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Emergencies

Module 8

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DISCLAIMERThis material was produced under grant

number SH-22248-1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.

Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of

the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial

products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Objectives• After this module you should be able to:– identify the most common emergencies– take the necessary steps to avoid and

respond to emergencies

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your company must have an emergency action plan and should have BOP drills and fire drills

the emergency action plan must be available for workers to review

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Alarms• The types of alarms you might hear– fire– blowout– abandon site– H2S– all clear

• You should be trained so that you can readily identify what each alarm means and what action you should take

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Emergency Action Plan Elements• Procedures for reporting a fire or other

emergency• Procedures for emergency evacuation,

including type of evacuation and exit route assignments

• Procedures to be followed by workers who remain to operate critical operations before they evacuate

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Emergency Action Plan Elements• Procedures to account for all workers

after evacuation• Procedures to be followed by workers

performing rescue or medical duties • The name or job title of every employee

who may be contacted by workers who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan

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911 Emergency Service• 911 will be used on all sites unless the

service does not exist in that area• Your company will determine availability• Satellite phones or 2-way radios may be

used when cell phone reception cannot be achieved

911

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Geronimo Line• Setting up the geronimo line– periodically checked, adjusted if necessary– 6-12 feet of sag in the middle– anchor point on ground should be at least 2

times the distance from the derrick as its starting point is high

– anchor point should be able withstand a 3000 pound force

• You should be trained on its use• Never ride unless in an emergency

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this geronimo line has been tied off to the ladder, an insufficient anchor point

Corrective Action: contact your supervisor and arrange for the anchor point to be moved to the derrick

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Medical Emergencies• Oil and gas operations are often in remote

areas far from emergency medical care– establish a site-wide communication system

and a reliable way of contacting EMS on the work site; identify areas of cell phone reception or the phone(s) to be used in the event of an emergency

– review the emergency plan and procedures for emergency contact with the employees at all work sites

– discuss what to do if a serious injury occurs

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First Aid Kits• First aid kits should be– kept clean– well stocked– inspected often– available when needed– kept in a visible location– located throughout the site– marked clearly with signage

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first aid kits must be checked regularly and restocked when necessary

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Eye Wash Stations and Showers• Many corrosive materials are used in the

oil and gas industry• The eyes and body may be harmfully

exposed to these materials• Suitable facilities for quick drenching or

flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided on the site for emergency use

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this is an example of an emergency shower

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this is an example of an emergency eye wash station

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eye wash stations should be located throughout the site

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this first aid station is blocked

Corrective Action: the space in front of emergency equipment should remain accessible at all times

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this fire extinguisher is visible and free of obstructions, but needs mounted

Corrective Action: mount this extinguisher at least 4 inches but no more than 5 feet high

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Fire Protection Elements• Portable fire extinguishers• Fire and employee alarm systems• Controlling sources of ignition• Storage of flammable materials• Disposal of flammable materials

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Preventing Fires• Never store flammables in open or

unapproved containers• Store flammables in a special storage

cabinet that is well marked with warning signs for everyone to see

• Control all ignition sources around flammable liquids

• Smoke in designated areas only

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Sources of Ignition• Open flames• Smoking• Cutting or welding• Static electricity• Hot surfaces• Electrical and mechanical sparks• Sparking tools or devices• Lightning

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Disposing of Oil-Soaked Rags• Dispose of oil-soaked rags in a metal

container with a tight-fitting lid– keeps oxygen away and reduces chance of

fire– when exposed to air, some rags can produce

enough heat to spontaneously ignite

• Mark these special containers as “Oil-Soaked Rags ONLY”

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• Must maintain in a fully charged and operable condition

• Must keep in their designated places at all times except during use

• Visually inspect portable extinguishers and hoses monthly

• Must conduct an annual maintenance check

Extinguisher Maintenance

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Employee Training• Your company must familiarize workers

with the general principles of fire extinguisher use

• This training must be given at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter

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PASS

PULL AIM

SQUEEZE SWEEP

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Extinguisher Classification• Class A– ordinary combustibles (wood, cloth, paper)

• Class B– flammable liquids, gases, greases

• Class C– energized electrical equipment

• Class D– combustible metals

• Class K– kitchen grease

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Diesel Engine Runaway• Based on the principles of operation for

diesel engines, gas released into the atmosphere near the air intake can cause the engine to race out of control

• Devices that cut off air intake during a “runaway” should be installed on ALL diesel engines – stationary or mobile – where a gas release could occur

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Internal Combustion Engines• Spark arrestors should be installed on all

engines within 100 feet of the wellbore• Rig power emergency shutdown devices

should be actuation-checked every week• Other emergency shutdowns should be

actuation-checked every month

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Pressure Release• A pressure release occurs when a high-

pressure line or hose fails at either one of the connection points or at some point along its length

• This can cause injury to a worker in several ways including– the actual fluid or gas in the line or hose– the line or hose whipping uncontrollably

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existing wellheads on site should be barricaded and caged

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hoses can become damaged with nicks, cuts, or gouges and could burst

inspect cables and hoses frequently for damage to prevent emergencies

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Wildlife• Snakes– leave alone; do not play, handle, or harass– always look inside items lying on the ground– if bitten seek medical help immediately

• Wasps and bees– food and sugary drinks will attract– if you are allergic, tell your supervisor

• Spiders– check your boots– if bitten seek medical help immediately

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Adverse Weather• Lightning– avoid metal pipes, fences, and poles– follow your company’s policy

• Windstorms– wind advisories should be taken seriously– if too windy, stop work, watch for dead limbs

and trees, and seek shelter

• Tornadoes– keep tract of advisories– if present, seek shelter in basement or areas

of building with maximum number of walls

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Adverse Weather• Sun and UV Exposure– too much sun can damage the skin and cause

skin cancer– protect yourself with sun screen or wear long

sleeves

• Snow and Ice– watch your footing to avoid slips– be aware of ice buildup on equipment– slow down, whether on foot or driving

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TRAP• Terrorism Response Awareness Training• Terrorism is a political act designed by

groups to have their message heard• Methods of terrorism– firearms, explosives/fire, chemical agents,

biological agents, and nuclear

• Prevention of terrorism– primary prevention– secondary prevention– tertiary prevention

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Hazwoper• Hazardous Waste Operations and

Emergency Response• Emergencies involving hazardous

materials require specific attention• Your company or your host employer will

be required to follow OSHA regulations concerning hazardous material emergencies

• Never attempt the clean up of a hazardous spill unless you are trained

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PSM• Process Safety Management• Program covers the safe management of

hazards associated with processes involving highly hazardous chemicals

• Basically, “what could go wrong, and how to deal with it”

• If your company has this program, your role might be to perform process evaluations, audits, or investigations

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Applicable Standards• 1910.38 Emergency Action Plans• 1910.119 Process Safety Management of

Highly Hazardous Chemicals• 1910 Subpart L Fire Protection• 1926.35 Employee Emergency Action

Plans• 1926 Subpart F Fire Protection and

Prevention

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Your Employer Is Responsible For• Informing workers of the fire and

pressure release hazards to which they are exposed

• Preparing, implementing, and training on emergency action plans for all types of foreseeable emergencies

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You Are Responsible For• Being familiar with and following your

company’s emergency action plan• Knowing what to do in the event of a

medical emergency• Doing your part to prevent fires and

pressure release

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Case StudyAn equipment operator discovered a co-worker lying

motionless. He responded by checking for vital signs and found none. He went to the nearest first aid kit to obtain a clear mouth barrier to begin CPR. The barrier was missing.

The county coroner stated that the additional time needed to find a barrier may have contributed to loss of

life.

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Always Remember• Review the emergency action plans and

the fire prevention plans• You can prevent fires and pressure

releases by taking appropriate actions• Before beginning a job in a new area,

locate the nearest– fire extinguisher– eyewash station– emergency shower– emergency exit route

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Memory Check1. How much should a properly tensioned

geronimo escape line sag in the middle?a. 1-2 feetb. 3-5 feetc. 6-12 feetd. it should not sag at all

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Memory Check2. First aid kits should be

a. located in a visible locationb. fully stockedc. available for used. all of the above

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Memory Check3. According to OSHA, how often must

portable fire extinguishers be visually inspected?

a. dailyb. weeklyc. monthlyd. annually