NEBOSH International Technical Certificate in Oil & Gas Operational Safety

Question Bank

Q1 a) Outline the key principles of a safe shift handover.

Information on specific operational issues is not required in this part. (10)
A1 a): Safety Critical Communication:
 Shift handover.
 Emergency communications.
 Remote communications.
 Permit-to-Work procedures.
 Informing contractors of hazards and risks.
 Using radios and personal communicators.
 Marking and labeling of plant.
 Informing about procedural change.

Shift Handover should be:

 High-priority and conducted face-to-face.
 Two-way with both participants taking responsibility to ensure effectiveness.
 Carried out using verbal and written communication with emphasis on written.
 Based on analysis of information needs by incoming shift staff.
 Given as much time as necessary.

b) Outline the main operational issues communicated at shift handover. (10)

A1 b)
 Operational status of the installation or process.
 Change of operation required in coming shift.
 Emergencies or abnormal events that occurred during the shift.
 Maintenance operations; completed or not completed.
  Status of Work Permits; whether open or closed.
 Any safety system that has been overridden/by-passed.
 Deviations from normal working procedures.
 Accidents or incidents or injuries during the shift.
 Any forthcoming preparations required for next shift.
 Any routine operational task for coming shift (Fire Hose Reel Check).
 Emergency drills or exercises that will take place in forthcoming shift.

Q2: a) Identify the hazardous properties of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) (4)
A2: a) Highly Flammable
Colorless
Odorless
Can cause cold burn
Forms an explosive cloud in large volume when depressurized from liquid form

b) Identify the hazardous properties of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) (4)

A2: b) Highly toxic
Flammable
Heavier than air
Corrosive

Q3: 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)
A3:
 Health & Safety Policy.
 Accident Statistics.
 Risk Assessment; method statements.
 Training Programs.
  Enforcement Action.
 References (of previous work done).
 Membership of professional body/trade association.
 Experience in Oil and Gas work.
 Employers’ liability insurance.
 Arrangements for selection of Sub-contractors.

Q4: Outline reasons why accidents should be investigated. (8)

A4:
 To identify immediate and root causes.
 To identify corrective action to prevent recurrence,
 To record factual evidence for future use.
 For legal reasons.
 For insurance or civil compensation claims.
 To boost staff morale.
 To identify the need to take disciplinary action in case of negligence.
 To gather data and identify any trends or patterns.

Q5: Identify the contents of a typical Permit to Work (PTW). (8)

A5:
 Title and permit number.
 Reference to other permits/isolation certificates in place.
 Equipment, job location and plant identification.
 Description and nature of work.
 Hazards identified and precautions needed.
 PPE required.
 Date, time and duration of the permit.
 Identification of workers in control of the work.
  Permit acceptance by those doing the work.
 Provision of permit extensions.
 Incorporate provision for permit hand back and cancellations.
 Required signatories (Issuing/Approving/Receiving).

Q6: Give the Meaning of the following terms.

(i) Lower flammable limit (LEL) (2)
(ii) Upper flammable limit (UFL) (2)
(iii) Flashpoint (2)
(iv) Highly flammable liquid (2)
A6:
(i) is the concentration below which a flammable mixture is too lean to burn.
(ii) is the concentration above which a flammable mixture is too rich to burn.
(iii) the lowest temperature at which there is sufficient vapor to ignite.
(iv) have a flash point below ambient temperature. Less than 21o.

Q7: Outline how a BLEVE can be generated in an LPG vessel. (8)

A7: LPG Vessel contains pressurized liquid and vapor above the liquid surface. When the vessel
is exposed to fire, this causes the pressure to rise and the relief valve to open to release the
pressure. This causes the liquid level to drop below where the flame is in contact with the vessel
to the surface above the liquid level. With no liquid to absorb the heat, the vessel wall weakens
and ultimately ruptures. This causes a rapid boiling of the liquid because of the pressure drop,
which then releases large amounts of vapor. On contact with an ignition source, the vapor cloud
explode violently forming a massive fireball and causing large fragments to be projected long
distances.

Q8: Outline a typical 3 X 3 matrix that can be used to evaluate risk. (8)
A8:
Q9: An oil installation contains a vessel that requires protection from fire exposure in the form
of active or passive fire protection.
(a) Identify TWO examples of passive fire protection to protect vessels. (2)
(b) Outline why the metal legs of the vessel should be protected. (2)
(c) Outline how a fixed water deluge system could provide fire protection. (2)
(d) Identify TWO additional examples of active fire protection. (2)
A9:
a) Spray Coatings, Fire-proof cladding.
b) In case of fire nearby or in adjacent vessel exposing the metal legs of a vessel to flames, this
will keep the legs protected and resistant to collapse where falling of the vessel could result
in its direct contact with fire on the ground and possible rupture (BLEVE).
c) Deluge system is used to apply water or other fire fighting media to all vessels at the same
time. This extinguishes fire in the area as well as provide cooling to other adjacent vessels
that may be exposed to radiant heat and may cause it to rupture.
d) Sprinkler system, Foam-based monitor.

Q10: Outline the risks associated with diving under water. (8)
A10:
 Drowning.
 Entanglement (in anchor wires, cables).
 Breathing supply problems.
 Hit by approaching vessels.
 Decompression Sickness (“the bends”).
 Compromised by on-platform emergencies.
 Communications failure.
 Attack by wild sea creatures such as sharks & piranhas.

Q11: (a) Give the meaning of safety integrity level (SIL). (2)
(b) Identify the nominated SILs. (4)
(c) Outline the significance of nominated SILs. (2)

A11:
a) Is a statistical representation of the reliability of safety instrument systems and defined
as the probability of the safety instrument system (SIS) to fail on demand (PFD).
b) There are four categories, namely SIL 1, 2, 3, & 4. SIL 1 being the least dependable and
SIL 4 being the most dependable. SIL 1 = 1 failure in 10 operations, SIL 2 = 1 Failure in 100
operations, SIL 3 = 1 Failure in 1000 operations & SIL 4 = 1 Failure in 10000 operations.
 c) If a tank being filled with process fluid, the SIS will prevent the tank from overflowing. If
the tank is fitted with SIL 1, this means for every 10 times the SIS is activated, there is 1
chance of the SIS not working causing the fluid level to rise above permitted level and the
tank to overflow. If the tank is filled with water it would be considered more tolerable
than flammable liquids which may require higher SIL levels considering the risk level.

Q12: a) Explain the typical effects H2S exposure have on the body. (6)
b) Explain the purpose of a preventive maintenance scheme. (4)
c) Explain the term ‘corrosion’. (4)
d) Outline the operation of a floating roof tank and how materials are contained
safely within. (6)

A12:
a) At lower concentration, the gas smells like rotten eggs. At higher concentration, the gas
rapidly destroys the sense of smell, making it undetectable. It causes irritation to the eyes,
skin and respiratory tract. At higher concentrations, it can severely affect the central
nervous system and causing rapid breathing and respiratory failure and ultimately, death.
b) Preventive maintenance is where equipment is repaired and serviced before failure occur.
The frequency of maintenance activities is pre-determined by schedules. Preventive
maintenance aims to eliminate the unnecessary inspection and maintenance tasks, to
implement additional maintenance tasks when and where needed and to focus efforts on
the most critical items.
c) Is the deterioration of materials by chemical interaction with their environment. It’s a
natural process in the sense that metal is attempting to revert to its original composition
from which it was originally came from. It mainly refers to metal but can also be applied
to the degradation of plastics, concrete and wood.
d) Floating roof tanks comprises an open-topped cylindrical steel shell equipped with a roof
that floats on the surface of stored liquid. The roof rises and falls with the liquid level in
the tank. This reduces the evaporative loss of the stored liquid and minimizes the build
up of flammable hydrocarbon vapors.

Q13: Describe the hazards associated with working over water. (8)

A13: Working alongside or over sea water can expose workers and their tools to effects of salt
spray. This affects the skin, clothing metal tools and electrical equipment with higher risk of
electrical shock. Wet clothing increases chill factor and increases chance of hypothermia. It adds
water weight to clothing making mobility difficult. Exposure to wind and ultraviolet radiation due
to outdoor work can damage the eyes and skin if not controlled.

Q14: List the contents of a typical emergency response plan. (8)

A14:
 Command structure.
 Types of foreseeable accidents.
 Strategy to deal with these accidents.
 Details of persons, their roles and responsibilities in the emergency response.
 Details of availability and function of special emergency equipment such as firefighting,
repair items, etc.
 Details of availability and function of other resources such as medical assistance and
rescue.
 Arrangements for limiting the risk to personnel including training, instructing staff,
contractors and visitors.
 Off-site assistance which may include special equipment, expertise or outside facilities that
can assist in emergency situations.
 Alarm systems, whether audible or visual or both and whether manually or automatically
activated.

Q15 (a) Explain the term ‘passive fire protection’ (2)

(b) Describe how the use of passive fire protection improves safety on a rig. (6)

A15:
a) A coating, cladding, or free-standing system which in the event of fire, will provide
thermal protection to resist the rate at which heat is transmitted to the object or area
being protected.

b) Prevent escalation of fire by separating the different fire risk area. Protect essential safety
items and critical components such as separators, risers and topside shutdown valves.
Minimize damage by protecting the critical structural members particularly those which
support the temporary refuge, escape routes and critical equipment. Protect personnel
until safe evacuation is done.

Q16: (a) Outline practical ways of minimizing the formation of an electrostatic charge. (4)
(b) Identify types of changes that might require management of change controls. (4)

A16: (a) – The use of conductive materials (e.g. in filling operations).

- The use of good earthing and bonding system to eliminate potential electrical
differences.
- The use of ant-static additives.
- Employing low transfer velocities during filling.
- Avoid splash-filling (transfer pipe is located above filled level).
 - The use of ant-static clothing to personnel moving and touching metal objects that
could generate unwanted sparking due to discharge of static electricty.

(b) – Change of working procedures.

- Change of plant and equipment.
- Change to people or substances used.
- Equipment modifications.
- Using different raw materials.
- Change in process technology.
- Introduction of a new product.
- Change in catalysts.
- Change in equipment specifications.
- Change of alarms and interlocks.

Q17: With reference to above diagram:

(a) Identify risks associated with the proposed installation. (2)
(b) Identify active fire protection that should be in place for this installation (2)
(c) Within the fire plan, outline how the cooling of the other tanks should be prioritized
if Tank 3 is on fire. (4)
A17: (a) – Fire
- Explosion
- Environmental contamination due to leak of contents.
(b) Water-Based System (Monitors & Hose Reels) or (Deluge) / Foam-Based System
(Monitors or over-tanks installation).
(c) Due to wind direction, Tank 2 is the first to be protected against heat and flame and due
to its contents. The second priority is to Tank 1 due to it containing volatile materials.
Tanks 5 should come next as its position and possible change of wind direction increase
the risk of fire although less priority than Tank 1 as it contains less volatile materials.
Tank 4 comes last as it contains same content as Tank 5 and blow of wind blows flames
away from its position.

Q18: A large marine tanker is discharging crude oil at an oil terminal. The vessel is connected to
the terminal by flexible cargo hoses.
Outline control measures that could reduce the risk with this operation. (8)

A18: - Adequate communication between terminal staff and vessel operators.

- Inspecting hoses for damage and integrity before transfer of crude oil into the terminal.
- Providing mutually-agreed emergency procedures in case of fire or release of product
such as removal of vessel from the dock or stopping product flow.
- Arrangement of firefighting equipment, vapor cloud mitigation, mutual aid, rescue and
clean-up measures in case of spillages on dock or on water.

Q19: Outline the content of a procedure for bypassing an Emergency Shutdown (ESD)
system. (8)

A19: - Task should be closely controlled.

- Subject to written procedures (e.g. Management of Change).
- Authorized by a competent person (e.g. Plant Manager).
- Subject to justification and thorough risk assessment.
- Consideration for any emergency that may arise.
- Bypass to be applied in the shortest time possible.
- Details to be logged and communicated to all relevant parties (especially in case of shift-
handover).

Q20: Outline FOUR types of work activity associated with an oil platform that might require a
permit-to-work AND give a reason in EACH case for the requirement. (8)
A20: - Hot Work (Grinding, Cutting and welding): due to presence of explosive mixture as result
of gas processing.
- Work Under Water (Diving): due to risk of drowning and malfunction of breathing
apparatus as well as dangers present below and above sea waters such as cables beneath
platforms and vessels approaching the platform.
- Electrical Works (Repair and Maintenance): due to risk of electrocution and release of
stored energy which require lock-out and tag-out of the equipment and shutting down
certain processes.
- Work Inside Confined Space: due to possible presence of harmful/toxic materials and risk
of asphyxiation as well as restricted entry and exit.

Q21: An operator is draining a flammable liquid from process pipework to a metal container.
The supervisor is concerned about the possibility of an electrostatic charge forming and stops
this operation until a risk assessment is undertaken. During this work activity:
(a) Identify factors that influence the generation of the electrostatic charge; (4)
(b) Outline practical ways of minimizing the formation of an electrostatic charge. (4)

A21: (a) – Hot Dry Weather.

- Flow Rate.
- Overfilling.
- Lack of Earthing/Bonding.
- Splash Filling.
- Using non-conductive materials.
- Agitation (Liquid movement).
- Presence of Filters.
- Pressure Velocity.

Q22: Identify the documented information that might be used by an investigation team to
determine the causes of a major accident at work in which an employee was seriously
hurt. (8)

A22: - Permit to Work records.

- Photographs.
- Witness Statements.
- Minutes of HSE Meetings.
- Risk Assessment/Method Statement covering the activity.
- Maintenance records.
- Inspection/Audit reports.
- Safe Operating Procedures.
Q23: 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.

A23: - Flaring near production areas.

- Transfer of crew from ships to FPSO.
- Adverse weather conditions.
- Collision with other ships.
- Drowning as result of falling into the sea due to strong tide waves.
- Leak of hydrocarbons on deck.
- Fire or explosion due to release of hydrocarbons.

Q24: