Question 1

In your safety role on an offshore oil production platform, you have been asked to take part in a risk
assessment and subsequent procedures for the preparation and repair of a large, electrically-driven pump
containing a hot, flammable liquid. The pump needs to be stopped, the large suction and discharge valves
closed, the pump contents removed and the pump inerted before the repair is carried out.
(a) Identify hazards AND, in EACH case, outline an associated risk with the preparation of the pump. (8)
(b) Outline control measures that should be taken for the repair of the pump. (8)
(c) Identify locations where locks and associated tags should be applied for Lock Out, Tag Out (LOTO). (2)
(d) Identify types of worker who may attach personal locks within LOTO in this situation. (2)

Part (a) 1 the temperature of the pump and associated pipework leading to the risk of burns from contact;
2 the vertical distance (work at height) leading to falls from height;
3 the pump accidentally being started and leading to injury from contact with rotating parts;
4 the release of flammable vapour leading to fire/explosion;
5 the gas used for inerting will reduce the oxygen concentration and may lead to asphyxiation;
6 the use of excessive force to close valves leading to manual handling injury.
Part (b) ; 1. the issue of permits
2. the monitoring of the atmosphere for potentially flammable conditions
3. the use of barriers or fences to segregate the work;
4. the provision of safe access equipment such as scaffolding
6. the use of trained and skilled personnel
7 isolation of electrical power;
8. allowing hot machinery to cool;
9. the use of PPE, such as respirators, chemical suits
10. isolation of pipelines (various means, such as blanks/spades);
11. releasing stored energy; the use of LOTO;
12.drain, wash, purging
13. start repair work
Part (c) 1. electrical isolator associated with the electric motor;
2. the inlet or outlet valves
3. the key control boxes within the control room.
Part (d) 1.operators,
2. mechanical
3. electrical technicians,
4. contractors
5. scafolders
6. supervisors.

Question 2 Identify documents that could be provided by contractors in order to demonstrate their health
and safety competence to an oil and gas industry client. (8)

1. HSE policy
2. training records;
3. proof of any qualifications held by workers;
4. evidence of previous jobs (recommendations);
5. method statements for the work (and previous jobs)
6. records of accidents or prosecutions.
7. training without realising that many other things also indicate (either directly or indirectly)
8. audit, recommendation
9. sickness
10. maintenance and testing, certific of tools and equipment used
11. RA
12. Membership of any organization

Question 3
During a routine inspection of a manufacturing site, an external storage tank containing fuel oil was found
not to have a bund.
Outline features that should be included in the design of a suitable bund for the tank. (8)

1. bund capacity (110%),

2. providing safe access for maintenance personnel who might have to inspect the bund or tank,
3. the installation of vehicle impact protection
4. pipework directed over the bund wall, rather than through it (if possible);
5. adequate clearance between the bund wall and tank;
6. the use of warning signs;
7. proper sealing of the internal surfaces and an impermeable base;
8. the wall being of sufficient height to take account of potential for a tank leaking above ground (ie jetting);
 9. the walls sufficiently strong to withstand the hydrostatic pressure should the tank leak;
10. the need to drain rainwater that might accumulate.

Question 4
A distillation column requires protection from fire through active or passive fire protection.
(a) Outline how a fixed water deluge system could provide fire protection. (2)
(b) Identify additional examples of active fire protection. (2)
(c) Identify examples of passive fire protection. (2)
(d) Outline why the metal legs of the column should be protected. (2)

Part (a) 1. an automatic deluge triggered from fire sensitive bulbs (fusible links)
2. human intervention to initiate the deluge; this provides a large cooling medium that prevents the
situation from escalating further and will also starve the fire of oxygen and thus limit the effect of any fire,
radiation and smoke.
Part (b) 1. carbon dioxide inerting (such as in electrical switch rooms);
2. foam deluge systems (such as for hydrocarbon fires);
3. chemical powders;
4. water mist systems
5. automatic or manual fire monitors.
Part (c) 1.mortar based,
2. intumescent, coatings
3. sublimation or ablative);
4.mineral fibre matting
5.use of fire walls (compartmentation).
Part (d) 1. protection of the steel from deformation/melting;
2. to ensure the vessel remains supported;
3. to prevent the vessel from releasing its contents
4. to minimize the consequences of a fire.

Question 5
Floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs) are used in the oil and gas industry to process
and store hydrocarbons.
Other than loading and unloading, identify additional activities with FPSOs that present risks to personnel. (8)
1. personnel transfer operations (between vessels);
2. the proximity of other vessels (collisions);
3. crane operations;
4. helicopter operations;
5. working in extreme weather conditions
6. Hot work
7. routine maintenance;
8. tank cleaning and confined space entry;
9. line flushing;
10. the changing of hoses;
11. the repair of ship valves;
12. diving operations;
13. working at height

Question 6
Safety case documents offshore and safety report documents onshore contain similar information
requirements.
(a) Identify these similar information requirements. (4)
(b) Outline reasons for using these documents. (4)
Part (a) 1. information on the plant location and inventories;
2.surrounding environment (eg proximity to schools);
3. identification of all major accident hazards and the evaluation of associated risks;
4. description of the measures being taken to control these risks;
5.arrangements for audits;
6. a description of the safety management system
7. the presence of emergency plans.
Part (b) 1.demonstrate that risks are being managed;
2. this demonstrates compliance with legal requirements;
3. show best practice is being used;
4. used as evidence in legal proceedings
5. used to satisfy insurers.
6. Demonstration that an installation (on or off shore) is safe to operate is an essential requirement of
regulators throughout the world.
Question 7
Oil and gas processing plants involve furnace operations. One of the most critical furnace process
parameters is tube metal temperature.
(a) Outline reasons for controlling tube metal temperatures within furnaces. (4)
(b) Outline how tube metal temperatures are controlled. (4)

Part (a) 1. avoiding rupture of the tubes due to excessive temperatures (leading to internal explosion);
2. to make sure the temperature is kept sufficiently below the melting point (thus avoiding creep);
3. to prevent weakening of the tubes (due to the excessive temperature);
4. to optimise heat transfer (efficiency)
5. to prevent internal fouling of the tubes due to low temperatures.
Part (b) 1. operating within a specified range of parameters;
2. monitoring of tube metal temperatures (use of alarms);
3. monitoring of furnace firing (again, using alarms);
4. monitoring of internal process water flow;
5. the use of automatic trips for high tube metal temperatures (and/or low internal water flow);
6. water treatment (eg pH control)
7. tube inspection regimes.
8. the installation of ESD systems.

Question 8
Many oil and gas facilities have marine terminal operations including the loading and discharge of oil and
gas products to and from tankers and barges.
(a) Outline possible consequences of a fire occurring on a vessel moored at a marine terminal. (3)
(b) Outline arrangements that could be made in order to protect the vessel and marine terminal in the event of a
fire. (5)

Part (a) 1. injury to personnel in the vicinity;

2. damage to surrounding ships and terminal facilities due to radiated heat
3. pollution of the water ways (rivers/seas).
Part (b) 1.fire response plans (for the ship/barge as well as the site/terminal);
2. fire-fighting equipment (on the ship/barge);
3.automatic fire detection systems;
4. fixed water drenchers;
5. fire monitors (remotely operated);
6. special fire-fighting tugs
7. passive fire protection of vulnerable areas.

Question 9
A quantitative risk assessment is to be used instead of a qualitative risk assessment on a project to
expand an existing oil and gas installation.
(a) Outline the meaning of a qualitative risk assessment. (4)
(b) Outline how a quantitative risk assessment differs from a qualitative risk assessment. (2)
(c) Outline the concept of as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). (2)

Part (a) 1. comprehensive hazard identification;

2. the broad categories used to classify both likelihood and consequences;
3.categories may be descriptors or numerical (where the numbers are simply used to arbitrarily rank and
have no quantitative meaning)
4. is a reliance on subjective judgment.
Part (b) 1.quantitative risk assessments use realistic/meaningful numerical representation of
frequency/probability and estimates of consequences. These estimates can be compared with specific criteria
(published by regulators). They are more objective.
Part (c) 1. it involves weighing the risk against the cost (money, time and effort) in deciding on appropriate
control measures. It is based upon the idea of reasonable practicability and represents the level to which risks
are expected to be controlled.

.
Question 10
(a) Outline conditions that are necessary to ignite a flammable liquid. (4)
(b) Outline control measures that could help reduce the risk of fire from a storage tank containing
flammable liquid. (4)

Part (a) 1. sufficient vapour being produced above the liquid;

2. the presence of sufficient oxygen to support combustion;
3. the vapour concentration being in the right range (between the flammable limits);
4. the liquid being at or above its flashpoint;
5. an ignition source being present of sufficient energy (minimum ignition energy).
Part (b) 1. use of level alarms (high and high-high);
2. tank level controls;
3. automatic shut off valves;
4. flammable gas/vapour detection equipment;
5.the use of explosion proof equipment (ATEX);
6. the control of ignition sources during filling/emptying;
7. inspection/maintenance regime.
8. use of vehicle impact protection around the tank ( lead to containment loss and subsequent ignition).
9. BOUNDING
10. lightning discharger

Question 11
(a) Identify properties of hydrogen. (4)
(b) Outline hazards associated with hydrogen. (4)

Part (a) 1. colourless,

2.odourless gas
3. explosive/highly flammable,
4. less dense than air
5. reacts readily with oxidising agents.
Part (b) 1. it forms explosive mixtures with air over a very wide range of concentrations;
2. it is very easily ignited (even by very low energy sparks);
3. it can rise in structures and from explosive pockets in ceilings and roofs;
4. it can displace oxygen in high concentrations;
5. it burns with an invisible flame (so difficult to see)
6. depending on how it is stored/supplied, may be cryogenic.