ABSTRACT Confined Space Management During Plant Turnaround

Petroleum Refineries and Chemical Plants Turnarounds activities involves large numbers of technicians simultaneously dedicated in maintenance and inspections activities in Confined Spaces (CS). Working into Confined Spaces (CS) presents several potential risks like Oxygen deficiencies, toxic and/or explosive environments, potential contamination with poisonous or carcinogen substances. Since years Petroleum Refining and Chemical Industries adopted all required procedures, equipment and safety procedures (eg. Gas Free certifications) to protect workers involved in CS environments. In common work practices, Plant Owners provides required Gas Free certifications standard work procedures and part of the safety equipment required to perform maintenance tasks; while most part of needed Safety Equipment is directly provided by Maintenance Contractors as well as safety watchers. The above may result in Downtime collection with final delay of Plants activities resume with evident Turnaround costs increase due to the extension of Maintenance cots services AND loss of production. This paper presents the activities carried out to ensure that no delays are collected during Plant Turnarounds, increasing the overall operations Safety performance, aligning and exceeded Plants Owners safety standards and expectations using a third Party to manage all aspects related to the Confined Space Management. As a result, different measures were developed together with the Plant Owner, targeting CS safety equipments, operating procedures, training and awareness of the personnel. Service provided had a significant and tangible direct employment and economic return in Plant local community area with potential relationship benefit with local authorities. This paper aims at disseminating the process followed, the protection principles adopted and the costeffective solutions implemented, whose validity is general and can be extended to similar contexts.