safety on palnt

Safety Regulations 1

Running Head : SAFETY REGULATIONS

Recommended Industry Practices and Safety

Regulations in the Gas and Oil Industry

Safety Regulations 2

Ever since the catastrophic Piper Alpha tragedy in 1988 , when 167 people died in the fire resulting from an explosion in the rig significant improvements in health and safety regulations have been enacted (Lloyd , 2007 . Despite these developments , 20 ,000 people employed in the oil and gas industry are still at the risk of being injured or perishing in a fire , explosion or infrastructure failure - risks

associated with activities in the industry . Governments and organizations directly related to oil and gas operations have issued regulations that would make these operations safer to the general public

There are many risks associated with the oil and gas industry because of its vulnerability to explosion and fire . Safety regulations being issued focus on , among other things , the prevention of accidents resulting to explosion and fire

Fire Prevention and Protection

A ) Storage of Combustible Materials

Fire can be prevented when combustible gases are stored , handled and transported properly . The Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] (1998 ) have released regulations regarding the safe storage of combustible materials . According to the said guideline , flammable or combustible materials should not be stored in areas used for exit stairways or those that are normally used for the safe passage of people . This is to ensure that in the event of a fire or explosion , all exits can be safely used and not consumed by fire first . Furthermore no more than 25 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids shall be stored inside a room but outside an approved storage cabinet . A storage cabinet is usually wooden with the construction specifications identified by OSHA . Metal storage cabinets are acceptable once approved by OSHA

Materials that are used to construct storage tanks for flammable liquids must be non-combustible . Underground storage tanks must be made of either fiberglass or reinforced

Safety Regulations 3

plastic . Alternatively , cathodically protected steel (steel protected against corrosion that could result from contact of steel and soil could also be used , as well as steel clad with fiberglass reinforce plastic (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation , 2007 Above-ground storage tanks on the other hand must be constructed of steel . If the tank 's bottom rests on the ground , it should have cathodic protection . The tank bottom must be made of an impermeable material , so that material from the ground cannot seep through and combine with the material inside the tank . Tanks other than steel may be used but shall be designed to specifications embodying principles recognized as good engineering design for the material used (OSHA 1998 . Unlined concrete tanks , for example , may be used for storing flammable and combustible liquids that have a specific gravity of 40 deg . API or heavier . Lined concrete tanks may also be used depending on the substance stored , for as long as it follows good engineering design .Not only the material used in storage tanks , is vital in avoiding accidents resulting to...