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“A WAY OF LIVING”

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WORK PERMITS

November 2007

be aware!Standards for professionals,

NLEDITION

Work safely or don't work

Work Permits are used within NAM to govern how work is done. The agreed arrangements covering

the work to be carried out are laid down in these Permits. Such a Permit seeks to recognise the hazards

and risks associated with the work in question and lay down precautionary measures. The Work

Permit system also ensures good communication between all parties involved. Actual compliance with

the agreed arrangements is, of course, just as important.

NAM (50% Shell, 50% ExxonMobil) takes part in the cooperative working partnership of Shell exploration and

production companies in some European countries. Within the context of this partnership, the NAM acts as the

centre for natural gas operations, primarily in the area of land-based activities. In all activities, safety is priority

number 1.

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WORK PERMITS

The Work Permit is an essential link in the process designed to ensure that work is carried out in a safe manner, and it also helps to avoid incidents.

The keyword here is communication between the different parties. Be willing to answer questions if someone doesn’t understand something or doesn’t understand straightaway. Be alert when Work Permits are being filled in, and be prepared to challenge the measures proposed or taken. If you’re in doubt: don't let the work go ahead!

Who are involved in a Work Permit?

Applicant - usually the contractor’s work planner Issuer - usually NAM OperationsValidator - usually NAM OperationsHolder - the person who carries out the work

Minimum requirements

Applicant / Issuer / Releaser VCA* - VOL certificate valid for 10 years NAM Work Permit training valid for 2 years

Holder VCA* – Basic valid for 10 years NAM Work Permit training valid for 2 years

*VCA: safe working qualification for contractor- and own staff (Veiligheids Checklist Aannemers)

At least two people (parties) must be involved with the Work Permit. Ideally four people are involved, because this creates more mutual checks and controls.

An Issuer can also be a Validator and an Applicant can also be a Holder. Specifically in offshore operations, it is accepted that the Applicant can also be the Issuer.

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Teamwork

• Contractors introduce hazards associated with the specific work they are to carry out• NAM is familiar with the hazards associated with the plant and process• It is therefore possible to jointly examine the impact both sorts of hazards have on each other and what precautions need to be taken

Example: Welding a pipe at a gas production site

The contractor has well trained competent welders who are familiar with the hazards of the welding process. They know the precautionary measures they have to take in order to protect themselves and others against, for instance, welding vapours, heat, ultraviolet and infrared radiation, and noise.

NAM Operations knows the plant and is aware of its state (depressurised, free of liquids, free of gas, etc.). NAM will determine the precautions that need to be taken for the welding work to be carried out safely. For instance, taking part of the plant temporarily out of service, cleaning it, taking gas measurements, etc.

The contractor and NAM jointly see to it that it is safe to work in and on the plant.

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When is a Work Permit used?

The Work Permit system is applicable to all work carried out on NAM plant and equipment. Verbal agreements may only be made for work that, in the operator’s assessment, has no effect on the process or on other people.

A (written) Work Permit is required for:

• non-Operations work by contractors, for instance: - maintenance and repairs of company plant and equipment by contractors

• high risk work, such as: - working with potential sources of ignition - working with explosives - working at heights - hoisting work on parts of the plant that are in operation or under pressure - demolition work - entering closed spaces - mechanical excavation work close to high-voltage cables and high pressure pipes - work for which additional Personal Protective Equipment is required, including the use of compressed air (self-contained breathing apparatus)

• joint work by various disciplines, such as: - conflicting tasks that could mutually affect each other - (too) many tasks simultaneously in a small or limited area

Specifically in offshore operations, operators must also have Work Permits for non-routine Operations tasks.

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Supplementary Work Permits

For (high) risk work, a supplementary Work Permit may have to be appended to the normal Work Permit:

Working in confined spaces

• Including: tanks; boilers; columns; sewers and drains; flues; furnaces; vessels; installation spaces; trenches; wells (deeper than 120 cm); crawl spaces; welding tents.• Special features: difficult working posture; often limited space; often hazardous substances; not easy to ventilate; no daylight; poor access or escape route; difficult for emergency services to access.• Additional hazards: high/low percentage of oxygen; risk of explosion or fire; moving parts; use of materials (e.g. welding); falling; slipping; falling objects; danger of electrocution; high/low temperatures; restricted access; dirty work (e.g. blast cleaning).

Excavation work

• Objective: preventing damage to NAM or third-party cables or pipes. • Hazards: environmental pollution, explosion hazard, upsets, loss of production, electrocution injury; contact with chemical substances, explosion.• Beforehand: carry out all necessary preparations with respect to drawings, KLIC (Pipes & Cables Information Centre) notifications, etc.

Diving operations

If an activity and the associated risks cannot be clearly surveyed and properly managed, a Task Risk Analysis must be carried out in addition to the Work Permit.

N.B.: for offshore operations, a TRA is drawn up for each Work Permit.

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Parts of the Work Permit

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How long does a Work Permit remain valid?

A Work Permit is valid for a maximum of 7 successive working days.

N.B.: a supplementary Work Permit for excavation work has a maximum validity of 12 weeks. The Work Permit number (normally valid for one week) can be entered 12 times at the top of such a supplementary Permit, to allow for the extended duration of excavation work.

Block 1Work application

Filled in by: Applicant

Block 2Precautions to be takenby issuing department

Filled in by: Issuer

Block 3Precautions to betaken by Holder Filled in by: Applicant

Block 4Confirmation To be signed by:Requester, Issuer, Holder and Validator

Tasks and responsibilities of Applicant

Provide an accurate and clear description of the activities

• describe the work clearly and completely

• if appropriate, refer to a work package, PO list or job card (offshore) and append these to the Work Permit example - not: ‘maintenance of Pump 23 A’ - but: ‘disassembly and assembly of Pump 23 A’

• give a clear and complete description of the hand tools to be used example - not: ‘hand tools’; - but: ‘tools that are not potential sources of ignition’ ‘tools that are potential sources of ignition (e.g. battery-powered drill); ‘tools/equipment with naked flames’ (e.g. welding, refer also to Work Instruction)

• also indicate the vehicles and equipment needed for the work. example - ‘crane’, ‘vacuum truck’, ‘well services equipment’, ‘generator’ etc. (refer also to Work Instruction)

• also mention - number of workers on the job - start and end dates of work - total working time

• indicate whether there are potential sources of ignition or naked flames (e.g. non-Ex equipment or burning/welding)

• indicate whether a supplementary permit is compulsory for the work to be done

All this information is needed for the Issuer to determine how the plant or process must be handed over so that the work can be done safely.

In ‘Block 3 – Precautions to be taken by Holder’ indicate the appropriate precautions to be taken so that the work can be done safely, in consultation with the Permit Holder if appropriate.

Determine the risk category and if appropriate ensure that a Task Risk Analysis is carried out, jointly with the Issuer.

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Tasks and responsibilities of Issuer

• Determine the precautionary measures that the Issuer’s department must take to create a safe working environment:

- correct specification of product in the plant

- append the WIK (Worksite Instruction Card) to the permit

- determine what other work is being done in the immediate vicinity of this particular job and whether these tasks can affect one another

• Assess the proposed precautions to be taken by the Holder:

- prior to the start of work, Validator checks that appropriate precautions have been taken

- if that is the case, Validator ensures that status ‘ready’ is entered on Work Permit

- authorised person signs to certify that equipment is electrically shut down and safe

• Provide product information (WIK) where necessary

• Discuss the Work Permit

• Determine any additional requirements

• Determine whether gas measurements are necessary:

- gas measurements may only be carried out by an authorised gas tester; in practice the issuing department may have these measurements performed by an (external) expert

- Issuer remains responsible for the precautions to be taken in view of the measured readings.

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Tasks and responsibilities of Holder

• Carrying out the work or direct supervision at worksite

• Studying the Work Permit and assenting to the required precautions

• Discussing the permit with the workers

• Taking the appropriate precautions and ensuring they are adhered to

• Supervising proper execution of the work and being physically present at the worksite

• Stopping the work in the event of any abnormality (alarm, doubt, incident) and contacting the site supervisor and own immediate superior

• Signing off the work

It is of crucial importance for the Holder to understand how the work must be done. He must therefore be prepared to challenge the Issuer and Validator of the Permit. After all, everyone’s safety is at stake.

Tasks and responsibilities of Validator

• Checking whether all prescribed precautions have been taken

• Daily validation of Permit, provided the circumstances remain unchanged

• Giving the green light for the start of work

• Supervising observance of the Permit requirements and conditions

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Filling in the Work Permit

• Write clearly and legibly for everyone

• Use as few abbreviations and acronyms as possible

• Any (unauthorised) changes made later will invalidate the Permit

• The white form is intended for the Holder, who must carry it with him unless agreed otherwise

• The yellow form is intended for the Issuer

• Additional important and general information is on the back of the Work Permit (Only for the Dutch PtW, not yet available on the English version)

References:• Basic VCA and VOL VCA training• Deltalinqs basic instruction on Work Permit procedure

Corporate Management System (CMS) • NAM Procedure E.A-71.PR.40: Permission To Work (PTW) Work Permit • NAM work instruction E.A-71.WI.40.01: Work Permit and supplementary (enclosed-space, excavation, diving) Permits.

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