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Life-Saving Rules Guide

Purpose
This Guide provides help on the implementation of the requirements of the Working Safely
manual. The information in this guide is non-mandatory.

Who is this for?

 HSSE Professionals, to help them challenge and support the Business to implement the
requirements in the manual.

Guidance
The guidance below gives you the general information to help Managers and Supervisors
understand the requirements supporting the Life-Saving Rules. It also includes an explanation of
each rule and the requirements according to the function of the person. The specific
requirements are derived from the HSSE & SP Control Framework and the relevant manuals are
cited.

Sources from the Company and the wider Industry are also provided to promote Learning from
Incidents for each Rule. Where specific equipment is referenced, examples are provided.

Exemptions to the Life-saving Rules

Exemptions from the Life-saving Rules will only be approved under very exceptional
circumstances. Exemptions will follow the process that is described in the HSSE & SP Control
Framework Guide for the Exception to Group HSSE & SP Requirement section of the HSSE & SP
Management System Manual. Approval will need to be given by the relevant Business Leader,
Technical Authority and Discipline Head.
For the purpose of following the CF Exceptions Manual Guide the Technical Authority for each
rule is as follows:
 Rules 1 & 2 – Custodian of the Permit to Work section of the HSSE & SP Management
System Manual
 Rule 3 – Custodian of the Safe Isolation – Lock Out Tag Out section of the Personal
Safety Manual
 Rule 4 – Custodian of the Confined Space Work section of the Personal Safety Manual
 Rule 5 – Custodian of the Asset Integrity – Process Safety Management Application
section of the Process Safety Manual
 Rule 6 - Custodian of the Working at Height section of the Personal Safety Manual
 Rule 7 - Custodian of the Lifting and Hoisting section of the Personal Safety Manual

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Terms in green are included HSSE & SP Control Framework Glossary.
Terms in blue reference manuals and manual sections in the HSSE & SP Control Framework.
This document is not controlled when printed. See the Appendix Change Log for version control information
WORKING SAFETY GUIDE Guidance
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 Rule 8 - Custodian of the Hot Work section of the Personal Safety Manual
 Rule 9 - Custodian of the Alcohol and Drugs section of the Health Manual
 Rule 10, 11 & 12 - Custodian of the Driver Safety section of the Transport Manual

For the purpose of following the CF Exceptions Guide the Discipline Head for each rule is as
follows:
 Rules 1 to 8 and 10 to 12 – VP Safety
 Rule 9 – VP Health

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Rule 1. Work with a valid Work Permit when required

Explanation: A work permit describes what you must do to keep safe.

1.1 Permit Requestor
 Always check whether a permit is required for this work at this site and time as specified in
the Permit to Work (PTW) Procedure; and
 Communicate to the Permit Issuer the nature and scope of the work and special equipment
required.

1.2 Permit Issuer

 Communicate to the Permit Holder the Hazards at the work site and the Controls required to
manage them;
 Inform all people who may be affected by the work; and
 Make available at least two signed copies of the work permit: one must be at the work site
with the Permit Holder and one at the issuing point, so that the status of the permits in any
area can be readily assessed.

1.3 Permit Holder

 Check that the Permit Issuer has explained the Hazards to you; and
 Communicate information on Hazards, precautions, action in the event of Emergency and
changes to work conditions or work scope to the members of your work party.

1.4 Persons carrying out the work

 Never start work before the Permit Holder has informed you of the Hazards and the
precautions to take;
 Understand the work permit and follow it;
 Confirm that the work permit is valid; and
 Confirm with the Supervisor or the person in charge of the work that it is safe to start work.

References
HSSE & SP MS Manual, Planning and Procedures section, Permit to Work subsection

Learning from Incidents

Company: Learning from Incidents (LFI) – LFI-EPE-04807, September 2007, non-Shell, fatality
during welding activity in a LNGC.
Industry:
Piper Alpha Platform, UK, North Sea, July 6, 1988
Motiva Enterprises LLC, Delaware, USA, July 17, 2001

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Rule 2. Conduct gas tests when required

Explanation: Air is tested to stop explosions and / or make sure you can breathe safely.
2.1 Permit Issuer
 Verify that atmospheric conditions are safe before issuing a permit for work or Confined
Space Entry and are maintained throughout the work;
 Confirm that the air is safe start work;
 Confirm that gas testing is carried out as per work permit; and
 Request more gas tests if necessary.

2.2 Authorised Gas Tester

 Understand which tests the work permit requires and how often;
 Test for gas or Hazards at the intervals specified in the work permit; and
 Stop the work or take appropriate action to intervene if atmospheric conditions deviate from
what is agreed in the work permit.

2.3 Permit Holder

 Stop the work or intervene in the event of Emergency or if Hazards, precautions or work
conditions deviate from what is agreed in the work permit.

2.4 Persons carrying out the work

 Never start the work before the Permit Holder has informed you of the Hazards and the
precautions to take;
 Confirm with the Supervisor or person in charge of the work that the air has been tested;
 Confirm with the Supervisor or person in charge of the work that it is safe to start work; and
 Stop work if you smell gas.

References
HSSE & SP MS Manual, section Planning and Procedures, subsection Permit to Work.
Personal Safety Manual, section Confined Space Work and section Hot Work.

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Rule 3. Verify isolation before work begins and use the specified life protecting equipment

Explanation: Isolation separates you from dangers such as electricity, pressure, toxic materials,
poisonous gas, chemicals, hot liquids or radiation to keep you safe. Life protecting equipment
specified in the work permit, such as breathing apparatus, electrical arc flash protection or
chemical resistant suits, protect you from danger. This equipment is a back-up if the Isolation
fails. Examples of Isolation include process Isolation, mechanical Isolation and electrical
Isolation.
3.1 Permit Requestor
 Always check whether a work permit is required for this work at this site and time as
specified in the site’s Permit to Work (PTW) Procedure; and
 Communicate to the Permit Issuer the nature and scope of the work and any life protecting
equipment required.

3.2 Supervisor or person in charge of the work

 Control Isolation and control placement and removal of locks and tags by using the
following steps:
1. Shut equipment down and remove or drain any sources of stored energy.
2. Isolate equipment from Hazards: either disconnect equipment or install or operate
Isolation devices as close as possible to the equipment being worked on.
3. Install blinds or place locks and completed tags at Isolation points to make it clear to
anyone who wants to use or work on the equipment that it is isolated.
Use locks and tags that: identify the person placing the lock and tag and the time the tag
was placed; are readily identified as being only used for Isolation; and are substantial,
weatherproof and secure enough to prevent unauthorised or inadvertent removal.
 Verify that the equipment is properly isolated and that no stored energy or Hazards remain;
 Confirm that it is safe to start work;
 Require, after the work is complete, each person to remove their individual lock, and the
person(s) authorised to remove the tag or tags, following an agreed Plan to remove Isolation
and tags;

 Tell the people affected what equipment has been put back in service or energised; and
 When the work is complete, tell the affected people about the Plans to remove Isolation and
put equipment back in service.

3.3 Permit Holder

 Communicate information on Hazards, precautions, action in the event of Emergency and
changes to work conditions or work scope to the members of your work party; and
 Confirm that it is safe to start work.

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3.4 Persons carrying out the work

 Never start work before the Permit Holder has informed you of the Hazards and the
precautions to take; and
 Wear Personal Protective Equipment as per the work permit.

References
HSSE & SP MS Manual, section Planning and Procedures, subsection Permit to Work
Personal Safety Manual, section Safe Isolation – Lock Out Tag Out

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Rule 4. Obtain authorisation before entering a confined place

Explanation: A Confined Space such as a vessel, tank or pipe can contain explosive gas,
poisonous air, or other dangers such as a lack of oxygen. Authorised access keeps you safe.
An authorisation to enter a Confined Space ensures that the atmosphere is not Flammable, the
air is safe to breathe, and the physical conditions are safe.
A Confined Space is a fully or partially enclosed space:
 that is not designed and constructed for continuous human occupancy;
 that has limited or restricted means for entry or exit; and
 where there is a Risk of injury or health effect from hazardous substances or conditions.

4.1 Permit Requestor

 Specify the Confined Spaces where work will take place.

4.2 Permit Issuer

 Verify that the Confined Space is isolated from all potential sources of hazardous material
and energy, including radiation, before issuing the work permit;
 Instruct an Authorised Gas Tester to check that atmospheric conditions meet specified criteria
for oxygen level, toxic and flammable substances before Entry and are maintained
throughout the work, before issuing the work permit;
 Allow Entry into Confined Spaces, with Respiratory Protection, only when the source, nature
and concentration of the hazardous atmosphere are understood;
 Verify that lighting in the Confined Space allows Entrants to see well enough to work safely
and to exit the space quickly in an Emergency;
 If contaminants or heat in the Confined Space can affect Entrants’ health, provide a Plan for
ventilation or other Controls prior to Entry, list the Controls with the permit, and verify that
the Controls are put in place;
 Indicate the entry points to be used and barricade or use signs at all other openings to
prevent unauthorised Entry;
 Include in the permit the Controls required to manage the Risks from any energy sources
used inside the Confined Space;
 Station an Attendant outside the Confined Space at all times while people are in the
Confined Space; and
 Establish a rescue Plan for recovering people from the Confined Space.

4.3 Authorised Gas Tester

 Carry out the gas test before the work permit is issued;
 Repeat the test at a frequency sufficient to verify that occupants in the Confined Space are
protected from atmospheric Hazards; and

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 Investigate any deviation in the oxygen level or in the contaminant level of toxic or
flammable substances, assess the Risks and take appropriate action.

4.4 Attendant
 Track who entered and left the Confined Space;
 Monitor the Confined Space from outside at all times while people are inside;
 Maintain contact with people in the Confined Space at all times;
 Approve and control access to the Confined Space; and
 Have means of communication with people in the Confined Space.

4.5 Permit Holder

 Always check that a valid Work Permit is in place before entering a Confined Space;
 Inform your work party of the existence and Hazards of Confined Spaces;
 Confirm that it is safe to start work; and
 Before people enter the Confined Space, establish effective means of communication
between the people inside the Confined Space, the Attendant outside, and the control room
and/or the Emergency Response Team.

4.6 Persons carrying out the work

 Confirm with the Attendant that you can enter a Confined Space;
 Never start work before your Supervisor – the Permit Holder – has informed you of the
Hazards and precautions to take; and
 Follow the requirements of the work permit.

References
HSSE & SP MS Manual, section Planning and Procedures, subsection Permit to Work
Personal Safety Manual, section Confined Space Work

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Rule 5. Obtain authorisation before overriding or disabling safety critical equipment

Explanation: Safety critical equipment must work correctly to keep you safe. Examples of safety
critical equipment include Isolation devices/emergency shutdown valves, trip systems, relief
valves, fire and gas alarm systems, certain level Controls, alarms, crane computers, and In
Vehicle Monitoring Systems.
5.1 Supervisor or person in charge of the work
 Confirm that the authorisation comes from the right level.

5.2 Persons carrying out the work

Obtain authorisation from the Supervisor or person in charge of the work before overriding or
disabling safety critical equipment.
 Always consult your Supervisor if in doubt.

References
Process Safety Manual, section Application Asset Integrity – Process Safety Management

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Rule 6. Protect yourself against a fall from when working from height

Explanation: Use Fall Protection Equipment when outside a protected environment where you
can fall over 1.8 meters (6 feet) or more to keep you safe.

A protected environment includes approved scaffolds, stairs with handrails, and man lifts.
6.1 Supervisor or person in charge of the work
 Determine whether work can be done in a way that better controls the Risk of a fall, by
applying the Hierarchy of Controls.
 Confirm that it is safe to start work at height.

6.2 Persons carrying out the work

 If the work requires a permit, check that you are applying the protection specified in the
permit before you start Working at Height;
 Be aware of what Fall Protection Equipment to use and how to use it;
 Visually inspect Fall Protection Equipment and ladders before each use;
 Do not use Fall Protection Equipment and ladders that fail inspection;
 Wearing personal Fall Protection Equipment when working outside a protected environment
where you can fall 6 feet or 1.8 meters, and tie off 100% of the time:
o Tie off includes moving to and from the work height, and when working within 6 feet or
1.8 metres of a roof edge or work platform without a guardrail; and
o Tie off personal Fall Protection Equipment to a stable and acceptable tie off point, using a
fit-for-purpose harness and lanyard.
 Use three points of contact when climbing up or down ladders;
 Do not use a chain or rope ladder unless all other means of accessing the work area have
been considered and are not possible. If a chain or rope ladder is used, also use an inertia
reel fall arrestor; and
 Use a ladder-climbing device such as an inertia reel fall arrestor when climbing up or down
uncaged ladders where the potential fall distance is greater than 20 feet or 6.1 metres.

References
Personal Safety Manual, section Working at Height

Learning from Incidents

2005-06-10, Fall From Height China, fatality May 9, 2005.

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Rule 7. Do not walk under a suspended load

Explanation: Working or walking immediately under a suspended load is unsafe because the
load can fall on you. A suspended load is a load that is temporarily lifted and hangs above the
ground. (Rig floors are excluded from this rule).

7.1 Persons at the worksite

 Never cross a barrier or enter an area with suspended loads without the clear agreement of
the flagman or the person in charge of the lift.

 When you participate in a lift operation, make sure you:

o are in a safe position in case the load falls or swings

o understand the signalling methods and agreed communication methods
o are not under the load unless it is specifically authorized in the approved lift plan

7.2 Flagman or person in charge of the lift

 Make sure the lift area is controlled (mark the high-risk area and put barriers in place) and
everyone is clear if the load swings or falls
 Make sure those participating in the lift fully understand the applicable lift procedure.

References
Personal Safety Manual, section Lifting and Hoisting

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Rule 8. Do not smoke outside designated smoking areas

Explanation: Smoking or using matches or cigarette lighters could set on fire Flammable
materials. Designated smoking areas such as a smoking hut or a smoking room will keep you
safe from causing fire and explosion.
8.1 Supervisor or person in charge of the work
 Inform people about designated smoking areas; and
 Ensure that designated smoking areas are clearly marked.

8.2 Persons carrying out the work

 Always know where the designated smoking areas are; and
 Intervene if you see someone smoking outside a designated smoking area.

References
Personal Safety Manual, section Hot Work

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Rule 9. No alcohol or drugs while working or driving

Explanation: Working or driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, narcotics or
medications could impair your performance and is unsafe.
Using alcohol or illegal drugs, or misusing legal drugs or other substances, will reduce your
ability to do your job safely.
9.1 Supervisor or person in charge of the work
 Assign work only to employees who are fit to work;
 Refer an employee who has a substance abuse problem and voluntarily comes forward to
seek help to Shell Health;
 Test the presence of alcohol and drugs if there are good reasons to suspect impaired
performance as a result of alcohol or drug abuse; and
 Ensure that all workers are aware of the Alcohol and Drugs policy.

9. 2 Persons carrying out the work

 Inform your Supervisor if you are taking medicine that may have an effect on your
performance.
Note: You are not required to disclose to your Supervisor either your medical condition or
the specific medication you are taking.
 If in doubt, check with your Supervisor, who may seek medical advice;
 Do not use, keep, sell or distribute illegal drugs;
 Do not use alcohol during work hours unless specifically authorised to do so for a special
occasion; and
 Do not ignore a case of alcohol or drugs abuse if you witness one.

References
Transport Manual, section Road, subsection Driver Safety
Health Manual, section Alcohol and Drugs and section Fitness to Work
Code of Conduct, Part 5 People – Substance Abuse

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Rule 10. While driving, do not use your phone and do not exceed speed limits

Explanation: Speeding or using your phone while driving increases the Risk of losing control of
your Vehicle. Using your phone includes making a call, answering a mobile phone or pager,
sending or reading a text message, or using a hands-free mobile device.
Exceptions: Mobile phones may be used in Vehicles only where permitted by legislation, as
noted below.
10.1 Drivers
 Do not use a mobile phone or pager, send or read a text message, or use a hands-free
mobile phone device while driving a Vehicle;
 You can use your mobile phone in Vehicles where permitted by legislation:
o in cases of Emergency and/or personal safety or security situations;
o as part of convoy management; and
o inside a plant, in safe areas and at safe speeds during either an Emergency or time
sensitive operation, when needed to maintain safe control of equipment or processes.
 Stay below the maximum allowable speed for the road you are driving on, as indicated by
road signs or instructions;
 Stay below the maximum allowable speed for the Vehicle you are driving;
 Adjust your speed to the prevailing conditions; and
 Do not exceed the speed limits as specified in the Journey Management Plan (JMP).

10.2 Passengers
 Intervene if a Driver is using a phone in a moving Vehicle.
 Intervene if a Driver is exceeding the maximum allowable speed.

References
Transport Manual, section Driver Safety and section Professional Driver Safety

Learning from Incidents

Fatality Review, mobile phone May 23, 2004
Other: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/16/cellphones.driving.safety/index.html
A woman who sent and received more than 20 text messages before she crashed, killing
another driver, is jailed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/7865114.stm
(Industry information passed on by Mike – could be on the LSR website as a resource instead:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/16/cellphones.driving.safety/index.html

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Rule 11. Wear your seat belt

Explanation: A seat belt protects you from injury in the event of an Incident while driving, and
keeps you safe. Wearing seat belts includes safety belts in (rental) cars, taxis, (mini)buses,
trucks, cranes and forklift trucks, and involves persons in moving Vehicles when engaged on
Shell business.
Exceptions: buses, trucks, cranes and forklift trucks where only lap belts are available, and
public transport where seat belts are not available.

11.1 Drivers and passengers

 Always use a three-point seat belt;
 Check that your seat belt works properly;
 Keep your seat belt properly fastened while in a moving Vehicle;
 Check that everyone in the Vehicle is wearing a seat belt properly before starting to drive;
and
 Intervene when your fellow passengers are not wearing seat belts properly.

References
Transport Manual, section Driver Safety

Learning from Incidents

LFI Journey Management, Seat Belt and Speeding, Level 2, PDO, August 3, 2008
LFI Speeding and Seat Belts, 2006/04/10, High Risk Incident Road Transport Vehicle rollover
LFI Seat Belts and Speeding Awareness Alert; ‘intervention may save a life’.

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Rule 12. Follow the prescribed Journey Management Plan

Explanation: A Journey Management Plan (JMP) is a Plan for you as a Driver that will help you
to travel and arrive safely.

12.1 Supervisors
 Prepare a JMP and agree a driving and rest schedule for trips of more than four and a half
hours;
 Provide a JMP where a security assessment or local Risk Assessment identifies such a Control
to be necessary:
o The JMP must include the loading and discharge site (where applicable), authorised route,
identification of route Hazards, and communication requirements during the Journey.
 Check that the JMP is in place and is being followed;
 Check that the Driver understands the JMP;
 Review the Journey and any changes to decide whether to update the JMP; and
 Verify that Drivers comply with the duty, driving and rest hours of the JMP.

12.2 Professional Drivers

 Check whether a JMP is required, before starting the Journey;
 Discuss the JMP with your Supervisor (or delegated authorised person);
 Make sure you understand the JMP before each Journey;
 Comply with the duty, driving and rest hours specified in the JMP;
 Follow the route specified in the JMP; and
 Report any change from the Plan that occurred during the Journey.

References
Transport Manual, section Driver Safety, section Professional Driver Safety
Transport Manual, Draft section Road Safety in High Risk Environments
Glossary

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Appendix 1 – Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the Life-Saving Rules Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix: Change Log

Date Revisions Version

June 2009 Version 4

September 2010 Text change for Rule 7 Version 5

October 2010 Text change for Rule 6 Version 6

Exemptions Process added

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