HAZARDS OF TRAPPED PRESSURE AND VACUUM

7. Compressed Air—Danger!
Compressed Liquid—Danger!

8. Always assume that the pipe may still

contain liquid and/or pressure when
breaking a flange. Take appropriate
precautions as stipulated on the Work
Permit.
Always break a flange joint in the
correct manner.
9. Vessels that have to be opened up as part of
normal operating procedures (for example, pig
launchers/receivers) should be fitted with an
interlock arrangement to remove any possibility of
the door being opened prior to the vessel being
completely depressurized.

10. Do not use temporary equipment for

venting or draining unless the job has
been vetted through a Management
of Change procedure and Job Safety
Analysis.

11. Pressure Safety Valve or Vent must be

big enough and kept clear to prevent
overpressure of a storage tank.
Vacuum Relief Valve or Vent must be
big enough and kept clear to prevent a
storage tank from being sucked in.

12. Ensure screens on pressure/vacuum safety

devices are equipped with the correctly
sized opening and remain CLEAR.

13. Equipment must not be used if any safety device is

malfunctioning.

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HAZARDS OF TRAPPED PRESSURE AND VACUUM

14. Any proposed departure from the Standard

Operating Procedures must be subject to a
‘Management of Change’ procedure.

15. Keep drain holes at the base of atmospheric

tail pipes fitted to pressure safety valves
CLEAR.

16. All pig launchers and receivers should be

subject to a process hazard analysis to
ensure that the design has adequate safety
features and that procedures/interlocks are
sufficient to prevent operators from following
an incorrect sequence of tasks.

17. Prepare written procedures for the proper

closing and tightening of pig trap and launcher
doors.

18. When not in use, traps and launchers should be

isolated from pressurized pipelines to prevent
unnecessary loading that may weaken their
mechanical integrity.

19. The specification of safety critical items should be

reviewed at periodic intervals to ensure that the
best available materials for the particular service
have been identified and used.

20. Ensure pig launcher/receiver step-by-step

tasks are subjected to a procedural HAZOP or
Job Safety Analysis.

21. The vessel itself, support legs and

foundations must be able to support the
weight of water during a hydraulic test.

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