ISSUE 28

|

  2 July 2015
Latest HSE Statistics YTD 30 June
  2014 2015
Workplace fatalities
1 1
Non-work related fatalities
0 3
Non-accidental deaths (NADs)
10 7
Lost Time Injuries (LTIs)
28 29
All injuries (excluding first aid cases)
0 0
Motor Vehicle Incidents (MVIs)
47 51
Roll over - MVIs
14 12
Serious MVIs
15 16
Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF)
0 0
Life Saving Rules Violations
YTD 30 June
Journey management
23
Speeding/GSM
4
Seatbelts
16
Overriding safety device
0
Working at heights
1
Permit
2
Confined space
0
Lock out tag out
1
Drugs and alcohol
0
Gas testing
0
Smoking
0
Suspended Load
0
Vehicle Class A/B Defect
YTD 30 June
Class A
60
Class B
2144
HSE TIP
 

Important News


   
 

PDO suffered over 300 fire incidents in the past seven years between 2008 and 2014.  These range from small dust bin fires to massive process fires with huge impacts on our assets and production. Currently in 2015, more than 20 fire incidents have been registered already up to May. The causes of these fires differ but more often similar causes are common: unsafe acts (smoking), unsafe conditions (poor housekeeping), electricity (electrical appliances), vandalism and inadequate maintenance to process equipment.

   

PDO is in the business of producing hydrocarbons and you would be forgiven for thinking that the majority of our fires would involve processing equipment.  However over half of our fires had nothing to do with our processing of hydrocarbons.  The main cause of these non-process fires was from electrical appliances; tube lights catching fire was top followed by exhaust fans and then other equipment such as TVs, receivers, water coolers and heaters.  Most caught fire after being left on continuously for long periods of time.  From registered fire incidents in 2015 alone, almost 50% are due to electrical causes.

 

What You Need to Know

 
 
Smoke Detectors:

Tampering with smoke detectors in rooms and offices is extremely dangerous and is prohibited. As such it can lead to serious consequences. It is important to immediately report any defective detector to management for your safety and the safety of others.

Who discovers fires?:

Of the 300+ fires almost 90% of them were only discovered when a person saw them and raised the alarm.  In many cases fires occur were detection equipment is not available and in other cases where detectors are defective or have been removed!

Five incidents in a day!:

On 11th January 2009, 5 fire incidents occurred in Saih Rawl camp site. Four of them within a period of 7 hours and a fifth later in the day. Four due to electrical faults which led two ceiling lights, an electrical switch and an exhaust fan catching fire and the fifth happened when a worker lit a candle and left it to burn unattended.

 
ISSUE 28

|

  2 July 2015
         

Another disturbing cause of these non-process fires is smoking and inconsiderate discarding of cigarettes butts into waste bins or skips which already contain combustible materials. These lead to the contents igniting and subsequent damage to the asset, disturbance to people, use of the firefighting resources and possible injuries. Such unfortunate behavior led to a costly fire incident in 2009 where a mechanical workshop was severly damaged and the cause was concluded to be a discarded cigarette butt. Fortunately the response to many such incidents was fast otherwise some incidents could have escalated even more.

 

At least 3 fires were due to acts of vandalism and sabotage. In 2011, two incidents occurred within one month where locals intentionally set waste skids on fire and in 2010, a bus driver of a contracting company working for PDO intentionally set his own bus on fire!! Another unsafe act often seen recurring is trying to force two pin socket into three pin electricity outlet. This lead to damage the socket and can lead to fires. Also, overloading many appliances onto one outlet could also lead to short circuits and subsequent fire.

 

Fire is an exothermic reaction which radiates heat. Fires occur when the three elements of the fire triangle combine.  1. Fuel, 2. Oxygen 3. Ignition source.   Ingredients in the fire triangle include:
FUELS
Gases:  Methane, Acetylene, Propane,
Liquids *: Petrol, Organic Solvents
Solids *: Plastics, Wood, Fibers, Metal Particles

OXIDIZERS 
Gases:    Oxygen, Fluorine, Chlorine
Liquids: Hydrogen Peroxide, Nitric Acid, Perchloric Acid
Solids:    Metal Peroxides, Ammonium Nitrite

IGNITION SOURCE
Sparks, Flames, Static Electricity, Heat

For more information or back issues, please access www.pdo.co.om/hseforcontractors or email Nasra Maamery (MSE/51)