Watch Our 3 Minute Movie!
March 27, 2011 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Find out more about Libra-System and ABCan-Track in our 3.5 minute .
Working on ice gets new guidelines
January 26, 2010 by J. Swiss · Comments Off
Working on ice is a cold reality for many oilfield workers and while much has been published about the hazards of frostbite and hypothermia, there is a major risk below the ice’s surface that until recently, has been largely misunderstood.
A fall through the ice into the freezing water below presents a “risk that can have potentially life-threatening consequences” for truckers, oil well drillers, survey and scientific crews and anyone else who must work outside during the winter. But surprisingly, a person dressed in winter clothing can survive emersion in cold water for as long as one hour, and as long as two hours if they can get above the surface of the water.
When someone falls through the ice, they have:
- One minute to control breathing. For about one minute, the person gasps for air in reaction to contact with the cold water. After one minute, the gasping subsides, the skin numbs and the sensation of intense cold decreases.
- Ten minutes of meaningful movement. The person has about 10 minutes to get out of the water before they are unable to help themselves.
- One hour before losing consciousness. If the person manages to hang on to the ice or stay afloat after 10 minutes, the muscles in their arms and legs lose the strength to get them out of the water. Eventually they lose consciousness as their core body temperature decreases to about 30°C.
- Two hours to be found. If the person stays above the surface of the water, rescue is still possible within two hours. After that time, death due to hypothermic cardiac arrest occurs when the body’s core temperature falls below 28°C.
(Giesbrecht, G. and A. W. Walker, 2006)
To improve the protection of workers on ice, an Alberta-based multi-stakeholder advisory committee with experience in designing, building, maintaining and operating on ice covers was formed to create workplace guidelines and supporting materials for ice covers. In October 2009, the committee released a document titled Best Practice for Building and Working Safely on Ice Covers in Alberta.
When the LibraSystem™ is updated in late January, a new safe work practice dealing with working on ice will be added.
Sources:
- Bill Corbett, Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Magazine, January 2010.
- Giesbrecht, G. and A. W. Walker, Hypothermia, Frostbite and other Cold Injuries: Prevention, Survival, Rescue and Treatment, 2nd edition. The Mountaineers Books, 2006.
New: Practices for Welding Casing Bowls and Drill Stem Testing
October 6, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
The LibraSystem™ was recently updated to include two new safe work practices as well as changes to the federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. The new practices include:
- Welding: Casing to Casing Bowls (with a Casing Bowl Welding Checklist)
- Drill Stem Testing
Subscribers can log into their accounts to view the full impact of these changes on the health, safety and environmental policies and practices. If you’re not a subscriber and would like more information, please contact Jude Hislop at 403-541-9606.
Other Changes of Interest
Alberta
Alberta Environment
Alberta Environment released the following documents and forms:
- A Guide to Remediation Certificates for a Petroleum Storage Tank Sites (June 2009)
- Application for a Remediation Certificate for a Petroleum Storage Tank Site (June 2, 2009)
- Record of Site Condition (March 2009)
- Record of Site Condition – fact sheet (April 6, 2009)
- Guide to Preparing Environmental Impact Assessment Reports in Alberta (March 2009)
- Guide to Providing Comments on Proposed Terms of Reference (March 2009)
- Guide to Reviewing Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (November 2008)
- Specified Gas Emitters Regulation: Frequently Asked Questions for Baseline Emissions Intensity Applications and Compliance Reporting February 2008 (February 2009)
- Specified Gas Emitters Regulation: Technical Guidance for the Quantification of Specified Gas Emissions from Landfills November 2008 (February 2009)
Energy Resources Conservation Board
The ERCB released the following documents:
- Across the Board Newsletter May/June, 2009
- Accross the Board Newsletter June 2009
- ST 59: Alberta Drilling Activity – Monthly Statistics – April 2009 (Released June 9, 2009)
- ST 108: ERCB Monthly Enforcement Action Summary, February 2009 (June 2009)
- ST 60B:Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring and Venting Report: Industry Performance for the Year Ending December 31, 2008 (June 2009)
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, Workplace Health and Safety
Workplace Health and Safety released the following documents:
- Year to date, numbers as of May 19, 2009
- Asbestos at the Work Site (CH019), July 2009
- Asbestos Containing Materials in Buildings to be Demolished (ASB003), July 2009
- Best Practices Mould at the Work Site (BH019), July 2009
- Do I have a Workplace Mould Problem (BH018), July 15, 2009
- Hydrogen Sulphide at the Work Site (CH029), Revised July 2009
- International Format for Material Safety Data Sheets, July 15, 2009
- Notifiable Occupational Diseases: Information for Physicians (MG030), Revised July 2009
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code – Comparison of Requirements between the OHS Code 2006 and OHS Code 2009, July 10, 2009
- Using Pesticides Safely (CH015), Revised July 2009
Alberta Boilers Safety Association
ABSA released the following report:
- IB09-007Alert – H2S Removal at Well Site, Non-Pressure Vessels Must not be Pressured (August 7, 2009)
British Columbia
BC Oil & Gas Commission
The BC Oil & Gas Commission released the following safet alert:
- OGC IB 07-09 Safety Alert Regarding Welding of Casing Bowls, July 15, 2009
WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC released the following reports:
- The Dangers of Breathing Silica Dust (WS 2009-04)
- Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, May 2009
- Best Practices for Truck Safety – Final Report. June 2009
BC Ministry of Environment
The B.C. Ministry of Environment released the following reports:
- Remediation of Sites Contaminated by a Spill, Revised June 2009
- Requirements for Independent Remediation, June 2009
- Requirements for Responding to Offsite Contaminant Migration, June 2009
- Site Profile Requirements for Site Decommissioning, July 2009
Saskatchewan
Workers Compensation Board
The Saskatchewan WCB released the following report::
- Assessment: Rate Classification of Industries 2009
Canada
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
The CEAA released the following reports:
- Operational Policy Statement: Adaptive Management Measures under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, March 2009
- Guide to the Participant Funding Program. Revised December 2008
Industry
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
CAPP released the following report:
- 2009 Stewardship Benchmarking Guide
Enform
Enform issued the following documents:
- Tripping in Hole (SA-2009-07)
- Casing Erosion Cause Uncontrolled Well Release (SA-2009-08)
- Explosion in Flare System While Swabbing Well (SA-2009-09)
- Workers Injured Using Damaged Lifting Equipment (SA-2009-10)
- IRP Vol. 8 – Pumping of Flammable Fluids (2009)
LibraSystem™ Advisory Committee Meeting Announced
October 6, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Thursday, October 23 the LibraSystem™ Advisory Committee will meet in Calgary to discuss ongoing improvements to the LibraSystem ™ Health, Safety and Environmental Management System.
Improvements include changes motivated by regulatory updates, safety alerts and industry activities as well as additions requested by our subscriber community. These improvements are included at no extra charge to every one of our subscribers.
The Advisory Committee Meeting will also feature a special presentation on Prime Essential Systems Corp. and SafesitesEP™, a pair of new services and systems for managing prime contractor responsibilities at remote upstream oil and gas sites.
Every subscriber to the LibraSystem™ is automatically a member of the Advisory Committee and is urged to attend the meeting. For more information, contact Jude Hislop at 403-541-9606.
BC contractors not meeting FRC requirements
September 1, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Not all contractors in the drilling and well servicing sector are meeting BC OHS Regulation requirements for providing fire retardant clothing (FRC) to workers. The deficiency was identifed in discussions between employers and WorkSafe BC which has issued an OHS Regulation Compliance Alert to remind industry of the requirements under BC OHS Regulations and the BC Workers Compensation Act.
While workers are required to equip themselves with safety footwear, general purpose gloves, safety headgear and clothing that protects them against natural elements, they are not required to provide their own FRCs. Under BC legislation, responsibility for providing and maintaining FRCs rests with employers.
To read the complete bulletin, check the WorkSafe BC website.
Subscribers to the LibraSystem™ for Health, Safety and Environmental Management will find these requirements highlighted in an upcoming update to our safe work practice for Personal Protective and Safety Equipment.
OH&S Code changes affect many safe work practices
July 13, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Changes to the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code came into effect July 1 2009 with significant impact to a number of safe work practices essential to oil and gas companies. The changes include:
- Hazard Assessments (all affected workers must be included in hazard assessments and operators must ensure contractor staff are aware of worksite hazards)
- Confined Spaces (new “restricted space” category introduced that does not require a safe work permit)
- Cranes, Hoists and Lifting Devices (load calculations must be completed for lifts exceeding 75 percent of a crane’s capacity)
- Fall Protection (requirements for training, ladders, loads on vehicles and more have been affected)
- First Aid (changes have been made to the licensing of ambulance services)
- Occupational Exposure Levels for Chemical Substances (levels for 150 substances have been revised)
These changes and more have been made to the safe work practices in the LibraSystem™. For more information, subscribers can log in. If you’re not a subscriber and would like more information, please contact us at 403-233-2291 or by email.
New: Practice for Driving on Resource Roads
June 18, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
The LibraSystem™ was recently updated to include the following changes in regulatory requirements and industry best practices. Subscribers can log into their accounts to view the full impact of these changes on the health, safety and environmental policies and practices. If you’re not a subscriber and would like more information, please contact us at 403-233-2291 or by email.
New Practice
- Driving on Resource Roads
Regulatory and Industry Changes that Affect Safe Work Practices
| Regulatory or Industry Body | New or Modified Requirement or Regulation | Practice Modified |
| B.C. Oil and Gas Commission | Noise Control Best Practices, March 2009 | Noise Monitoring |
| Provincial Occupational Health & Safety/WCB Requirements | Detailed requirements for reporting incidents in each province | Incident Reporting |
| Provincial Occupational Health & Safety/WCB Requirements | General requirement for maintaining copies of incident investigation reports | Incident Investigation |
| Provincial Occupational Health & Safety Requirements and IRP 17 Ground Disturbance in the Vicinity of Buried Facilities | Clarification of requirements to hand-expose undergound pipelines | Ground Disturbance |
New or Modified Regulations
| Regulatory Section | New or Modified Requirements or Regulations |
| ERCB Bulletins | ERCB Bulletin 2009-12 Surveillance and Inspection of Pipeline Water Crossings, April 14, 2009 |
| BC Acts and Regulations | Hazardous Waste Regulation B.C. Reg. 63/88 amended by BC Regulation 375/2008 in force April 1 2009 Pipeline Regulation B.C. Reg.360/98 amended by BC Regulation 31/2009 in force April 1 2009Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation B. C. Reg. 104/2004 Amended by B.C. Reg. 134/2009 in force March 30, 2009Wildfire Regulation B.C. Reg. 38/2005 Consolidated to B.C. Reg. 70/2009 |
| BC Oil & Gas Commission Information Letters | OGC IL 09-07 Storage of Fraccing Fluids, March 12, 2009OGC 09-12 Changes to Well Suspension Requirements, April 23, 2009 |
Other Changes of Interest
Alberta
Alberta Environment
Alberta Environment released the following reports:
- 2008 Annual Report – Canada-Alberta Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation (March 23, 2009)
- Too Good to Waste: Making Conservation a Priority (October 2007)
Alberta Sustainbable Resource Development
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development released the following report:
- Sustainable Resource Development Business Plan 2009-12
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, Workplace Health and Safety
Workplace Health and Safety released the following documents:
- Supplier Material Safety Data Sheets at Oil and Gas Lease Sites (WMS001) (Revised April 2009)
- Temporary Foreign Worker Guide for Employers (April 23, 2009)
- Appeals Review Process and Rules of Procedure (April 17, 2009)
Alberta Worker’s Compensation Board
The Alberta Workers Compensation Board released the following Report:
- Alberta WCB Policies and Information Manual (Current to March 2, 2009)
Canada
Canadian Standards Association
The Canadian Standards Association released the following reports:
- B167-08 Overhead Travelling Cranes – Design, inspection, testing, maintenance and safe operation.
- C22.1-09 Canadian electrical code, part 1 (21st edition) safety standard for electrical installations
- Z462-08 Workplace electrical safety
National Energy Board
The National Energy Board released the following Safety Advisory:
- SA 2009-01 Fatalities During Installation of Compression Couplings (April 2, 2009)
Industry
Enform
Enform issued the following documents:
- Transfer of Electricity While Moving a High Load (SA-2009-01)
- Ignition of Gases Trapped in Steel Support Pilings (SA – 2009-02)
- Coiled Tubing Injector Head Failure (SA – 2009-03)
- Rupture of High- Grade Nitrile Hose (SA-2009-04)
- Elevator Latch Opens Allowing Casing to Fall (SA -2009-05)
- Draft for Review – IRP Vol. 21 – Coiled Tubing Operations (March 26, 2009)