Preparing for pipeline installation — what safety steps need to be taken

Posted by raci on February 6th, 2022

Gas pipeline construction companies in India install pipelines to transport oil and gas to different parts of the country. These pipelines carry oil, natural gas, and other liquid fuels. These pipelines are essential for oil and gas transportation. Pipeline installation is one of the most challenging tasks for companies managing the oil and gas pipelines in India. These pipelines transport flammable materials, so there is a lot of concern about their safety.

Here are the safety steps that need to be taken while preparing for pipeline installation.

Safety as a priority - Analyze the tasks to be performed by the team and do a job safety analysis before the team starts working on-site. Installing oil and gas pipelines in India involves a lot of potential hazards therefore a plan should be in place to remove or reduce the chances of injury. Leaders of the oil and gas pipe line installation services must highlight the importance of placing safety at the core of everything they do.

Training the team - Throughout the work process, it is important to be briefed and trained on the correct job procedures and practices. Regardless of whether it is an oil pipeline or natural gas pipeline in India, it is essential to develop a safety mindset and that can only happen if there is constant training. All the people operating equipment on a job site must read and understand the Operator and Maintenance Manuals (OMM).

People safety - It is important to keep the people safe. People who are operating and working on-site, especially underground gas pipeline in India, must have good quality equipment that is fit to use. Before using the equipment, people must be fully trained on how to use the equipment.

Environmental safety - Environment safety is an essential part o the oil and gas pipe line installation services. The installation carries great risk to the environment as well. Surveys must be done to confirm the suitability of the terrain and the data should be gathered and studied beforehand.

Inspecting for possible loopholes - For any oil and gas pipeline installation, there are set rules and regulations mentioning the required standards. At every stage of the installation, third-party inspections are conducted to ensure that these standards are met. For example, while putting a link seal, testing is done to make sure there are no cracks or leaks before the transportation begins.

Inspecting the tools used - Tools should be regularly monitored for wear and tear to make sure it is safe to use them. Also, monitoring should be done to check signs of aging. Broken tools should be replaced or repaired timely. 

Preparing for emergency situations - In the case of running any oil or gas pipe line installation services, people are working with multiple companies and are using heavy equipment. Therefore there is always a chance that something might go wrong. The emergency protocols must be defined beforehand and people should be trained on how to act in case of an emergency.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) - It is equipment that includes a garment or device to protect the employees of an oil or gas pipeline installation company from any injury. PPE helps cover the face, feet, and hands from getting injured. PPE includes goggles for the safety of the eyes, hard hats to cover the head, boots with steel toes to protect the feet, and gloves for the hands. The employees on-site should always be wearing PPE. 

Excavation measures - The excavation of pipelines must be done in accordance with proper procedures to avoid hazardous conditions. For the underground gas pipeline in India, excavators must be serviced regularly and all the utilities must be identified and marked before starting the installation process.

Pressure and temperature testing - All pipelines must operate within the Maximum Operating Pressure (MOP). Regular pipeline testing should be done to ensure integrity. Written procedures must be followed at all times to ensure safety. For example, while putting an end seal to a pipeline, the written manual should be referred to in context to the amount of pressure that is needed to operate the pipeline.