When you work on an offshore oil drilling rig, you face various hazards every day, not the least of which are potential fires and explosions. By taking the right safety precautions and installing necessary fire suppression equipment, you can reduce the chance of fire and extinguish any blazes that do break out quickly and effectively to save lives and reduce property damage.
According to federal labor statistics, 10 percent of all workplace fatalities related to fires and explosions occur in the oil and gas industry. Then, 15 percent of all fatal accidents in the oil and gas industry are from fires and explosions, with a total of 78 workers killed in such accidents between 2009 and 2013.
The worst offshore oil platform disaster on record occurred on the Piper Alpha in 1988 when 167 out of 226 workers were killed in serial explosions on the platform. The resulting fire took three weeks to put out.
A more recent incident in 2007 occurred when the Usumacinta Jack-up collided with the Kab-101 platform. The collision caused oil and gas leaks on the Usumacinta Jack-up, which eventually ignited and caused a fire. The incident claimed 22 lives.
Often viewed as a way of life, it’s easy for oil workers to focus on their given task and forget about the dangers associated with this type of work – or how to avoid hazardous situations. Some of the top fire hazards in offshore platforms include:
You have two top options for offshore fire suppression: 3M Novec 1230 and HI-FOG.
3M Novec 1230 is an advanced, next-generation clean fire suppression agent designed to replace environmentally damaging halon and CO2 systems. In fact, it’s the world’s first viable replacement for halon, providing the same long-term applications without harming the environment. Novec 1230 is compact and lightweight and can be used to put out fires where personnel is present.
HI-FOG is a safe, efficient fire suppression system that uses water mist to fight fires on offshore platforms. It poses no risk to people and is eco-friendly. HI-FOG is available in several forms to meet the needs of different oil drilling rigs.
If you’re looking for offshore fire protection near Houston, choose Kauffman Co. for the job. We recently designed and installed a sprinkler system in the living quarters of the Shell Mars B permanent offshore drilling platform in Galveston. To learn more about our experience with offshore fire protection, contact us online or call 713-893-1090.
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