Produced water is a byproduct of oil and gas exploration and production which is brought to the surface along with oil and gas. Produced water (also known as brine, salt water, production waster water) can contain certain concentrations of hydrocarbons and chemical contaminants thatcan emit toxic and flammable vapors which present potential fire, explosion, and health hazards to workers. Eight worker fatalities associated with produced water occured between 2012 and 2015 during oil and gas extraction operations at well and production sites, equipment yards,

maintenance shops, etc. The common thread in each incident was the assumption that the cargo tankers/vessels (or storage tanks) contained only “water” and did not present a fire, explosion, and health hazards. Never assume it’s just water!

Hazards Activities involved in fatal incidents employers responsibilities

Employees burned when welding/cutting on cargo tankers resulting in fire

Employees killed when welding or using torches on cargo tankers & tanks exploded

Chemical & inhalation exposure

Flash fires

Explosions

Chemical & inhalation exposure Perform Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)

SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)

Development & implementation of hot work permitsHazard control measures

Employee trainingEmployee overcome by vapors & lack of oxygen inside a cargo tanker

Recognize the hazard for possible hydrocarbons present - IT’S NOT JUST WATER!

Venting of tank

Engineering controls

Hazard communication Understand ignition sources Air monitoring devices Hot work permitsSOPs Proper use of PPE

Respiratory protection Air monitoring Elimination of sources of ignitions PPE

Thoroughly cleaning out tank before beginning work

Continuous monitoring for oxygen & LEL (Lower Explosive Limit)

Collect & review SDS on produced waterRepairs involving welding, cutting, & grinding on cargo tankers

Thawing of frozen valves, hoses, & lines

Confined space entry into storage tanks & cargo tankers

Cleaning of storage tanks & cargo tankers

Transferring produced water from storage tank to tankertruck

Hauling di�erent types of produced fluids in the same tanker

hazard alert produced water hazard alert

Attend hazard communication training - know the hazards of the fluids in the cargo tankers & vessels - IT’S NOT JUST WATER!

Follow employer’s Job Hazards Assessment & Established SOPs

Use air monitoring devices & heed all alarms

Obtain Hot Work Permits before beginning work

Use required PPE

If you are uncertain about possible risks, STOP THE JOB & ASK - IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! Review Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) prior to each task/work shift & when work scope changes

Have supervisors sign o� on permit/audit work procedures

what should workers do?

Through the OSHA National Steps Alliance, this Tank Gauging Hazard Alert is for informational purposes only.It does not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor. March, 2015

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace and workers have rights. OSHA can help answer questions or concerns from employers and workers.

OSHAs On-site Consultation Program (www.osha.gov/consultation) offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. For more information, contact your regional

or area OSHA office (www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html), call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), or visit www.osha.gov.

remember...It’s not just water!

Produced water is a byproduct of oil and gas exploration and production which is brought to the surface along with oil or gas. Produced water (also known as brine, salt water, production water) can contain certain concentration of hydrocarbons and chemical contaminants that can emit toxic and flammable vapors which present potential fire explosion, and health hazards to workers. Eight worker fatalities associated with produced water occured between 2012 and 2015 during oil and gas extraction operations at well and production sites, equipment yards, maintenance shops, etc. The common thread in each incident was the assumption that the cargo tankers/vessels (or storage tanks) contained only “water” and did not present a fire, explosion, and health hazards.

Activities involved in fatalincidents What Workers Should Do

Repairs involving welding, cutting, and grinding on tanker/vacuumtrucks

Thawing of frozen valves, hoses, and lines with a porpane torch

Confined space entry into storagetanks and tanker/vacuum trucks

Cleaning of storage tanks and tanker/vacuum trucks

Transferring produced water fromstorage tank to tanker/vacuum trucks

Hauling different types of producedfluids in the same tanker/vacuumtruck

Empty tanks still contained flammablevapors

Attend hazard communicationtraining - know the hazards of thefluids in the cargo tankers and vessels - It’s not just water!

Follow employer’s Job Hazard

Assessment and established SOPs

Review Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)prior to each task/work shift andwhen work scope changes Evacuate and report hazards immediately Have supervisors sign off on permit/audit work procedures

Use air monitoring devices andheed all alarms

Obtain hot work permits beforebeginning work

Use required PPE

Be aware of potential ignition sources(i.e. static, cell phones, open flames,sparks from tools or metal objects, ensure proper grounding/bonding, etc)

If you are certain about possiblerisks, Stop the job and ask -It could save your life!

Perform Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs) Recognize the hazard for possible - hydrocarbons present - it’s not just water! Develop or collect SDS on produced water and review with employeesStandard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Venting of tank Thoroughly cleaning out tank before beginning work Continuous monitoring for oxygen and LEL (lower explosive limit)Development and implementation of hot work permitsImplementation of other applicable work permits (i.e. Confined Space,LOTO, etc.)Hazard control measures Engineering controls Recognizing and elimination of ignition sources Grounding and bounding requirements Respiratory protection PPE (eye, face, skin, and hearing protection) Air monitoring and proceduresEmployee Training Hazard communication Proper use of PPE Understand ignition sources Equipment approved for hazardous locations Air monitoring devices Emergency response plan Hot work permits Safe work practices (i.e. Confined Space, LOTO, etc.) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)Verify sub-contractors are following workpractices/procedures

Employer’s Responsibilities

designed by:

An OSHA Cooperative Program

flash firesexplosionsemployees killed when welding or using torches on cargo tankers and tanks exploded

employees burned when welding/cutting on cargo tankers resulting in fire

trapped pressure & hydrocarbon releasetanker hatch blew off and struck employee

chemical & inhalation exposureemployee overcome by vapors & lack of oxygen inside a cargo tanker

Through the OSHA National Steps Alliance, this Produced Water Hazard Alert is for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor. April, 2016

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace and workers have rights. OSHA can help answer questions or concerns from employers and workers. OSHAs On-site Consultation Program (www.osha.gov/consultation) offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. For more information, contact your regional or area OSHA office (www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html), call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), or visit www.osha.gov.