A HAZID Study for Oil and Gas Waste Treatment Facility in Peterhead
According to the American Welding Society, a welding spark can travel 10m horizontally and even further when falling.
This was the statistic that led our longstanding oil and gas service company client in Peterhead to invite us to run a HAZID.
In a change to our usual process related studies, we reviewed a project to move their fabrication shop to a new location.
Given the significant hazards associated with welding and grinding, the study raised a lot of unexpected actions as we worked through the process. As OTECSA have previously delivered the DSEAR assessment and HAC for this site, we have a good understanding of the challenges this company faces with this move.
A HAZID does not make design recommendations, rather it informs decision making and the primary concern was the proximity of the proposed welding bays to a zoned process area.
We were able to work through the practicalities of both physical separation and barriers around the hot work to support the client in the next stage of the project. As is often the case, additional issues such as access for maintenance and creating pedestrian zones away from forklift truck activities were highlighted when we had the right team around the table.
Alongside these safety hazards, the occupational health impacts of carcinogenic welding fumes and dusts arising from cutting and grinding metal were also considered. An area we know the HSE are focussing on within metal working companies this year.
This early intervention and the focus on major hazard guidewords in the early stage of design meant that adequate safeguards and re-design activities can still be carried out without a major impact on the project schedule.