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G23.4 Coordination of multiple-employer workplaces
G23.5 Safe work procedures
G23.8 Control of ignition sources
G23.9 Flare pits and flare lines
G23.10 Fire extinguishers
G23.14(5) Pressure control measures at pumping wellheads
G23.15(1)(a) Power Engineers and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act repealed 
G23.22 Driver training
G23.26 Gauging
G23.39.2 Auxiliary escape
G23.43 Ventilation openings
G23.60 Rotary tongs
G23.61 23.5, and 12.3 Safeguarding at the rotary table area of drilling and service rigs
G23.64.1 Snubbing operations 
G23.69 Flow piping
G23.80 Venting of trucks
Issued August 1999
Section 118 of the Workers Compensation Act defines "multiple-employer workplace" and "prime contractor". The section also details the responsibilities of the prime contractor. Section 119 of the Workers Compensation Act outlines the duties an owner. Other obligations are placed on the "owner" by sections 23.31, 23.63 and 23.72 of the OHS Regulation.
"Owner" is defined in section 106 of the Workers Compensation Act as including:
(a) a trustee, receiver, mortgagee in possession, tenant, lessee, licensee or occupier of any lands or premises used or to be used as a workplace and
(b) a person who acts for or on behalf of an owner as an agent or delegate.
The "owner" for the purpose of part 23 is commonly termed the "operator", meaning the owner of the plant and of the license under which the operation runs. The fact that this person subcontracts the operation of the facility and has no workers at the site does not affect the status as "owner".
Issued August 1999
Section 23.5 of the OHS Regulation states:
(1) The employer must identify the work activities or circumstances, including releases of gases, that have caused or may cause significant risk of injury or occupational disease to workers.
(2) The employer must analyze the risks arising out of the work activities or circumstances identified under subsection (1) and implement safe work procedures if the activities or circumstances create a hazard.
(3) The procedures implemented under subsection (2) must state the number of workers involved, the steps to be followed and the safety equipment required.
The measures taken by the employer under this section must be consistent with the other sections of the OHS Regulation.
Industry recommended practices
Consideration should be given under section 23.5 to recommended practices for safe work developed by recognized industry associations. These include the Industry Recommended Practices (IRPs) of the Petroleum Safety Council and the Alberta Recommended Practices (ARPs).
Issued August 1999
Section 23.8(1)(b) of the OHS Regulation states "If regular monitoring and hotwork permits are not in use to control ignition sources...diesel engines required to operate within the zone defined by the BC Electrical Code and the Drilling and Production Regulation as a Class 1 Division 2 or higher classification must have a positive air shutoff or other effective method for engine shut down".
"Other effective methods for engine shut down" are:
Issued August 1999
Section 23.9(5) of the OHS Regulation states "If feasible, there must be a continuous ignition source before flow to a flare pit or stack occurs".
During drill stem testing, it is acceptable to use a tiger torch, diesel soaked bag of sawdust or a burning pail of fuel, as a continuous ignition source, prior to flowing to the flare.
Issued August 1999
Section 23.10(1) of the OHS Regulation states "Non-freezing fire extinguishers, other firefighting equipment and firefighting personnel must be provided as required by subsections (2), (3) and (4) and Table 23-1"
.
The firefighting equipment specified in Table 23-1 for fracturing jobs is required when hydrocarbon fracturing is done. The Petroleum Services Association of Canada guidelines for pumping high flash hazard hydrocarbons should be used.
Issued January 1, 2007
Regulatory excerpt
Section 23.14(5) of the OHS Regulation states:
For a wellhead utilizing a down-hole positive displacement pump, the employer must implement measures to prevent the pump from causing pressures exceeding the pressure rating of the system.
Purpose of guideline
This guideline describes what is meant by the "measures" referenced in section 23.14(5) and outlines an example of an acceptable set of measures. The measures deal with the parts of the system that can be over-pressurized as a direct result of a down-hole positive displacement pump not being shut down when necessary, and with the associated pressure sensors.
Control measures
Appropriate control measures will ensure that a down-hole positive displacement pump does not cause pressure exceeding the design pressure of the system. They will typically include a combination of equipment, procedures and training.
The measures are to be effective. That is, they will provide at least the same level of safety and reliability as the applicable design codes for pressure safety valves if such valves were used to ensure that the design pressure was not exceeded.
An appropriate set of measures will address the following four matters:
To be effective, the measures must be fully implemented and maintained, and workers must receive appropriate training on the control measures.

Issued August 13, 2008
Regulatory excerpt
Section 23.15(1) of the OHS Regulation ("Regulation") states:
(1) A vessel must have a pressure relief device set to relieve at a pressure not exceeding 103 kPa (15 psi) if the vessel is
(a) not registered under the Power Engineers and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act,
(b) connected to a production facility or compressor station, and
(c) not directly open to the atmosphere.
Purpose of guideline
The purpose of this guideline is to clarify the requirements of section 23.15(1)(a) of the Regulation as a consequence of the repeal of the Power Engineers and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act.
Formerly Issued as G23.22, August 1999; Re-issued on January 1, 2009
Regulatory excerpt
Section 23.22 of the OHS Regulation ("Regulation")states:
A vehicle driver in the oil and gas industry must, before operating a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 5 500 kg (12 000 lbs.),
(a) be certified in the applicable Enform Canada driver training course acceptable to the Board, or
(b) have completed driver training providing skills and knowledge for safe driving equivalent to or better than those required by paragraph (a).
Purpose of guideline
The purpose of this guideline is to list the Enform Canada driver training courses that have been evaluated and are acceptable to WorkSafeBC, and to provide information on driver training providing equivalent or better skills and knowledge.
Acceptable Enform courses
There are two Enform Canada courses currently acceptable to WorkSafeBC for oilfield truck drivers operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 5 500 kg. This guideline will be updated as any new courses are accepted by WorkSafeBC.
The following Enform Canada training courses are acceptable to WorkSafeBC:
Course descriptions and information about enrollment is available on the Enform Canada website [http://www.enform.ca/]. The GODI course is a one-day course intended for oilfield truck drivers operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 5 500 kg or greater. The Oilfield Haulers course (formerly called the Heavy Haulers course) targets heavy haulers in the upstream petroleum service industry (e.g. oilfield bed trucks, tractor-trailer units, truck-mounted cranes, and gin pole trucks). These vehicles usually have their loads winched or hoisted, then chained down. The Oilfield Haulers course does not extend to other vehicles over 15 000 kg, such as water haulers, oil/condensate haulers, cement/fracturing trucks (pumpers), and service rig carriers.
For areas not covered by these courses, the GODI course will be acceptable until an acceptable program covering each area has been developed.
Equivalent driver training
Regulation section 23.22(b) allows for alternative driver training providing skills and knowledge for safe driving equivalent to or better than those required by training courses of Enform Canada. The Schlumberger Driver Training Course has been evaluated by WorkSafeBC and is recognized as providing at least equivalent skills and knowledge as the Enform Canada General Oilfield Driver Improvement course.
WorkSafeBC Certification Services (telephone 604-276-3090) can provide assistance in evaluating whether another driver training course provides skills and knowledge equivalent to or better than the acceptable Enform Canada courses.
Issued August 1999
Section 23.26 of the OHS Regulation states "A tank which contains or may contain a fluid with hydrogen sulfide as a component must have an external means of gauging its contents, or if manual gauging or sampling is required, the worker doing the gauging or sampling must use a supplied air respirator meeting the requirements of Part 8 (Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment) for use in an IDLH atmosphere, and must be visually monitored by another worker equipped with an equivalent respirator and capable of effecting a rescue of the worker doing the gauging or sampling".
Some external gauges do not provide the accuracy of manual gauging. However, when manual gauging is used, access to the top of the tank and stability of the worker may be a problem. In order to provide a safe means of gauging, an effective external gauge should be provided. If manual gauging is used, in addition to the requirements of section 23.26 the employer should either provide a stairway with a platform or a ladder safety device that provides work positioning and effective rescue capacity. Section 4.32 of the OHS Regulation states "There must be a safe way of entering and leaving each place where work is performed and a worker must not use another way, if the other way is hazardous."
Effective August 1999; Editorial Revision January 1, 2009
Regulatory excerpt
Section 23.39.2(1)(d) of the OHS Regulation ("Regulation") states;
(1) A drilling or service derrick must have a specially rigged and securely anchored line as an emergency means of escape that
(d) is effectively anchored and able to withstand a load of 13.3 kN (3,000 lbs)
Purpose of guideline
The purpose of this guideline is to clarify what is meant by effectively anchored under section 23.39.2(1)(d) of the Regulation.
Effectively anchored
An anchor is effective if it will prevent the line from failing unless the load applied exceeds the anchor capacity. The employer must take measures to ensure the anchor is effective (see section 4.2). Measures to ensure the effectiveness of an anchor include:
In the case of the latter two items, standard drawings from the manufacturer or an engineer should be available.
Issued August 1999; Revised February 11, 2004
Section 23.43(1) of the OHS Regulation states "Before commencing drill stem tests, swabbing, bailing, or displacement with gas or oil
(a) derrick enclosures must be altered to provide openings at least 1.8 m (6 ft) high and 2.4 m (8 ft) wide on opposite sides above, and on 2 sides below, the derrick floor, or
(b) adequate mechanical ventilation or monitoring must be provided."
For the purpose of this section, "displacement with gas or oil" includes underbalanced drilling when temperatures are within 10 degrees of the flash point.
Monitoring
Section 23.43(1)(b) of the OHS Regulation allows the option of "monitoring". If this option is used, safe work procedures (section 23.5) must be in place before commencing drill stem tests, swabbing, bailing, or displacement with gas or oil. The Board accepts the following procedures as complying with section 23.43(1)(b):
A. In addition to routine monitoring, instantaneous stationary detectors will normally be installed:
All alarms are clearly audible exterior to the substructure.
B. Procedures for gas alarm response as follows:
Workers will not enter or remain in areas of the rig where harmful substances exceed limits listed in the the Table of Exposure Limits for Chemical and Biological Substances (see OHS Guideline G5.48-1). In particular, sections 5.31 and 5.56 must be considered.
Effective August 1999
Section 23.60 of the OHS Regulation states "Rotary tongs must have
(a) a primary safety device to prevent uncontrolled movement of the tongs, and
(b) a secondary safety device that will activate if the primary device fails."
Safety devices are normally two wire rope safety lines. Single stand rigs should use two wire rope safety lines, not less than 1/2 inch (13 mm) in diameter. Larger rigs should use two wire rope safety lines, not less than 5/8 inch (16 mm) in diameter.
Issued October 26, 2005
Regulatory excerpt
Section 23.61 (Rotary table) of the OHS Regulation states:
Section 23.5 (Safe work procedures) of the OHS Regulation outlines the employer's obligations to identify and analyze risks at operations in the oil and gas sector, and to develop appropriate safe work procedures to address hazards.
Section 12.3 (Standards) of the OHS Regulation states:
The application, design, construction and use of safeguards, including an opening in a guard and the reach distance to a hazardous part, must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z432-94, Safeguarding of Machinery.
Purpose of guideline
The provisions of section 23.61 are straightforward. However, there are difficulties with installing physical guards in the rotary table area of drilling and service rigs under some of the guarding provisions of the CSA Standard referenced in section 12.3. This guideline provides information on other measures to consider for safeguarding in the rotary table area, pursuant to the CSA Standard and
the employer's obligation to conduct a risk analysis and adopt safe work procedures as required under section 23.5 of the OHS Regulation.
The CSA Standard and safeguards at the rotary table area
Machines, including drilling rigs, are required to comply with the safeguarding requirements of section 12.3 of the OHS Regulation. Generally, the first choice for safeguarding a hazard is a physical barrier, but it is recognized that it is not usually possible to completely guard rotary tables in that manner.
The definition of a safeguard in the OHS Regulation includes awareness barriers, warning signs and other appropriate means. In addition, the CSA Standard recognizes that physical barriers are not practicable in all situations. For example, section 4.2.2.7 of CSA Standard Z432-94 states:
It is necessary to inform and warn the users about residual hazards against which risk reduction by design and safeguarding techniques are not, or not totally, effective. The instructions and warnings shall describe the procedures and operating modes intended to overcome those hazards; indicate if a particular type of training is required; and, if it is necessary, specify personal protective equipment.
The following measures are provided as procedures and methods to overcome and safeguard against hazards in the area of the rotary table. They are in addition to the requirements of section 23.61 and other applicable provisions of the OHS Regulation. For convenience, the mandatory requirements of section 23.61 are noted at locations where related issues are addressed in the list of measures for safeguarding.
Measures for safeguarding in the rotary table area
Also note that sections 23.61 (1) & (3) of the OHS Regulation state: (1) If visibility on the rig floor is obscured, workers must not work there while the rotary table is in motion. (3) The rotary table must not be engaged until all workers are clear of the rotary table.
Also note that section 23.61(2) of the OHS Regulation states: Hoses, lines or chains must not be operated or handled near a rotary table while it is in motion.

Issued January 1, 2009
Regulatory excerpt
Section 23.64.1 of the OHS Regulation ("Regulation") states:
A snubbing operation must be carried out in accordance with recognized industry safe work practices.
Purpose of guideline
This guideline describes snubbing operations, and describes one source of recognized industry safe work practices.
What is snubbing?
During the operating life of an oil or gas well, it is occasionally necessary to "rework" the well to enhance, maintain, or continue the production of hydrocarbons. This process frequently requires the removal and cleaning, or replacement, of tubing (piping) or other apparatus in the well bore.
Where practicable, the well will be "temporarily killed" by filling the well bore with high density fluids, doing the necessary reworking, and then removing the high density fluids and bringing the well back into production. However, sometimes the conditions in the well and reservoir do not allow the temporary killing of the well as the high density fluids may damage the hydrocarbon-bearing formation and render the well no longer productive. Snubbing is the petroleum industry operation to control well pressure and the movement of jointed tubulars (pipes) and tools in or out of a well bore using snubbing equipment. Snubbing allows the reworking of a "live well," and may even involve the continued production of hydrocarbon from the well during the reworking process.
Snubbing is being done more frequently in B.C.'s oil and gas production sector. It is a specialized operation due to the potential for the release of hydrocarbons, which means a potential for a fire or explosion, or exposure to an atmosphere which is oxygen deficient or contains toxic gases (such as hydrogen sulfide) making the atmosphere immediately dangerous to life and health.
Recognized industry safe work practices
The intent of Regulation section 23.64.1 is to ensure that proper guidance is available and practiced for snubbing operations, in the form of recognized safe work practices.
One source of recognized industry safe work practices is Industry Recommended Practice Volume 15-2007 Snubbing Operations (IRP-15). It has been developed by the oil and gas industry in western Canada for snubbing operations and is published by Enform Canada.
Anchoring
Section 23.69(1) of the OHS Regulation states "Flow piping systems must be anchored during well testing or stimulation unless there is an effective quality assurance program to ensure integrity of the piping system."
Section 23.69(4) states "Flowback lines must be anchored and restrained."
Anchoring can include weights adequately installed to prevent movement of piping. Generally, there should be one weight for each pipe joint.
An alternative method of anchoring is to drill anchors near to the pipe ends with a restraining cable running the length of the piping. The cable system should be continuous and secured at both ends, and all individual pressure components should be secured. Restraining cables should not be less than 7/16 inch (11 mm) in diameter or chains of equal or greater strength.
Inspections
Section 23.69(2) states "The quality assurance program"
referred to in subsection (1) must include "routine inspections, non-destructive testing, pressure testing, identification of piping components, and piping specifications that meet the service application."
Well testing and simulation work can subject equipment to exceptional short term corrosion and erosion. The frequency of inspections required by a quality assurance program will depend on the nature of the work. However, they should be at least annual and after severe service. Severe service includes flow backs of acids, solvents, a substance with a large amount of chloride, C02, or H2S, and fracturing sand or other well debris.
Section 23.80 of the OHS Regulation states "Tank trucks or loading facilities must have a system for protecting workers from hydrogen sulfide if it is present."
The following systems may be used: