Compliance with Industrial Safety Legislation in Russia

Abstract

Abstract This paper is intended to demonstrate experience gained by Halliburton Energy Services in Russia. The experience pertains to compliance with Russian safety legislation regarding hazardous industrial facilities including oil and gas facilities. The Federal Law of the Russian Federation on Industrial Safety of Hazardous Industrial Facilities, as approved by the President of the Russian Federation on July 21, 1997, determines the legal and economic basis for safe operation of hazardous facilities in Russia. This law covers all aspects of industrial safety including (1) licensing; (2) require ments for design, construction, commissioning, and operation of hazardous facilities; (3) requirements for accident investigation; (4) safety expertise; (5) liability insurance for damages; and (6) liability for non-compliance with the safety regulations. In the course of providing its services in Russia, Halliburton has demonstrated its capability to comply with all requirements of this Russian federal law. Halliburton, however, had to learn from its own mistakes; but it is now clear that Halliburton understands the law and is able to proficiently pursue its business. Training foreign personnel about local safety regulations — irrespective of their international or national certificates — is one very important aspect in training for compliance. Another imp ortant aspect is instruction about obtaining Russian certificates and permits for any equipment used at hazardous facilities. Many Russian rules and standards are more stringent than those of Western countries. Some examples will be considered in the paper. The findings of this paper can be effectively used by foreign companies and by exporters of equipment for hazardous oil and gas production facilities in the Russian Federation. These facilities are subject to supervision of the Federal Mining and Industrial Inspectorate of the Russian Federation.