Unit 6. Safety at the Working Place

Lead-in

Ex. 1. Do you know what the abbreviation “HSE” stands for? Why do you think these three notions – health, safety and environment – have become particularly important in the XX century? Do they apply to oil and gas industry only? Discuss these issues with a partner.

Reading and Vocabulary

Ex. 2. Read the text without paying attention to the underlined phrases and choose the best title.

1. The Role of hse Issues in Petroleum Technology

2. Development of Petroleum Technology

3. The Ways to Combat Pollution from Petroleum Industry

Apart from economics, the other main driving force behind the development of petroleum technology over the past 30 years has been the environmental and safety issues affecting the industry. These issues can be categorized under three headings:

• providing products to the high specifications now required by the customers and the public;

• conducting operations in an environmentally responsible manner, particularly as regards discharges to the atmosphere and to the marine environment;

• providing a safe working environment for employees, contractors and the customers who utilize products.

Public concern on issues such as lead content in gasoline or the sulphur level of products has been reflected in detailed legislation of many countries. More stringent product specifications require continuous development in the technology of testing products and establishment of clear standards. The Institute of Petroleum, together with ASTM in the USA, has long been at the forefront of this process, and continues to play an active role in developing and publishing Standard Test Methods and also ensures that the views of oil industry are fully considered in the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

The second series of environmental issues driving the development of petroleum technology are those connected with the need for the oil industry to conduct its operations in an environmentally safe and responsible manner. Three elements can be affected – land, water, or atmosphere.

Land may easily become polluted by the seepage of hydrocarbons. However, technology has assisted, for example, through availability of new impervious materials for underground tanks and pipes and of better monitoring, measurement and loss control systems.

Pollution of water has posed a larger number of environmental challenges to the oil industry. In refineries and other process plants it is necessary to treat all water coming out of the plant, so that its quality when returned to the natural environment is at least as clean (and in some cases cleaner) than when entering the plant. This applies to process water, including that used for cooling, and to run-off water such as rainfall. Most modern refineries use much less water than 20 years ago. This is principally because of the need to look closely at the thermal efficiency of refinery processes and to utilize heat where possible. The other aspect of water pollution is where oil escapes from a tanker or an offshore oil seepage and enters the sea. Incidents such as those involving the Sea Empress or the Exxon Valdez are all remembered by the public many years after the incidents took place and influence the public image of the industry. Over the past 30 years the oil and shipping industries have cooperated closely to improve both safety and operating practice in the oil shipping business.

Atmospheric pollution is also a major issue for the oil industry. Concern about it has contributed significantly to the way in which the specification of petroleum products has developed, particularly as regards the reduction in the maximum permissible sulphur levels in petroleum products. The industry has also had to reduce the levels of emission from its own operations, both refining and exploration and production. Today, for example, it is no longer acceptable to flare gas as a routine operation.

The third and final group of HSE issues which has influenced the development of petroleum technology is the need to provide a safe working environment for the employees, contractors and the customers. It has been the experience not only of the oil industry but also of other potentially hazardous industries, such as shipping and the nuclear industry, that many of the advances in technology are incident-driven. An example is the heavy loss of life on the Titanic, which led to the development of various new marine engineering technologies. A whole new science of safety engineering has developed, which makes full use of statistical and probabilistic techniques and powerful computer programmes that allow the consequences of an accident to be simulated on screen without physical experimentation.

Ex. 3. What is meant by the underlined phrases in the text? Reformulate the ideas in your own words.

Ex. 4. VOCABULARY. In the text above, find the equivalents to the following words and phrases. (The sequence corresponds to their occurrence in the text.)

1. помимо

2. движущая сила

3. безопасность

4. заголовок

5. спецификации

6. требовать

7. общественность

8. выбросы в атмосферу

9. морской

10. подрядчик

11. использовать

12. озабоченность, внимание

13. свинец

14. сера

15. подробный

16. законодательство

17. строгий, жесткий

18. непрерывный

19. установление

20. в авангарде

21. обеспечивать, гарантировать

22. влиять, оказывать воздействие

23. загрязнять

24. утечка, выход (нефти)

25. помогать

26. доступность, наличие

27. непроницаемый

28. резервуар, бак

29. труба

30. борьба с потерями

31. бросать вызов, представлять проблему

32. перерабатывающий завод

33. обрабатывать

34. техническая вода

35. охлаждение

36. сточная вода

37. тепловой КПД

38. тепло

39. значительно

40. максимально допустимый уровень

41. выбросы

42. допустимый, приемлемый

43. сжигать газ на факеле

44. штатный режим работы

45. опасный

46. максимально использовать

47. вероятностный метод

48. моделировать

Ex. 5. From the Vocabulary List above, find synonyms to the following items.

1. guarantee

2. use

3. leakage

4. tube

5. dangerous

6. strict

7. vessel

8. need

9. considerably

10. uninterrupted

11. other than

12. influence

13. impermeable

14. help

Ex. 6. Match words from Column A to the words from Column B in order to form phrases. Translate the resulting phrases into Russian. Make up three sentences with these phrases.

Column A	Column B
public flare lead pose routine process driving loss probabilistic runoff heat	water concern efficiency force control technique challenge water gas operation content

Ex. 7. Insert appropriate items from the box into the following sentences. Sometimes you will have to change the form of the word.

a) at the forefront	h) concern
b) legislation	i) thermal efficiency
c) marine	j) simulate
d) emissions	k) seepage
e) heat	l) contractor
f) stringent	m) sulphur
g) treat	n) specifications

1. Sometimes we need to employ __________ because they have specialist knowledge.

2. In shallow __________ sediments from anywhere on the present Earth one might expect to find the skeletal remains and teeth of sharks.

3. Britain agreed to cut __________ of nitrogen oxide from power stations.

4. Each product must have clearly defined __________ so that resulting objects are well planned and appropriate for subsequent reuse.

5. The most __________ standards are applied to safety, transport and environmental protection.

6. The recent rise in crime is a matter of considerable public __________.

7. This progressive company has always been __________ of science and technology.

8. These models, some of which involve hundreds of equations, are then used to __________ the effects of different policies.

9. Swimming pools must be __________ with disinfectants which control the growth of bacteria in the pool water.

10. The sub-contractor should be required to maintain safe working conditions on the site and to operate within the current safety __________.

11. There was some oil __________ from the valves in the car's engine.

12. Due to inefficiencies such as friction, heat loss, and other factors, __________ is typically much less than 100%.

13. Insulating the upper part of the building is a good way to reduce __________loss.

14. To avoid further damage to sensitive ecosystems, __________ dioxide emissions must be cut by 90 percent.

Ex. 8. Render the text in Exercise 2, answering the following questions.

1. What issues drive the development of petroleum technology?

2. What are the three aspects of HSE issues affecting the petroleum industry?

3. What gave an impulse to the development in legislation on safety issues?

4. What are the three areas of environmental safety that the petroleum technology has to deal with?

5. How does technology help to protect land from petroleum-related pollution?

6. What are the today’s requirements to water used at processing plants?

7. What are the disasters like those involving Exxon Valdez and Sea Empress remembered for?

8. What are the developments in protection against petroleum-related air pollution?

9. How has technology helped to improve personnel safety in petroleum industry?

Ex. 9. Translate the following sentences into English, using vocabulary from the text. (The items are underlined.)

1. Парламент разработал более строгое законодательство в сфере безопасности и охраны труда на промышленных предприятиях.

2. В спецификациях на это оборудование не указано, соответствует ли объем его выбросов максимально допустимому уровню.

3. Сегодня требования к экологической безопасности являются важной движущей силой развития промышленности.

4. При морских перевозках довольно высок риск утечки нефти.

5. Руководители промышленных предприятий должны гарантировать, что на их производстве выбросы диоксида серы в атмосферу будут минимальными.

6. Установление новых норм безопасности производства значительно снизило риск отравления парами свинца.

7. Внимание общественности в последние годы сконцентрировано на деятельности перерабатывающего завода, который считается опасным предприятием.

8. В результате аварии непроницаемый бак был поврежден.

9. Важной задачей нашего производства является борьба с потерями энергии и повышение теплового КПД.

10. Сточные воды должны обрабатываться химикатами.

11. Техническая вода, используемая для охлаждения производственной линии, должна отвечать соответствующим стандартам.

12. Сегодня считается приемлемым сжигать газ на факеле в штатном режиме работы.

13. Нужно проверить наличие систем безопасности производства у наших подрядчиков.

14. Подробные описания системы очистки газа помогут вам установить непрерывный контроль над выбросами и максимально использовать преимущества этой системы.

15. Новое программное обеспечение позволяет моделировать потенциальные аварии с помощью вероятностного метода и разрабатывать способы их предотвращения.

Ex. 10. Study the following information and translate the words in the boxes. Choose three words or phrases from each column which you find most applicable to safety issues in oil and gas industry and make up a sentence with each of them.

The key concerns for health and safety are to assess the risks and hazards by identifying and quantifying the effects so that appropriate protective measures can be taken.

Risks and hazards	Effects	Protective measures
combustion contamination drains dust explosion flammable friction fumes fumigation gas harmful shock spraying toxic vapour	adverse effects birth defect burn cancer dizziness drowsiness genetic damage impaired fertility irreversible effect vomiting	avoid contact with dispose of dry handle keep precautionary protect recycle rinse seal tightly wash wear goggles well-ventilated

Ex. 11. Note the following CAUSE-EFFECT patterns:

1. Smoking in this area can lead to an explosion.

2. Inhaling harmful fumes can result in dizziness.

3. Contact with toxic substances can cause irreversible effects.

4. Spilling wastes into the water tanks can bring about severe contamination.

Paraphrase the sentences using the expressions given in the box below.

...because of... ...caused by ...cause of ...reason for ...attributed to ...on account of ...owing to

There was flooding because of the heavy rain. The flooding was caused by the heavy rain. The heavy rain was the cause of the flooding. The heavy rain was the reason for the flooding. The flooding was attributed to the heavy rain. There was flooding on account of the heavy rain. Owing to the heavy rain there was flooding. (These cause-effect phrases are all followed by noun phrases; i.e. 'the heavy rain'.)

Ex. 12. Make up five sentences about problems in oil industry facilities, using the vocabulary from Exercise 10 and various types of cause-effects patterns.

Ex. 13. Choose the correct word in each sentence.

1. Store containers in a well-ventilated / good-ventilated place

2. Wipe up any spillages immediately and wash / rinse with soapy water.

3. Process cooling water can be returned / recycled.

4. This chemical is toxic / intoxicating if swallowed.

5. Leftover chemicals should be disproved / disposed of safely.

6. Please wear protective gloves when fingering / handling this material.

7. Remember that asbestos fibres can cause cancer / coma.

8. Pregnant women should not take this medicine as it may cause birth defects / effects.

9. Increased levels of radiation may lead to compared / impaired fertility.

10. Do not empty chemical paint products into the drains / grains.

11. Protect / Avoid contact with skin and eyes.

12. Do not use with other products as it may release dangerous fumes / fumigation.

Ex. 14. Complete the following sentences with a form of the word in brackets.

1. When working in this area, please wear __________ clothing (protect).

2. Don't pour used chemicals into the drains as they will cause __________ (contaminate).

3. Heating this liquid may cause an __________ (explode).

4. These chemicals must be kept in a locked cupboard because they are __________ (harm).

5. While they repair the roof, we will close this department as a __________ measure (precaution).

6. __________ health is one part of Health and Safety (occupation).

7. Working in a noisy factory without ear protectors is a __________ activity (danger).

8. Petrol and oil are __________ chemicals (flame).

9. Make sure the container s are closed __________ (tight).

10. Make sure you are wearing breathing equipment before starting __________ (fume).

Ex. 15. The manager in charge of health and safety is explaining things to some new employees. Complete what he says by filling the blanks with the correct word from the box.

a) noise	c) protection	e) drowsiness	g) dust	i) accidents	k) goggles
b) smoke	d) poisonous	f) fumes	h) risks	j) burns	l) masks

MANAGER: New government regulations mean that we are all required to be more aware of (1) __________ in the workplace. As your employer, we will provide you with the necessary safety equipment. You must wear (2) __________ to protect your eyes when working on this machinery. You should also wear ear (3) __________ because the (4) __________ from the machines is high enough to cause damage to your hearing. And of course, there is a lot of (5) __________ in the air, so please wear (6) __________ to stop you breathing it in.. But, you too are responsible for your safety and for preventing (7) __________ happening.

EMPLOYEE: Are we looking at fire risks?

MANAGER: Yes, of course. Remember that it is very dangerous to (8) __________ near the chemical store. In fact, we have a no smoking policy throughout the company. Chemicals themselves are, of course, (9) __________ so they should never enter your mouth. They could cause (10) __________ is you get them on your skin. If you leave them without a lid, (11) __________ may escape and cause headaches, (12) __________ or dizziness.

Ex. 16. Match the hazard with the possible result.

a live wire	You might be hit
a lose piece of flooring	You might slip over
a sharp blade	You might damage your hearing
steam	You might burn yourself
a careless truck driver	You might electrocute yourself
a greasy floor	You might cut yourself
a very loud noise	You might trip over

Ex. 17. Complete the sentences with appropriate words from the box.

a) when	d) oil	g) don’t	j) sharp
b) you	e) out	h) careful	k) floor
c) mind	f) tools	i) hot	l) low

1. Mind _______ don’t trip. There are lots of ___ lying around.

2. Be_____! Don’t touch the blades. They’re very ___.

3. Mind ___! Someone’s left some boxes on the ___.

4. ___ your heads! The doorway is very ___.

5. Be careful ___ you walk across the factory. There are often patches of ___ on the floor.

6. Mind you ___ burn yourself. The metal is very ___.

Ex. 18. Match the two parts of the sentences.

Always wear ear protection	check electrical installations regularly.
Don’t leave	emergency exits clear.
Keep	a machine without checking the safety procedures first.
Never place	when using a pneumatic drill.
Make sure you	bottles of chemicals carefully.
Check that	a ladder near an electricity line.
Do not operate	tools lying on the floor.
Label	the safety guard is in place.

Ex. 19. Choose “It” or “There”. Then, expand each sentence by giving instruction what a person must or must not do in each situation.

Model: It might be dusty. You must wear a mask.

1. ___ might be slippery.

2. ___ might be very noisy.

3. ___ might be a lot of dust.

4. ___ might be very sharp.

5. ___ might be trucks unloading.

6. ___ might be bits of broken glass on the floor.

Ex. 20. What might happen if you don’t follow safety procedures?

Never store cylinders by naked flames.	Someone might slip over.
Always wear gloves when welding.	Someone might get poisoned.
You must wipe spillages up immediately.	They may explode.
You mustn’t store chemicals in milk bottles or jam jars.	Someone might trip over them.
Never leave bits of wood lying around on the floor.	You might burn your hands.

Now choose “If you do” or “If you don’t” to join the two sentences. Write the whole sentences.

Model: Never store cylinders bear naked flames. If you do, they may explode.

Ex. 21. Rearrange these words to form questions.

1. It / where / hurt / does?

2. Move / arm / you / can / your?

3. Happen / it / did how?

4. Get / the / I / shall / first-aider?

5. Keep / first aid / where / we / box/ do / the?

6. Injured / anyone / been / has?

7. Anyone / ambulance / has / yet / called / an?

8. Your / to / what / done / have / you / hand?

Ex. 22. Note the advice form “We’d better” or “You’d better.” Match the sentences on the left with the responses on the right.

I think I’ve twisted my ankle.	We’d better order some more.
I’ve cut my finger.	We’d better take her out onto the fresh air.
Look! The warehouse is on fire.	We’d better not use it. Switch it off!
Joseph has fallen and hurt his back.	You’d better not put any pressure on it.
I’ve splashed some chemical on my skin.	You’d better put a plaster on it.
Maria has inhaled some fumes.	You’d better wash it off immediately.
The machine is making a funny noise.	We’d better not move him.
We haven’t got any bandages.	We’d better call the first service.

Speaking and Communication Skills

Ex. 23. The following warning notices are from a guillotine for sheet metal and a precision weighing device in a manufacturing plant. In pairs, discuss whether each notice warns of a problem that could injure workers, damage the machine, or both.

Ex. 24. Look at the first word in each sign and answer the following questions.

1. Which word is only used to warn of a risk of injury to people?

2. Which word is only used to warn of a risk of damage to equipment?

Ex. 25. The following extracts are from the instruction manuals of three of the machines in Exercise 23 above. In pairs, answer the questions (1-6).

Why is it unsafe to put water on the machine? What type of fire extinguisher is recommended?	What is the purpose of the items marked in red on the machine? What could happen if the machine was lifted by other parts of the frame?
Why is it important to lock the guillotine blade? What other danger is there, and what precaution should be taken as a result?

Speaking and Communication Skills: Presentation (Part 3)

Ex. 26. Read through the following information about special techniques that help to underline the most important information in a presentation. Make sure you understand the meaning of each word or phrase, their functions in a sentence and syntactical patterns they are used in.