HSE
guidelinesS
PROCESS SAFETY - SAFEGUARDING
April 2017
Work safely or don’t work at all
There are strict procedures when working on installations and systems.
After all, there’s a risk for hazardous substances to be released. Therefore read the Permit to Work carefully and check if the described control measures have been taken. Then take the precautionary measures which belong to your job.
Always be alert to prevent hazardous substances from being released. When in doubt: always ask or stop working!
Speaking the same clear language regarding Health, Safety and Environment,
and harmonisation of regulations by focusing primarily on agreements between companies and contractors.
That is the goal the member parties of HSElife NL pursue.
As well as the information that has already been harmonised, location and company-specific information also applies. Ask for it!
Before certain jobs on an installation can begin, the installation (or relevant parts of the installation) must first be safeguarded.
That means ensuring that the installation is free of liquid and gas and depressurized. Safeguarding is the responsibility of the operator. With this the Operations department provides a safe
workplace. So liquids and gases are confined to where they belong:
in pipes and installations on which no work is scheduled.
This way we are able to manage safety risks that could otherwise lead to incidents.
PROCESS SAFETY -
SAFEGUARDING
SAFEGUARDING THE PROCESS
Aim to prevent unintentional/accidental operation of the installation and the processes and, with that, exposure to hazardous substances
How? by (physically) separating and/or blocking system components
What with? • shut-off valves • spectacle flanges • connecting flanges • blind flanges
• bleeders
• lockout & tagout devices (locks, chains and labels)
SAFEGUARDING OF THE PROCESS BY OPERATIONS
• perform physical safeguarding according to a safety plan
• physical check and approval of the safeguard in place
• once the job is completed: lifting of the safeguard
• reporting and registration
Please note! Operations may well hand over the installation
depressurized and clean, nevertheless residues can always be left behind like benzene, mercury, LSA, H2S, etc.). So be sure that
measurements are carried out regularly.
YOUR PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOB
• discuss the permit to work
• hold a prejob meeting
• attend the toolbox meeting
BEFORE YOU START WORKING
• read and check both sides of the permit to work
• inspect your workplace
• check your escape routes and assembly point(s)
• together with an expert, check that the system (components) you are going to be working on is/are free of process substances, is/
are depressurized and is/are electrically dead (initial measurements)
• carry out a LMRA (Last Minute Risk Analysis) Please note!
Before you start working, at the workplace the issuer and the holder must guarantee that:
• the control measures described in the permit to work have actually been taken
• the control measures for safe execution of the work itself have actually been taken
DURING THE JOB
• check regularly that the system you are working on is still free of process substances (n.b. evaporating residues), depressurized and electrically dead
• make sure that you are physically shielded from live electrical systems and moving parts (e.g. ventilator fan)
• when necessary, take additional precautions
Any doubts? Have the issuer of the permit to work convince you that the workplace is safe.
Please note!
• stop work immediately if you are unclear about anything, or when there’s danger, or if there are deviations from the permit to work
• block subsequent work if you have not completed your work
• never improvise
• immediately report any defects, damage etc. with the system (components)
N.B. A separate folder on electrical safety is available.
QUESTIONS? MORE INFORMATION?
You can always approach the site manager/supervisor
Take the correct safety precautions and check them regularly
Discuss the risks of the job and its safety precautions beforehand, with all involved (toolbox meeting)
Conduct a last-minute risk analysis (LMRA) of the workplace
immediately before starting the job and after the situation changes in any way
Satisfy yourself that all systems and parts are clean, fully depressurised and electrically dead!
Stop work immediately if anything unexpected happens
5 TO REMEMBER
1 2 3
4
5
IMPORTANT! Operations cleans and depressurises equipment before you are cleared to work on it. Nevertheless, traces of chemicals (benzene, mercury, H2S, etc.) or
radioactivity may remain, so make sure that measurements are taken regularly.
QUESTION
1. What does ‘safeguarding of an installation’ mean?
A) It means that the Electrical Responsible Person ensures that the power on the installation is disconnected.
B) It means ensuring that the installation is free of liquid and gas and depressurized.
C) It means that the Sufficiently Instructed Person blocks the electrically-powered equipment.
ANSWER
1. What does ‘safeguarding of an installation’ mean?
A) It means that the Electrical Responsible Person ensures that the power on the installation is disconnected.
B) It means ensuring that the installation is free of liquid and gas and depressurized.
C) It means that the Sufficiently Instructed Person blocks the electrically-powered equipment.
QUESTION
2. What’s the aim of safeguarding the process?
A) By safeguarding the process you prevent the unintentional or accidental blocking of the installation and the processes.
B) The aim is to perform physical safeguarding according to a safety plan. This is done by the Electrical Responsible Person. With that you prevent exposure to hazardous substances.
C) By safeguarding the process you prevent unintentional or
accidental operation of the installation and the processes and, with that, exposure to hazardous substances.
ANSWER
2. What’s the aim of safeguarding the process?
A) By safeguarding the process you prevent the unintentional or accidental blocking of the installation and the processes.
B) The aim is to perform physical safeguarding according to a safety plan. This is done by the Electrical Responsible Person. With that you prevent exposure to hazardous substances.
C) By safeguarding the process you prevent unintentional or
accidental operation of the installation and the processes and, with that, exposure to hazardous substances.
QUESTION
3. How and what with do we safeguard the process?
A) Safeguarding is done by disconnecting the power of certain system components and to physically separate them. For this you use shut-off valves, spectacle flanges, connecting flanges, blind flanges, bleeders and lockout and tagout devices like locks, chains and labels.
B) Safeguarding is done by physically separating system components,
or by blocking them. For this you use shut-off valves, spectacle flanges, connecting flanges, blind flanges, bleeders and lockout and tagout
devices like locks, chains and labels.
C) Safeguarding is done by physically separating system components,
or by blocking them. For this you use shut-off valves, spectacle flanges, connecting flanges, insulated gloves, blind flanges, bleeders and earth connections.
ANSWER
3. How and what with do we safeguard the process?
A) Safeguarding is done by disconnecting the power of certain system components and to physically separate them. For this you use shut-off valves, spectacle flanges, connecting flanges, blind flanges, bleeders and lockout and tagout devices like locks, chains and labels.
B) Safeguarding is done by physically separating system components,
or by blocking them. For this you use shut-off valves, spectacle flanges, connecting flanges, blind flanges, bleeders and lockout and tagout
devices like locks, chains and labels.
C) Safeguarding is done by physically separating system components,
or by blocking them. For this you use shut-off valves, spectacle flanges, connecting flanges, insulated gloves, blind flanges, bleeders and earth connections.
QUESTION
4. Who depressurizes the installation and cleans the installation?
A) The operator from the Operations department. This means that he performs physical safeguarding according to a safety plan.
B) The Competent Person from the Operations department. This means that he does a physical check of the safeguard in place and he must give his approval.
C) The validator of the work permit. In addition he ensures reporting and registration.
ANSWER
4. Who depressurizes the installation and cleans the installation?
A) The operator from the Operations department. This means that he performs physical safeguarding according to a safety plan.
B) The Competent Person from the Operations department. This means that he does a physical check of the safeguard in place and he must give his approval.
C) The validator of the work permit. In addition he ensures reporting and registration.
QUESTION
5. The installation may well be handed over depressurized
and clean, nevertheless hazardous residues can always be left behind. How do you prevent exposure to hazardous residues during work?
A) You carry out a Last Minute Risk Analysis.
B) You are sure that measurements are carried out regularly.
C) Together with an expert you check that the system (components) you are going to be working on is/are free of process substances, is/are depressurized and is/are electrically dead.
ANSWER
5. The installation may well be handed over depressurized
and clean, nevertheless hazardous residues can always be left behind. How do you prevent exposure to hazardous residues during work?
A) You carry out a Last Minute Risk Analysis.
B) You are sure that measurements are carried out regularly.
C) Together with an expert you check that the system (components) you are going to be working on is/are free of process substances, is/are depressurized and is/are electrically dead.
