Permit to Work Major Hazard Standard - MIRMgate

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WMC EHS Management System Major Hazard Standard Permit to Work Intrinsically safe equipment Lower Explosive Limit Upper Explosive Limit and observe a work area where hot work is being done. The Fire Watch shall not perform other tasks whilst assigned in this role Equipment that has been specifically designed and certified for use in hazardous areas The ‘leaner’ point at which a mixture of flammable gas or vapour in air will no longer support combustion The ‘richer’ point at which a mixture of flammable gas or vapour in air will no longer support combustion 5. Details 5.1 General A Work Permit and associated Hot Work Certificate is required when: • Flammable or combustible gases or liquids are present which have the potential to ignite or explode • Flammable or combustible materials are present which may ignite if not protected or controlled adequately • Flash vapours and non-condensable gases have the potential to accumulate and develop flammable mixtures. Risk assessments shall be conducted to identify the areas where the higher level of control of a Work Permit/Hot Work Certificate is required. All other hot work where a risk of ignition exists is either performed in a designated hot work area or, if considered low risk hot work, under the authority of a Work Authorisation. Where there is no risk of fire or explosion from hot work the work can proceed under a management authorised THA or Standard Work Procedure. 5.2 Performing Hot Work when a Work Permit is not Required • Where it has been determined by risk assessment that no risk of fire or explosion exists, the hot work may proceed under an authorised THA or Standard Work Procedure (SWP). • The THA shall be signed as a written authority by a line supervisor confirming that a Work Permit/Safety Checklist is not required and all controls defined are appropriate for the work in the defined work environment • The hot work technician shall obtain verbal clearance from the work environment ‘owner’ prior to work commencing. 5.3 Performing Hot Work under a Work Authorisation Where it has been determined by risk assessment that the risk of fire and explosion from hot work is low the work may be conducted under the authority of a Work Authorisation and a THA/SWP signed by the hot work technician’s line supervisor. The hot work technician and team leader shall confirm that: • They have verified that a Work Permit is not required • An authorised THA/SWP is available for the specific work • The person(s) performing the hot work is competent to perform the particular hot work • The area is free of flammable and combustible materials, which may ignite if not protected or controlled adequately (a 15 metre radius is required by AS 1674) WMC-EHS-MHS-007 DocsOpen Ref : 155520 Issued: 23/12/03 Page 46 of 59
WMC EHS Management System Major Hazard Standard Permit to Work • The person performing the hot work can safely monitor the work environment • The appropriate fire fighting equipment is available and in working order Once the above questions have been answered in the affirmative and the Work Authorisation Tag has been filled out, the Tag shall be authorised. The Authorising Person retains the tear off portion of the Tag as a record of work authorisation. Prior to commencing work verbal clearance shall be obtained from the ‘owner’ of the work environment. The Tag is hung adjacent to the area where hot work is performed (see Appendix F3 for Work Authorisation Tag). When work is complete the hot work technician informs the ‘owner’ that work is complete and the Tag is returned to the Authorising Person for sign off and filed as part of the Permit to Work documentation. 5.4 Preparing for a Work Permit/Hot Work Certificate The process of defining necessary controls for hot work forms part of the preparation for obtaining a Work Permit and is described in the beginning of this Standard. When it has been decided as part of this process that a Hot Work Certificate (see Appendix F2) is required, the person performing the hot work (hot work technician) and/or the Permit Acceptor, in consultation as necessary with the Permit Issuer, shall: • Prepare the work site to contain all ignition sources as close to the point of work as possible, i.e. erect barriers to contain slag and sparks • Identify and remove or control all combustible/flammable materials (gases, vapours, dusts, fibres, other solids) from within 15 meters of each hot work point and immediately below this area when working at height • Equipment, piping and tanks on which hot work is to be performed shall be thoroughly drained, flushed with water, dried, steamed and air purged as necessary (the plant/equipment owner would normally perform process preparations) to provide an atmosphere which can be tested and certified as gas-free immediately before the commencement of hot work. Hot tapping is a special case in which hot work takes place on live lines and under hazard controls defined from a risk assessment • Provide a safe entry and exit from the hot work area. If combustible/flammable materials cannot be removed: • Ensure suitable non-combustible covers or shields (e.g. fire blankets) are secured in place • Provide proper ventilation of hot work areas • Locate and check the emergency fire fighting equipment for safe operation • Establish a Fire Watch if required by the risk assessment • The Permit Issuer shall arrange for required gas testing (initial and repeat or continuous) and shall be undertaken using an intrinsically safe gas detector and conducted by an authorised Gas Tester • The Permit Issuer shall be satisfied that the level of any flammable or combustible material in the atmosphere adjacent the hot work area is less than 5% of its Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) immediately prior to authorising the Work Permit • See Appendix E1 for requirements when conducting hot work in confined spaces. WMC-EHS-MHS-007 DocsOpen Ref : 155520 Issued: 23/12/03 Page 47 of 59
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Permit to Work Major Hazard Standard - MIRMgate

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