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Occupational Safety Professionals Identify Health Hazards In Oil-Based Drilling Fluids - Tuesday, December 08, 2009
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The following reports identify occupational hazards in working with oil-based drilling fluids. These reports identify the exposure risk to oil rig workers for known and suspected carcinogenic compounds.
Please Note: These reports are provided as an informative service and Rapid makes no claim to the accuracy of correctness of the findings reported within this section or within the reports.
Title: Occupational Hygiene Aspects of the use of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids
R.G. Davidson1, M.J. Evans2, J.W. Hamlin3, and K.J. Saunders4
1. BP Petroleum Development Ltd Dyce, U.K.
2. BP Group Occupational Health Centre Guildford, Surrey, U.K.
3. BP Chemicals Ltd, London, U.K.
4. BP Research Centre Sunbury, U.K.
Abstract:
Oil-based drilling fluids have been used increasingly in the North Sea over recent years. Work undertaken to investigate the health hazards associated with the use of this technology, and the recommended control measures, are described.
Preliminary investigations indicated that both skin contact with the fluids and inhalation of airborne contaminants could occur. Consideration was given to an appropriate hygiene standard for airborne hydrocarbons arising from the base oil, and suitable techniques for personal monitoring were devised.
Control measures, such as the introduction of less hazardous base oils, the screening of drilling fluid components, improvements in containment, ventilation and operating practices, and changes in personal protection strategies were formulated, and appropriate education programmes were introduced.
Title: Exposure to carcinogens for defined job categories in Norway's offshore petroleum industry, 1970-2005
Kjersti Steinsvag1, Magne Bratveit and Bente E. Moen
1. Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Section for Occupational Medicine, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018, Norway (published online first 16 October 2006)
Objective:
To identify and describe the exposure to selected known and suspected carcinogenic agents, mixtures and exposure circumstances for defined job categories in Norway's offshore petroleum industry from 1970 to 2005, in order to provide exposure information for a planned cohort study on cancer.
Results:
This study indicated possible exposure to 18 known and suspected carcinogenic agents, mixtures or exposure circumstances. Monitoring reports were obtained on seven agents (benzene, mineral oil mist and vapour, respirable and total dust, asbestos fibres, refractory ceramic fibres, formaldehyde and tetrachloroethylene). The mean exposure level of 367 personal samples of benzene was 0.037 ppm ( range: less than the limit of detection to 2.6 ppm). Asbestos fibres were detected (0.03 fibres/cm3) when asbestos containing brake bands were used in drilling draw work in 1988. Personal samples of formaldehyde in the process area ranged from 0.06 to 0.29 mg/m3. Descriptions of products containing known and suspected carcinogens, exposure sources and processes were extracted from the collected documentation and interviews with key personnel.
Conclusions:
This study described exposure to 18 known and suspected carcinogenic agents, mixtures of exposure circumstances for 27 job categories in Norway's offshore petroleum industry. For a planned cohort study on cancer, quantitative extimates of exposure to benzene, and mineral oil mist and vapour might be developed. For the other agents, information in the present study can be used for further assessment of exposure, for instance, by expert judgement. More systematic exposure surveillance is needed in this industry. For future studies, new monitoring programmes need to be implemented.
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