SPE 108476

Learnings From Implementing the Occupational Hygiene Program in Chevron Thailand

Surapat Rungruang, Chevron Thailand E&P

Copyright 2007, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Asia Pacific Health, Safety, Security and
Environment Conference and Exhibition held in Bangkok, Thailand, 1012 September 2007.
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Abstract
The Chevron Thailand Industrial Hygiene Monitoring
Program has been developed and implemented since mid1980s with the aim to comply with both the recognized
standards and local regulations, but more importantly to
protect the health of all workforce while working with th
company.
During this 26-year period of industrial hygiene program
implementation, significant numbers of industrial hygiene
samplings have been taken from different workforce group in
a vieriety of locations.
Over the past years, many baseline sampling and monitoring
initiatives have been conducted to identify specific problem
areas. The monitoring strategy, health risk mitigations and
controls were based on the numbers of samples colleced
during that period. During the early 90s an annual industrial
hygiene monitoring plan were developed and issued prior to
identifying and qualtifying job specific hazard exposure.
Preview

on key issues, for example, in Thailand we use the program to

develop effective controls for mercury in terms of mercury
decontamination and personal exposure, emphasis on confined
space entry, verification of PPE usage, and development of the
mercury surveillance program.
However, in order to make the HHA more accurate, we
need to consider some additional key actions, including:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Review chemical and physical hazards

Review accident/ incident reports
Consider employee concerns, comments, etc.
Review laws and regulations
Update data as necessary
Ensure right PPE has been provided
Prioritize low and high risk activities

In addition, the outcome of HHA will guide us to:

1)
2)
3)

4)

5)

Develop a systematic IH monitoring plan

Prioritize and highlight the most critical health risks
Develop proper Health Surveillance Program for
workforce who may be potentially exposed to
specific hazards, i.e., mercury, benzene, hydrocabons
or noise.
Develop proper control of engineering and
administrative procedures and PPE selection to
protect workforce from hazards exposure.
Evaluate new legislation and MOC - Management
of Change prior to reporting to management.

Futhermore, the benefits of HHA for the business unit are

significant, and include:

In 1997, a Health Hazard Assessment (HHA) was developed

and implmented for specifc job title to determine the risk/nonrisk tasks prior to identifying type of industrial hygiene
monitoring and medical surveillance program was required for
health prevention and workplace environment protection. The
HHA assessment results will be placed on improving the
development of annual industrial hygiene monitoring plan.

1) Protecting employee health from hazards that have

been identified.
2) Communicating results to management, supervisors,
and workforce.
3) Monitoring costs and manpower savings:
Number of samples and analytical costs reduced
Quality and accuracy of samples can be
controlled
4) Comply with laws and regulations

An effective and easy to use health risk identification process

improves implementation of an industrial hygiene program
and leads to more effective control on health hazards and
costs, for examples, engineering design, workforce work
practices, PPE selecion, etc. Finally, it allows for special focus

Since 1997, while HHA was developed and implemented,

more than 2 thousand samples have been conducted, those
industrial hygiene monitoring results were used to improve
working environment and change some work practices.

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SPE1108476

The most important success of using industrial hygiene

monitoring is using the analytical results to find out the new
ways of conducting high risk activities, especially for confined
space entry and FSO (Floating Storage off Loading) tank
cleaning practices.
What we have achieved by changing those practices?
1) We can reduce the exposure time of the workforce
from 3 months into 1 week by using new technology
and technique.
2) We apply appropriate ventilation system to reduce
purging time.
3) We adopt health surveillance program based on
previous industrialhygiene monitoring results prior to
develop an appropriate health surveillance program.
4) We use new technique and techologies to avoid direct
contact with danger health hazard (i.e. vacuum pump,
wash with surfactant).
There are some of proposed steps on the path forward of
implementing more effective on existing industrial hygiene
program:
1) Integrate current industrial hygiene programs/
practices to business unit objectives and projects.
2) Continue to support operations to make the industrial
hygiene program more effective.
3) Share specific occupational hygiene program with
worldwide industrial hygiene community:

Mercury controls

Confined space entry

FSO tank cleaning

IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)

Vibration and Noise

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