OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS IN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Shreya Sahajpal

Safety, Health and Environment (PE 421)

Exposure Control Plan (ECP)

o Exposure control plan (ECP) for exposure to chemical hazards,

including hydrogen sulphide (H2S), drilling fluids, silica,

mercury, naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM),

extreme temperatures, fatigue

o ECP is a detailed approach for protecting workers against

chemical exposures, including health hazard information,

engineering controls, safe work procedures, worker training,

and record keeping.

H2S Exposure

H2S found in oil and natural gas deposits, and in some mineral rock, oil and natural gas wells, in refineries, and in pipelines used to carry unrefined petroleum.

Very toxic gas Has no colour. Can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. High levels of H2S lead to poisoning.

Drilling fluids

During drilling, a large volume of drilling fluids is circulated through the well and into open, partially enclosed, or completely enclosed systems at elevated temperatures.

Exposure leads to health effects including dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, and nausea, dermatitis and sensitization from repeated skin contact with the drilling fluids.

Exposure to oil mists can cause irritation and inflammation of the respiratory system.

Silica

Silicosis is a disease caused by the prolonged breathing of

fine crystalline silica dust.

The particles are deposited in the lungs, causing thickening

and scarring of the lung tissue.

Symptoms are shortness of breath, severe cough, and

weakness. May lead to death.

Crystalline silica exposure has also been linked to lung

cancer.

Mercury

Found as a vapour, to the oil and gas “traps.”

When these gas reservoirs are produced and the processed

fluids are cooled, liquid mercury can condense within heat

exchangers, separators, coolers, valves, and piping.

When this equipment (particularly components made from

magnesium or aluminum alloys) is taken apart for

maintenance or repair, workers can be exposed to mercury

vapour.

Confined Space

Confined Space refers to a space which by design has limited

openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation

which could contain or produce dangerous air contaminants,

and which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy.

Confined spaces include but are not limited to storage tanks,

compartments of ships, process vessels, pits, silos, ventilation

and exhaust ducts, sewers, tunnels, underground utility vaults,

and pipelines.

Upstream

Midstream&

Downstream

SEGMENT KEY PROCESSES AGENTSPOSSIBLE HEALTH

EFFECTS

• Seismic Survey & Evaluation

• Exploration & drilling

• Development & production

• Decommissioning

• Pathogenic microorganisms• Infection• Drilling mud• Petroleum products• Radioactive sources• Chemicals & additives• Metals (Pb, Cd, Mn)• Extreme temperatures• Silica/Asbestos• Noise/Vibration• Mechanical• Ergonomic

• Infectious and parasitic diseases• Cumulative trauma

disorders• Chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease• Dermal and eye issues• Spinal disorders• Cancer• Heat Stroke• Stress & Sleep deficits• Noise induced hearing

loss

• Pipelines• Transport &

storage• Marketing• Refining• Petrochemicals• Sales &

Distribution

• Petroleum products• Dust from filing and

scaling• Solvents & chemicals• Metals (Pb, Cd, Mn)• Silica/Asbestos• Noise/Vibration

• Dermal and eye issues• Pulmonary disorders• Gastrointestinal

disorders• Cancer• Noise induced hearing

loss

Agent

Silica dust (crystalline)

Used mineral oils

Noise

Heat

Bacteria

Repetitive movements

Source

Hydraulic Fracturing

Engine oil

Process noise above 85dB(A)

Ignition

Spray cooling towers

Workplace design

Route

Inhalation

Skin

Hearing

Whole body

Inhalation

Whole or part of body

Harmful Effect

Lung disease

Dermatitis, cancer

Hearing Loss

Heat stress, heat stroke

Bacterial Infection

Musculo-skeletal disorders

Assigning an Exposure Rating

EXPOSURE RATING DEFINITION

VERY LOW (A) Exposures are negligible

LOW (B) Exposures are controlled and likely to remain so in accordance with screening and performance criteria

MEDIUM (C) Exposures are currently controlled to meet screening and performance criteria but control cannot be assured

HIGH (D)Exposures are not adequately controlled to meet screening and performance criteria and continuously/regularly exceed Occupational Exposure Limits

VERY HIGH (E) Exposures are excessive and will almost certainly result in health damage to persons exposed

Classification of Health Hazards

Chemical hazards • toxic, corrosive, carcinogens, asphyxiates, irritant and

sensitizing substances Physical hazards

• noise, vibration, radiations, extreme temperature, fire Biological hazards

• virus, parasites, bacteria Ergonomic hazards

• manual handling activities, repetitive motions, awkward postures

Psychosocial hazards• overwork, odd working hours, isolated sites, violence

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

• Temperature - Heat / Cold• Illumination• Noise• Vibration• Radiation• Atmospheric pressure

CHEMICAL HAZARDS

Routes of entry - Inhalation, Ingestion, skin absorption

Chemical agents can be classified into-

1. Metals

2. Aromatic Hydrocarbons

3. Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

4. Gases

• Simple asphyxiants : N2, CH4, CO2

• Chemical asphyxiants : CO, H2S, HCN

• Irritant gases : Ammonia, SO2, Cl2

• Poison : CS2

PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARDS

Lack of job satisfaction, insecurity, poor interpersonal

relations, work pressure, monotony, etc.

Psychological & behavioral changes – hostility,

aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, alcoholism, drug

addiction, sickness absenteeism.

Psychosomatic disorders- Hypertension, headache, body-

ache, peptic ulcers, asthma, diabetes, heart disorders, etc.

 

TYPE OF CONTROL MEASURES

Medical Control • required to monitor effectiveness of Engg.

Control Engineering Control • reduce exposure, modification in design

Administrative / Legal Control • emphasis given to reduce the exposure by safe

work practices, law enforcement

ENGINEERING CONTROLS

Designing-building, Work station Good Housekeeping Ventilation Mechanization Substitution Enclosure Isolation Local Exhaust Ventilation Personal Protective Devices Work Environment Monitoring Statistical Monitoring

Hierarchy of control

Elimination & Substitution – remove the hazard from the workplace, or

substitute (replace) hazardous materials or machines with less hazardous

ones

Engineering – includes designs or modifications to plant/facility, equipment,

ventilation systems, and processes that reduce the source of exposure.

Administration – controls that alter the way the work is done, i.e. Change in

standard operating procedures and work practices.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – equipment worn by individuals to

reduce exposure such as contact with chemicals or exposure to noise. Eg:

gloves, earplugs, goggles, iridescent vests.

Where are controls used?

At the source (where the hazard "comes from") Along the path (where the hazard "travels") At the worker

Elimination & Substitution

The first and best strategy is to control the hazard at its source.

Most effective at reducing hazards Most difficult to implement in an existing process. If the process is still at the design or development

stage, elimination and substitution of hazards may be inexpensive and simple to implement.

For an existing process, major changes in equipment and procedures may be required to eliminate or substitute for a hazard.

Major considerations for suitability of potential substitutes

Effectiveness: Will the material meet the technical requirements (e.g., solubility,

drying time) for the job or process?

Compatibility: The substitute must not interfere or react with the process, the other

materials or the equipment.

Existing Control Measures: Existing control methods may not adequately control

the substitute (e.g., a less toxic substitute may evaporate more rapidly and the

existing ventilation system may not adequately capture the vapours).

Waste Disposal: Will the current waste disposal system meet technical and

regulatory requirements when dealing with any new waste created by using the

substitute?

Hazard Assessment: A hazard assessment should be done to decide whether to

substitute a different chemical or material.

Engineering Controls

The basic concept is that, to the extent feasible, the work

environment and the job itself should be designed to eliminate

hazards or reduce exposure to hazards.

They are based on the following principles: If feasible, design the facility, equipment, or process to remove

the hazard or substitute something that is not hazardous. If removal is not feasible, enclose the hazard to prevent

exposure in normal operations. Where complete enclosure is not feasible, establish barriers or

local ventilation to reduce exposure to the hazard in normal

operations.

Typical engineering controls

Process control Enclosure and/or isolation of emission source Ventilation

Process control involves changing the way a job activity or process is done to reduce the risk, or changing the design of equipment/process

Enclosure & IsolationKeep the chemical "in" and the worker "out“An enclosure keeps a selected hazard "physically" away from the workerIsolation places the hazardous process "geographically" away from workers

Ventilation is a method of control that strategically "adds" and "removes" air in the work environment.Removes the contaminant at the source so it cannot disperse into the work space and it generally uses lower exhaust rates than general ventilation

Administrative controls

Administrative controls limit workers' exposures by scheduling shorter

work times in contaminant areas or by implementing other "rules".

Administrative controls are not generally favoured because they can be

difficult to implement, maintain and are not a reliable way to reduce

exposure.

E.g. install signs, rotate jobs, timing of work, policies and other rules, and

work practices such as standards and operating procedures

Work Practices

Education & Training

Emergency Preparedness

Personal Hygiene &

Safe Practices

Typical administrative controls

Scheduling maintenance and other high exposure

operations for times when few workers are present

(such as evenings, weekends).

Using job rotation schedules that limit the amount of

time an individual worker is exposed to a substance.

Using a work rest schedule that limits the length of

time a worker is exposure to a hazard.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes items such

as respirators, protective clothing such as gloves, face

shields, eye protection, and footwear that serve to provide

a barrier between the wearer and the chemical or material.

Personal protective equipment should never be the only

method used to reduce exposure except under very

specific circumstances because PPE may "fail“ with little or

no warning.

PPE should be used:

as an interim (short term) measure before controls are

implemented

where pre-contact control technology is not available

where pre-contact controls are inadequate

during activities such as maintenance, clean up, and repair where

pre-contact controls are not feasible or effective

during emergency situations

Medical Control

Medical Control Program can deliver services that prevent hazards that can

cause illness and injury, recognize and treat illness and injury, and limit the

severity of work related injury and illness.

The size and complexity of a medical program will depend on many factors,

including the:

• Type of processes and materials and the related hazards

• Type of facilities

• Number of workers

• Characteristics of the workforce

• Location of each operation and its proximity to a health care facility

Medical programs consist of everything from a basic first aid and CPR

response to proper and detailed medical care.