American Petroleum Institute (API) released a new pipeline safety management system standard developed through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and will serve as the American National Standard (ANS) on the subject. API 1173, Recommended Practice for Pipeline Safety Management Systems, was developed using a rigorous and transparent process through a combined effort with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and industry stakeholders with the goal of "zero incidents". The API released the following statement:

"API thanked the NTSB and PHMSA for their guidance and cooperation in creating RP 1173. The RP will build upon existing safety requirements to further monitor and measure the effectiveness of pipeline activities with a "plan, do, check, and act" philosophy that requires periodic reviews and applies changes or corrections to activities as needed."

 

For more information, please visit the API Newsroom 

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, offers a free and confidential consultation service to small and medium-sized businesses within the United States. To begin the process, companies can request OSHA to review their current needs in relation to injury and illness prevention programs. OSHA will identify the company's potential worksite hazards, areas of improvement in the company's occupational injury and illness prevention programs, and could possibly grant a one-year exemption from any routine OSHA inspections.

In addition to a one-year exemption, OSHA only expects the company to correct any and all serious job safety and/or health hazards identified. Furthermore, OSHA's safety consultation services are separate from OSHA inspections. Therefore, penalties and/or citations will not be issued during a safety consultation.

For more information, please visit the following links:

 Consultation Brochure  

 

 Injury and Illness Prevention Programs  

 

On-site Consultation Program Information 

In the 1970's, oil drilling in the North Sea began with a mixed safety record, mostly due to bad weather in the area. The Piper Alpha rig was the largest rig operating in the North Sea in 1988 with approximately 225 workers onboard. The Piper Alpha was located about 120 miles off the northeast coast of Scotland.

 

On the evening of July 6, 1988, a gas leak on the rig led to a massive explosion, followed by a fireball that shot 350 feet above the platform. The subsequent fire released toxic fumes that killed many of the 167 workers lost in the incident, marking this as the single largest incident in the North Sea.

 

Several workers miraculously survived by jumping off the rig or sliding down poles into the treacherous water below until they were rescued by helicopters or boats. Although investigations were completed, the direct cause of this incident is still undetermined.