Health Risk Assessment in the Upstream Petroleum Industry

Abstract

Abstract Safety is a paramount concern on every offshore platform. Potential threats such as fire or explosion or catastrophic release of hazardous materials under pressure are constant reminders of safety hazards. Detailed and systematic industrial hygiene assessments, however, have not been conducted at many rigs. Potential exposures at an offshore platform include: components of gas and crude oil, process chemicals, cleaning compounds, paints, fibers and indoor air quality, among others. As industrial hygiene programs expand in Asia, the use of Qualitative Health Risk Assessments (Qualitative Industrial Hygiene Assessments (QIHA)) is becoming popular among employers. QIHA is a tool used to evaluate and prioritize the risk of exposure to chemical in the workplace and provides a summary of occupational exposure information for a defined work exposure group. The QIHA approach goes beyond routine observation-based occupational exposure assessments to systematically review the workplace hazards and evaluate the exposure risks.