OIL & GAS WELL DRILLING RISKS - HOT WORK, FIRE, AND EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS
Workers performing hot work
such as welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, and grinding are exposed to the
risk of fires from ignition of flammable or combustible materials in the space,
and from leaks of flammable gas into the space, from hot work equipment.
Potential Hazard:
Getting burned by fires or
explosions during hot work.
Possible Solutions:
The basic precautions for
fire prevention are:
Perform hot work in a safe
location, or with fire hazards removed or covered. [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(1)(i)]
Use guards to confine the
heat, sparks, and slag, and to protect the immovable fire hazards. [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(1)(ii)]
Special Precautions:
Do not perform hot work where
flammable vapors or combustible materials exist. Work and equipment should be
relocated outside of the hazardous areas, when possible. [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(1)(ii)]
Make suitable
fire-extinguishing equipment immediately available in a state or readiness.
Such equipment may consist of pails of water, buckets of sand, hose, or
portable extinguishers dependent upon the nature and quantity of the
combustible material exposed. [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(ii)]
Assign additional personnel
(fire watch) to guard against fire while hot work is being performed. Fire
watchers are required whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations
where anything greater than a minor fire might develop. [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A)]
Fire watchers shall:
Have fire-extinguishing
equipment readily available and be trained in its use.
Be familiar with facilities
for sounding an alarm in the event of a fire.
Watch for fires in all
exposed areas, try to extinguish them only when obviously within the capacity
of the equipment available, or otherwise sound the alarm.
Maintain the fire watch at
least a half hour after completion of welding or cutting operations to detect
and extinguish possible smoldering fires. 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B)
Potential Hazard:
Getting burned by a flash
fire or explosion that results from an accumulation of flammable gases, such as
Methane or Hydrogen Sulfide, around the wellhead area.
Possible Solutions:
Monitor the atmosphere with a
gas detector. If a flammable or combustible gas exceeds 10 percent of the lower
explosive level (LEL), the work must be stopped.
Identify the source of the
gas and repair the leakage.
Additional References:
OSHA Standards
29 CFR 1910.106, Flammable and combustible
liquids
29 CFR 1910.252, Welding, cutting, and brazing
- general requirements
29 CFR 1910.253, Oxygen-fuel gas welding and
cutting
29 CFR 1910.254, Arc welding and cutting
29 CFR 1910.255, Resistance welding
American Petroleum
Institute (API)
Standards. American Petroleum Institute (API).
RP 54, Occupational Safety
for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, (2007, March).
Publication 2201, Procedures
for Welding Or Hot Tapping On Equipment Containing Flammables, (2003).
National Fire Protection
Association
30, Flammable and Combustible
Liquids Code, (2012).
51-B, Standard for Fire
Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot Work.
WELL SITE IGNITION SOURCES
There are a number of
potential sources of ignition for flammable gases and liquids on the drill
site. It is necessary to provide for a general ignition safety program which
could pre-empt potential hazards of fire and explosion.
Potential Hazard:
Ignition and explosions of
flammable gases or vapors from:
Internal-combustion engine
sparks
Open flames from any source
Smoking
Welding operations
Electric power tools
Two-way radios
Vehicles with catalytic
converters
Portable generators
Possible Solutions:
Provide spark arrestors for
internal-combustion engines.
Post "NO SMOKING"
signs wherever a flammable gas or vapor hazard exists.
Locate "spark
producing" equipment or facilities well away from potential hazard areas.
Prohibit vehicles with
catalytic converters from the immediate vicinity of the rig.
Prohibit open flames from the
vicinity of the rig.
Additional Information:
American Petroleum Institute
(API).
RP 54, Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil
and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, Wireline Service.
RP 500, 3rd Edition, Classification of Locations for
Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class 1, Division 1 and Division 2.
RP 505, 2nd Edition, Classification of Locations for
Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class 1, Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Accident Prevention Reference
Guide. International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC).
29 CFR 1910.106, Flammable and Combustible Liquids.
OSHA Standard.
29 CFR 1910 Subpart S, Electrical. OSHA
Standards.
