10_Dredging SOP for compressed gas cylinders.pdf

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR SAFE HANDLING OF COMPRESSED

GAS CYLINDERS RECOVERED FROM DREDGING OPERATIONS.

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) details the proper steps for Contractor personnel to safely handle and move Compressed Gas Cylinders potentially found during Dredging

Operations.

The equipment and tools necessary to handle, store and transport Recovered Compressed Gas

Cylinders shall be in accordance with the AHA and APP submitted to the Project ET/CM per

EM 385-1-1 based on potential hazards.

Procedures. In the event any unknown cylinders are found during the dredging operations, follow the steps below for guidance:

1. Leaking Cylinder:

a. If cylinder is unloaded on the dredging barge and is observed to be leaking

(visually or audibly), stop work immediately, clear the immediate area (could be up to 100m), and Notify Emergency Dispatch Then notify the NAVFAC

Engineering Technician (ET) and Construction Manager (CM). The cylinder shall not be covered if leaking.

b. If cylinder is observed to be leaking (visually or audibly) while still in the clamshell, do not unload spoils onto the dredging barge and submerge clamshell.

Clear the immediate area and Notify Emergency Dispatch noting that the cylinder is leaking and has been re-submerged.

2. If cylinder is not leaking, stop work and notify NAVFAC immediately and go to step 3.

3. Inspect the non-leaking cylinder (A visual-only inspection of the cylinder shall be completed to ensure minimal disruption of the container).

a. If cylinder has existing holes and is verified empty by the Competent Person (CP) it can be separated and disposed of as scrap metal during offload.

b. If cylinder appears to be intact, clear the immediate area, Notify Emergency

Dispatch noting that the cylinder appears to be intact. The Fire Department will control the scene and set a perimeter as needed(could be up to 100m) . The

Contractor will cover the cylinder (As soon as safely possible) with a steel container or similar type covering constructed for this purpose. Once covered, the isolation radius around the cylinder is mitigated and no longer needed (this can be done prior to Fire Department arrival). A cover should be available for any areas that a cylinder might be observed. Once the cylinder is covered, and as soon as feasible, the barge shall be moved and the cylinder will be properly handled off of the barge and stored by a CP under the immediate direction of a Qualified Person

(QP). The cage containing unknown cylinders should be secured in in a designated area for disposal by the government. Cylinders shall be protected from direct sunlight to reduce the risk of overheating and rupture, and located in a low traffic area until removed from the site.

c. After the cylinder has been removed from the barge, the barge can continue operations.

d. If at any point during handling and storage of an intact cylinder, the cylinder starts to leak, then stop work, notify Emergency Dispatch, and execute step #1.

4. NAVFAC once notified of a discovered cylinder will perform the following:

a. If leaking, verify the Emergency Dispatch was contacted, then Notify Code 106.

Code 106 will determine proper disposal.

b. If not leaking, notify FD personnel that an intact or destroyed cylinder has been recovered and note the storage or covered location.

c. If not leaking, notify Code 106 and note status of the cylinder (damaged, empty, or intact). If intact inform of storage location of the bottle.

5. Liquid Gas Cylinders shall be transported in the upright position per OSHA standard.

Unless able to clearly identify container contents, all bottles will be considered as potential Liquid Gas Cylinders, and handled according to OSHA requirements.

6. These potential hazards should be included on the AHA.

Moving recovered compressed gas cylinders. The means and methods to re-locate the compress gas cylinders will be determined by the Contractor’s SSHO, QP or CP as written in the AHA.

Since there are many possible scenarios, an on the spot AHA will be developed with the SSHO, QP, and CP to address the specific concerns identified for each specific actual scenario.

Definitions.

Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA): A documented risk management process by which the steps

(procedures) required to accomplish a work activity/task are outlined and the actual/potential hazards of each step are identified. This is identification of “inherent risk”.

Safety measures, precautions and controls are then identified and put into place to reduce the level of hazard for each step. The risk level then identified, is called the residual risk for that step/activity. A risk acceptance code (RAC) is then assigned to the entire activity. The AHA is an analysis tool that the USACE uses, however, other similar analysis tools are acceptable (e.g., Job Hazard Analysis, JHAs; Job Safety Analysis, JSA;, etc) provided the information required on the AHA is included, steps are identified, hazards associated with each step are listed. > See also

“Inherent Risk”, “Risk Assessment Code” and “Residual Risk”.

Accident Prevention Plan (APP): A document that outlines occupational safety and health policy, responsibilities, and program requirements.

Competent Person (CP): One who can identify existing and predictable hazards in the working environment or working conditions that are dangerous to personnel and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO): The superintendent or other qualified or competent person who is responsible for on-site safety and health.

Qualified person (QP): One who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or

Professional standing, or extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his/her ability to solve or resolve problems related to the subject matter, the work, or the project.