRAs) are essential for many components exposed to oil and gas production
environments, including offshore rigs. Components may include down-hole tubing and safety
critical elements, wellhead (structural and pressure-containing interface) components and
valves, pipelines, piping, valves, vessels, heat exchangers and many other pieces of equipment
in facilities that can be characterised by their resistance to specific environments.

5.7. Hazardous material security:

 Every day, thousands of tons of hazardous materials are safely transported by plane, truck, train,
and ship in quantities ranging from several ounces to thousands of gallons. All over the world,
employees working to transport hazardous materials, such as petroleum and crude oil waste,
are working with their government to improve the security of such materials in their
transportation system, and must be properly trained in packing, shipping, and the security of
dangerous goods.
 To provide the foundation for all countries to develop comprehensive national programmes to
ensure the safe use of chemicals, in 2012 the Globally Harmonized System of Classification
and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was released to strengthen international efforts in
classifying and communicating hazardous chemicals. The basic goal of GHS is to provide

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 adequate, practical, reliable, and comprehensible information on the hazards of chemicals to
ensure preventive and protective measures for health and safety are taken around the world,
benefiting governments, companies, workers, and members of the public.
 Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label that includes a
harmonised signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category.
Precautionary statements must also be provided.

5.8. Process safety management:

 Petroleum processing facilities and extraction locations must have a comprehensive
management programme that integrates technologies, procedures, and management practises
in a careful review of what could go wrong and what safeguards must be implemented to
prevent releases of hazardous chemicals.
 Unexpected releases of toxic, reactive, or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving
highly hazardous chemicals have been reported for many years in the oil and gas industry,
which uses chemicals with such properties. Regardless of the industry that uses these highly
hazardous chemicals, there is the potential for an accidental release any time they are not
properly controlled, creating the possibility for disaster.

5.9. Heavy machinery safety:

 The use of heavy machinery is not only prevalent in the oil and gas industry, but it is also an
essential tool needed to get a diverse number of jobs done. The type of equipment used in this
industry varies from earthmoving machines in lease preparation for explorative drilling to site
preparation for large refineries and plant sites. It also includes hoisting equipment, including
forklifts and cranes, as well as trenching equipment.
 While it is true that machines can greatly increase the efficiency and ease of many work related
tasks, they can also pose a significant threat of injury or even death when poorly maintained or
used improperly. Operations with heavy equipment should always be done by highly skilled
operators who have demonstrated the ability and necessary skills to operate safely.
 Ground based workers should be trained in how to work safely around the equipment and how
to stay clear. Unsafe practises by either the operator or those around the equipment can create
very dangerous situations where serious injuries can occur if the equipment strikes a worker, or
if the equipment rolls over.

5.10. Emergency preparedness:

 Oil and gas workers are subject to some of the most hazardous industrial conditions in the
world. Given the number of people employed by the gas and oil industry and the dangerous
nature of oil and gas drilling, it is almost inevitable that accidents will occur. Oil and gas
accidents can involve explosions, incidents while raising a pipeline, oil rig and derrick safety
violations, and other incidents, including:
 Drilling accidents
 Improper construction and maintenance
 Pipeline transportation accidents
 Storage problems, including contamination
 Salt dome accidents
 Because of such accidents, it is essential to have an emergency plan or management system that
will allow for a timely response to an accident. This includes establishing a decision framework
and action plan that enables a quick and effective response to any accident or incident, as well
as working with the relevant local and national authorities, ensuring workers have the
appropriate training, and practising exercise drills with other organisations.
 To signify the importance of such plans and to prevent devastating accidents, the Energy
Committee in Europe has proposed that offshore oil and gas firms would have to submit major
hazard reports and emergency response plans before getting a license to drill.

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6. EFFECTS:
 Understanding the effects of petroleum in the oil and gas refineries and plants around the world
is essential to uncover the risks of what workers may face and already are facing on the job.
The level of activity in the petroleum industry has grown in recent years, resulting in an increase
in employment and a corresponding increase in both the number and rate of fatal occupational
injuries.
 Because of the several upstream activities that the oil and gas industry performs, it is inevitable
that the occasional accident may result from the on and offshore exploration and production,
transportation, storage, and refining of petroleum. This happens most often when inexperienced
workers are not sufficiently trained in safety and precautionary measures, with the most
common types of injuries being burns, brain injury, spinal injury and fractures.
 Remember, preventing accidents, protecting your health, and protecting the environment
depend on recognising potential hazards in your workplace, especially when hazardous
chemicals like petroleum are involved.
 Hazards can exist due to the nature of the task being performed, where it is being performed,
and the equipment or material involved. Follow best safety practises to lower the potential
hazards to the industrial plant, its employees, and people living nearby.

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