Code of practice for entry into underground storage tanks at filling stations

Transcription

1 Code of practice for entry into underground storage tanks at filling stations

2 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR ENTRY INTO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS AT FILLING STATIONS May 2008 Published by ENERGY INSTITUTE, LONDON The Energy Institute is a professional membership body incorporated by Royal Charter 2003 Registered charity number

3 The Energy Institute (EI) is the leading chartered professional membership body supporting individuals and organisations across the energy industry. With a combined membership of over individuals and 300 companies in 100 countries, it provides an independent focal point for the energy community and a powerful voice to engage business and industry, government, academia and the public internationally. As a Royal Charter organisation, the EI offers professional recognition and sustains personal career development through the accreditation and delivery of training courses, conferences and publications and networking opportunities. It also runs a highly valued technical work programme, comprising original independent research and investigations, and the provision of IP technical publications to provide the international industry with information and guidance on key current and future issues. The EI promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications. In fulfilling this purpose the EI addresses the depth and breadth of energy and the energy system, from upstream and downstream hydrocarbons and other primary fuels and renewables, to power generation, transmission and distribution to sustainable development, demand side management and energy efficiency. Offering learning and networking opportunities to support career development, the EI provides a home to all those working in energy, and a scientific and technical reservoir of knowledge for industry. This publication has been produced as a result of work carried out within the Technical Team of the Energy Institute (EI), funded by the EI s Technical Partners. The EI s Technical Work Programme provides industry with cost-effective, value-adding knowledge on key current and future issues affecting those operating in the energy sector, both in the UK and internationally. For further information, please visit The EI gratefully acknowledges the financial contributions towards the scientific and technical programme from the following companies BG Group BHP Billiton Limited BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd BP Oil UK Ltd Chevron ConocoPhillips Ltd ENI E. ON UK ExxonMobil International Ltd Kuwait Petroleum International Ltd Maersk Oil North Sea UK Limited Murco Petroleum Ltd Nexen Saudi Aramco Shell UK Oil Products Limited Shell U.K. Exploration and Production Ltd Statoil (U.K.) Limited Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd Total E&P UK plc Total UK Limited Copyright 2008 by the Energy Institute, London: The Energy Institute is a professional membership body incorporated by Royal Charter Registered charity number , England All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, or transmitted or translated into a machine language without the written permission of the publisher. The information contained in this publication is provided as guidance only and while every reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of its contents, the Energy Institute cannot accept any responsibility for any action taken, or not taken, on the basis of this information. The Energy Institute shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage which may arise from the use of any of the information contained in any of its publications. The above disclaimer is not intended to restrict or exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by own negligence. ISBN Published by the Energy Institute Further copies can be obtained from Portland Customer Services, Commerce Way, Whitehall Industrial Estate, Colchester CO2 8HP, UK. Tel: +44 (0) sales@portland-services.com Electronic access to EI and IP publications is available via our website, Documents can be purchased online as downloadable pdfs or on an annual subscription for single users and companies. For more information, contact the EI Publications Team. e: pubs@energyinst.org.uk

4 CONTENTS Page Foreword...vi Acknowledgements... vii 1 Introduction and scope Statutory legislation and regulations Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 (HASWA) Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 (CSR) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR) The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER) The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM) Equipment and Protective Systems Intended For Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 (EPSR) An outline of principal hazards and risks Confined spaces Flammable and toxic substances Oxygen deficiency Oxygen enrichment Lead Fire and explosion hazards Sources of ignition Sludge deposits Miscellaneous chemicals Physical hazards Microbiological hazards Presence of excessive heat Duties and responsibilities Organisation Manager/project manager Confined space entry supervisor/competent person Personnel Rescue team Health assessment Health surveillance iii

5 Contents cont... Page 5 Planning and preparation of work Initial preparation Pre-task identification of hazards Development of a Safe System of Work (Safety Method Statement) Uplift of product Displacement of vapour and residual product by water filling Environmental controls Emergency arrangements Selection and use of suitable equipment Notification to regulatory authorities Permit-to-work (PTW) General Definition Objectives and functions Implementation and responsibility Confined space entry permit (CSEP) Permit-to-work (additional work) Display Permit suspension Permit interaction Hand-over Hand-back Cancellation Equipment and services Powered equipment Electrical equipment and electrical supply Lighting Personal protective equipment (PPE) Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) Tank atmosphere and testing equipment Miscellaneous equipment and services Recommended procedures and precautions General Mask and safe areas Fire precautions Ensuring effective communications Control of static electricity Access and egress Isolations Opening the tank Gas-freeing Testing and monitoring the atmosphere Ventilation Tank cleaning Work continuity Gas-free certification Closing down tank iv

6 Contents cont... Page 8.16 Decontamination and hygiene Hand-back Cancellation Site reinstatement Annex A Tank entry (confined spaces) pre-task identification of hazards/risks Annex B Flowchart permit-to-work (confined space entry workflow) Annex C Flowchart opening a confined space for entry Annex D Model confined space entry permit Annex E Model permit-to-work Annex F Pre-entry safety measures checklist Annex G Oxygen deficiency chart Annex H Working conditions in underground petroleum storage tanks Annex I References and bibliography Annex J Glossary of terms and abbreviations v

7 FOREWORD This code has been produced by Rex Wheeler, at the request of the Energy Institute (EI) Service Station Panel, to communicate procedures for safe entry into underground storage tanks at filling stations. It takes into account current UK legislation and regulations, codes of practice and industry procedures. It provides information that is intended to assist contractors to carry out such entry in a safe and legal manner and to prevent incidents and accidents. Some contractors may choose to follow this code as written, others may choose to follow it in principle but elect to vary conditions, sometimes adopting more stringent requirements. However if used, it will be necessary to select aspects appropriate to specific circumstances, based on 'risk assessments'. This code is not intended to represent the most stringent work methods that might be derived for performing a potentially hazardous operation, nor does it represent a minimum standard. Instead, it outlines procedures which, in the opinion of a cross-section of the industry and based on their practical experience, should ensure a safe standard of work under conditions typically encountered. It should be noted that this code is only intended to apply in situations where it is not reasonably practical to carry out the work by another means that avoids tank entry by personnel. Whilst written to be applicable specifically in the UK, including references to UK legislation and regulations, the principles can similarly be applied in other countries providing national and local statutory requirements are complied with. Where the requirements differ, the more stringent should be adopted. A similar legislative and regulatory framework generally applies elsewhere in the European Communities. The information contained in this code is provided as guidance only and while every reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of its contents, the Energy Institute cannot accept any responsibility for any action taken, or not taken, on the basis of this information. The Energy Institute shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage which may arise from the use of any of its publications. Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Technical Department, Energy Institute, 61 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7AR. vi

8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This code was commissioned by the Service Station Panel, and prepared by Rex Wheeler (Consultant) with input from the following specialists: Bob Bennett Clive Drake Kathy Early Steve Harrison Ray King Nigel Plumb Consultant LIS North Western & Co Ltd. David Plumb & Co Ltd. Torex Petroleum and Convenience King Tanktechnic Ltd David Plumb & Co Ltd. The EI wishes to record its appreciation of the work carried out by them, and also the following members of the EI s Service Station Panel who provided comments on drafts of this publication: Mike Harding Rory Hennessy Patrick Howley Phil Lambeth Jim Lye Phil Monger Peter Prescott Andrew Sykes UKPIA AUKOI TOTAL UK Ltd BP Oil UK Ltd Shell PRA Coteba EI The EI is also appreciative of comments submitted on the final draft by the following: James Barbour Nigel Colinson Sarah Leeson Richard Lewis Neil Leyshon Alec O Beirne Paul Shone UKPIA BP Oil UK Ltd ExxonMobil Taylor Woodrow BP Oil UK Ltd PTF Training Ltd Chevron Technical editing and project co-ordination was carried out by Martin Hunnybun (EI). vii

9 1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE Occasions may arise when physical entry by personnel will be necessary into an empty but uncleaned underground, horizontal storage tank at a filling station to carry out a prescribed engineering or maintenance task. The intention of this code is to focus on safety procedures and good practice methods for tank entry whilst referencing relevant health and safety legislation, particularly that pertaining to entry into confined spaces, irrespirable atmospheres and dangerous substances. It is assumed that entry into tanks and the work carried out will be undertaken by specialist contractors who can demonstrate their competence and the competence of their personnel in having achieved an appropriate understanding of key safety, health and environmental issues. The requirement for competence applies equally whether the work is to be carried out on a major oil company owned/operated filling station or for an independent retailer. More detailed information is provided in EI Code of safe practice for contractors working on filling stations. This code is applicable to tanks which have been used for the storage of petrol and diesel and covers the precautions and procedures recommended for tank entry based on experience developed within the industry. This code will facilitate entry to be carried out safely, effectively and with minimum risk. The procedures described, although intended for underground storage tanks, may also be applicable in part to above-ground storage tanks at filling stations. This code should be considered as being complementary to EI Model code of safe practice Part 16: Tank cleaning safety code, which applies to bulk storage tanks encountered at petroleum refineries, installations, depots or terminals. Companies specialising in the provision of services requiring tank entry may also wish to familiarise themselves with the applicable content of that publication. This code is not intended to apply to tanks containing LPG or other liquefied flammable gases, as entry into these vessels requires a more specialised approach. Consideration has been given to underground storage tanks which currently contain or have previously contained leaded petrol. More detailed information is provided in EI Guidance on the declassification of tanks previously in leaded gasoline service. Although reference is made to the uplifting of fuel, more detailed information is provided in EI Guidelines for uplift of petroleum products from filling station and customer storage tanks. It is also not the intention of this code to advise on the work to be performed inside tanks e.g. tank lining and/or relining, hot and cold work etc. However, mention has been made of various types of equipment likely to be present when entry is made. Page 1