Health and Satety Executive Overview of isolation hazards 17 Oillrefineries, ol and gas production installations and chernical processing plants are characterised by long lengths of continuously welded pipework and pipelines connecting process vessels, plant and installations, The contents are often hazardous substances, which may be flammable and/or toxic and ate often at high temperatures and/or pressures. 18 Any intrusive activity could allow the escape of hazardous substances, The linplementation of adequate isolation practices is etitical to avoiding loss of containment, You should minimise isolation requirements, wherever practicable, by planning intrusive maintenance for shutdown periods. When maintenance work has {o be cartied out on live plant a high standard of management will be required. 19 Release of hazardous substances due to inadequate process isolation may lead to: local immediate effects to people (death or injury) and to the environment, Long-term effects to people and the envionment may be equally serious; and? or | escalation of the initial release, causing wider damage to plant and other systems (eg damage resulting in further releases of inventory) 20 This guidance is focused mainly on loss of containment hazards, but petsonal injury hazards and non-process fsolation hazards should also be considered (see Appendix 2). These include: mechanical equipment; | cloctrical equipment {including process control systems); | hazardous altnospheres in confined spaces; and special hazards such as radioactive sources and static elec ity 21 Plant reinstatement is a critical aspect of any intrusive activity. Incorrect or Incomplete reinstatement & likely to result in loss of containment, Management of isolations Basic principles 22. The requitements for risk management ate discussed in Management of health and safety at work.’ The basic principles are to: avoid tisk wherever possible; cerry out risk assessiment to evaluate risks that cannot be avoided; take action to reduce risks to ALARP levels; and reduce risks at source wherever possible. 23 The HSE publication Succassti! heatth and safety management! describes. the principles and management practice that provide a framework for effective ‘management of health and safety, The sa lscaton of plant and equipment Page 7ot 8