Biogas Safety first!

General requirements
7. Protective measures
With regard to occupational health and safety, the
general rule is to establish protective measures according
to the TOP principle (see section Hazard assessment).
The plant operator must ensure the safe handling of
work equipment and the safe operation of plants and
plant components with the aid of technical protective
measures. The technical protective measures
for specific plant components are explained in the
second part of this brochure.
7.1. Organisational protective measures
Organisational structure
The operator should design and document the
plant’s organisational structure in such a way that
all activities and tasks can be safely performed and
monitored at all times.
The following arrangements should be made, at the
very minimum:
responsibilities (e.g. for checking the operating
log, carrying out instruction/briefing and
performing the hazard assessment; the employer
can delegate tasks to an employee)
deputisation arrangements
on-call service: if the plant is operated by several
people in shifts, handover at the change of shifts
must be ensured and any particular occurrences
must be documented in writing (e.g. in the
operation diary)
if necessary, assignment of the right to issue
instructions
Operating instructions
A thorough briefing (presentation of the operating
instructions) by the plant manufacturer is essential
prior to commissioning and if any modifications are
made. Evidence of the content covered should be
given in writing. In addition, the operating personnel
of the biogas plant should take part in further training
and continuing professional development, and
the certificates should be kept. If personnel from
external companies work at the biogas plant, their
professional suitability must be established and verified
as necessary. A suitable briefing form should be
used to ensure that external personnel are briefed on
operational hazards.
Instruction and briefing
Instruction and briefing by the plant operator on the
safe handling of work equipment should be carried
out and repeated in accordance with the findings of
the hazard assessment.
Examples of instruction and briefing:
Safety and health at work
Work in areas where there is an explosion hazard
Internal company instructions
Hazardous substances present or arising at the
workplace
ZZ
in particular hygiene regulations
ZZ
information about measures to be taken to
prevent exposure
ZZ
information about wearing and using personal
protective equipment and protective clothing
Before commencing work/activities, employees
must receive initial instruction and then at regular
intervals, at least once a year. A written record of the
instruction should be kept.
Dangerous tasks must be performed in accordance
with the written instructions of the employer or the
person responsible; a permit-to-work system must
be used when dangerous activities are to be carried
out or activities that can become dangerous in
combination with other work. Examples: work inside
tanks and in tight spaces, work entailing an ignition
hazard (welding, flame cutting, drilling etc.), work
on roofs, work in hazardous areas.
Appropriate supervision must be ensured during the
presence of employees in hazardous areas. The German
Biogas Association provides an example of a
permit-to-work system with the Instruction record
for subcontractors and employees for maintenance,
installation and repair work (see Annex 2).
Employees must receive instruction prior to commencing
work on or with new work equipment, new
procedures/changed procedures, new hazardous
substances or new responsibilities.
The following should be documented:
Content of the briefing
Briefing of external personnel
Briefings and instruction held
Requirements for lone working
As part of the hazard assessment it is necessary to
examine which activities can be performed by work-
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