A

TECHNICAL REPORT

ON

STUDENTS’ INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

UNDERTAKEN AT PIPELINE AND PRODUCT MARKETING COMPANY

(PPMC), SATELLITE DEPOT, EJIGBO, LAGOS STATE.

PREPARED BY

RAIFU, AZEEZ OLASUNKANMI

CHE/2014/085

SUBMITTED TO

THE SIWES COORDINATOR,

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING,

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE IFE.

IN PARTIAL FUFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.Sc.) DEGREE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

MARCH 2019.
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Department of Chemical engineering,

Faculty of Technology,

Obafemi Awolowo University,

Ile – Ife, Nigeria.

15/03/2019

The Coordinator,

Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES),

Faculty of Technology,

Department of Chemical Engineering,

Obafemi Awolowo University,

Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Dear Sir,
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

As a follow up to satisfying one of the requirements of the National Universities

Commission (NUC) for Science and Engineering students in tertiary institutions, I, RAIFU

Azeez Olasunkanmi hear by submit the report for the industrial training undertaken at Pipeline

and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Satellite depot, Ejigbo, Lagos State.

The report includes an abstract which serves as a summary of the full body of report,

introduction as well as a brief history of SIWES and PPMC. I hope that this report will be

favorably considered and will meet your expectation.

Yours Faithfully,

RAIFU Azeez Olasunkanmi,

CHE/2014/085.
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DEDICATION

I dedicate this report to the Almighty God for the successful completion of this

programme for giving me the knowledge, strength and perseverance in preparing this

comprehensive report. Thank you God for everything.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) in general and Satellite depot in

particular is an establishment where the contribution of every individual towards goal

achievement is of utmost importance and the ideology of team play can however not be over

emphasized. Therefore, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all member of staffs,

contractors and I.T students for their contributions in part towards the smooth running of the

corporation throughout and beyond my stay.

I especially acknowledge the effort of the leading head of HEALTH, SAFETY &

ENVIRONMENT (HSE) department, Mr. JOSHAU Tamunotoye, other members of the

department and my colleagues, they didn’t only impact my technical know-how, they

contributed to my practical and theoretical knowledge, and taught me a whole lot about work

place culture. A sincere appreciation also goes to my direct partner ILEBIYI Lukmon.

The greatest thanks goes to the Almighty God, the inspiration of my life, for making me

a success. Thank you God for giving me Life, Hope and most of all a great Future to look on to.
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ABSTRACT

This paper borders on the experience gained during a 4-month industrial training

undertaken at the Health Safety & Environment (HSE) department of Lagos Satellite Depot. A

depot is an industrial facility for the storage of fuel (here in PMS) and the satellite depot

alongside other depots are responsible for the distribution, marketing activities and secured

supply of petroleum products at low operating cost to domestic markets across the country,

Petroleum products usually arrives at the depot through a network of pipelines and is distributed

to the domestic market through trucks.

Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) loosely referred to as petrol is a colorless, very volatile

and complex mixture of long chain hydrocarbon (wiki 2014) and is highly combustible. It is

therefore needless to say that the distribution via a network of pipelines, the storage (sometimes

over an extended period) and the eventual distribution using truck comes with a lot of

occupational, safety and health (OSH) risks to the professionals involved in the direct handling

and operation of the storage and dispensing facilities and even the driver involved in

transporting the petrol to various fuel stations.

Research shown that there had been cases of fire accidents in the past due to negligence

and inability of personnel to comply strictly with safety rules, fall accidents had aroused due to

overlooking of spills. Respiratory and digestive difficulties, poor sight and strokes and such

other diseases are common among workers on the loading island and drivers. This arises as a

result of direct inhalation of PMS over an extended period of time. Poor growth of vegetation

and pollution of air are also noticeable around such places as depot.

This report hence discusses the roles, methodology and practices adopted by the HSE

department (using the Lagos Satellite Depot) as a case study and believed observed elsewhere,

in reducing the occupational hazards among its staffs and customers, maintaining zero death

cases, low accident and injury casualties, bringing health risks to the barest minimum and
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control of air pollution around the loading island and the depot at large. The benefits of the

programme and the recommendation for a better result are also included where necessary.
viii
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TABLE OF CONTENT

COVER PAGE ........................................................................................................................ I

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL................................................................................................... III

DEDICATION....................................................................................................................... IV

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... V

ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... VI

TABLE OF CONTENT ........................................................................................................... IX

LIST OF TABLE ................................................................................................................... XII

LIST OF FIGURE ................................................................................................................ XIII

CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 History of SIWES .............................................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Aims and Objectives of SIWES ........................................................................................................ 1

1.3 Components and Composition of SIWES ........................................................................................ 2

1.4 History of Pipeline and Product Marketing company (PPMC) ........................................................ 2

1.5 Objectives of the Report ................................................................................................................. 3

1.6 Justification for the Study ............................................................................................................... 4

CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................... 5

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LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 Health safety and Environment (HSE) ............................................................................................. 5

2.2 Overview of Health Safety & Environment ..................................................................................... 5

2.3 HSE Policy ........................................................................................................................................ 7

2.4 HSE Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 7

2.5 The Nigerian Petroleum Industry .................................................................................................... 8

2.6 Key Participants in the Nigeria Petroleum Industry ........................................................................ 9

2.6.1 Government ............................................................................................................................ 9

2.6.2 NNPC ....................................................................................................................................... 9

2.6.3 Oil Marketers ......................................................................................................................... 11

2.6.4 Petroleum Inspectorate......................................................................................................... 11

2.7 Administrative Management and Organization of PPMC ............................................................. 12

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................ 20

METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................................... 20

3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 20

3.2 Work done & Experience Gained .................................................................................................. 21

3.3 Risk Management ......................................................................................................................... 21

3.4 Hazard prevention and control ..................................................................................................... 34

3.5 Supervision of daily Loading Activities .......................................................................................... 49

3.6 Issue of Work Permit ..................................................................................................................... 53

3.7 Participation .................................................................................................................................. 54

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................. 56

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................. 56

4.1 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 56

4.1.1 Fire and explosion accidents of oil depots in Nigeria ............................................................ 56

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4.1.2 Overall Analysis of Accidents ............................................................................................... 57

4.1.3 Areas of Accident................................................................................................................... 59

4.1.4 Facilities & equipment of accidents ...................................................................................... 61

4.1.5 Ignition source and accident substances ............................................................................... 62

4.1.6 Responsibility for Accidents .................................................................................................. 65

4.2 Challenges ..................................................................................................................................... 67

4.3 Discussion...................................................................................................................................... 68

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................... 71

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION .......................................................................................... 71

5.1 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 71

5.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 71

REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 74
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LIST OF FIGURES

FIG 2:1 AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SHOWING THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE DEPOT AND ITS HEADS. ................... 15

FIG 3:1 SAFETY GLASSES/GOGGLES ........................................................................................................................... 24

FIG 3:2 SAFETY HELMET ............................................................................................................................................. 25

FIG 3:3 SAFETY BOOT ................................................................................................................................................. 25

FIG 3:4 GLOVES .......................................................................................................................................................... 26

FIG 3:5 COVERALL ...................................................................................................................................................... 26

FIG 3:6 SAFETY BELTS................................................................................................................................................. 27

FIG 3:7 EAR MUFFS .................................................................................................................................................... 27

FIG 3:8 FIGURE REPRESENTING SAFETY AWARENESS ............................................................................................... 29

FIG 3:9 FIGURE REPRESENTING A SAFETY INSTRUCTION ......................................................................................... 33

FIG 3:10 FIRE TRIANGLE ............................................................................................................................................. 35

FIG 3:11 A FIGURE SHOWING THE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF FIRE AND ITS EXTINGUISHING AGENT .......................... 38

FIG 3:12 FOAM COMPOUND ..................................................................................................................................... 39

FIG 3:13 FIRE HOSE .................................................................................................................................................... 41

FIG 3:14 FIRE BUCKET ................................................................................................................................................ 41

FIG 3:15 SAND BOX .................................................................................................................................................... 42

FIG 3:16 FIRST BLANKET ............................................................................................................................................ 42

FIG 3:17 FIRE TRUCK .................................................................................................................................................. 43

FIG 3:18 FIRST AID KITS .............................................................................................................................................. 44

FIG 3:19 FIRE HYDRANT ............................................................................................................................................. 44

FIG 3:20 BOOSTER PUMP........................................................................................................................................... 45

FIG 3:21 STORAGE TANK ............................................................................................................................................ 46

FIG 3:22 A DIAGRAM SHOWING THE WETTING OF THE LOADING GANTRY .............................................................. 51
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LIST OF TABLE

TABLE 3.1 A TABLE BODY PARTS AND THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT USED FOR COVERING THEM. ...... 28

TABLE 4.1 NUMBER OF CASUALTIES .......................................................................................................................... 59

TABLE 4.2 AREA OF ACCIDENTS ................................................................................................................................. 60

TABLE 4.3 FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT OF ACCIDENTS................................................................................................. 61

TABLE 4.4 IGNITION SOURCE ..................................................................................................................................... 63

TABLE 4.5 TYPE OF ACCIDENT SUBSTANCES .............................................................................................................. 64

TABLE 4.6 RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENTS .............................................................................................................. 66

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 History of SIWES

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) established the Students’ Industrial Work Experience

Scheme (SIWES) IN 1973. It was aimed at solving the problems of lack of adequate practical

skills by graduates of tertiary institutions.

The industrial training exposes students to industry based skills that are necessary for a

smooth transition from tertiary institution to the industry. It gives students of tertiary institutions

the opportunity of being familiar and exposed to the needed experience in handling machinery

and Equipment which are usually not available in the tertiary institutions.

SIWES has been generally accepted and has become a prerequisite for the award of

Diploma and Degree certificates in most tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This is also in

accordance with the educational policy of the Nigerian government.

1.2 Aims and Objectives of SIWES

Specifically, the objectives of the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme, among

others is to:

Provide an avenue for students in the Nigerian universities to acquire industrial skills and

experience in their respective courses of study

Prepare students for the work situation they are likely to meet after graduation;

It exposes students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and

machinery that may not be available in the universities;

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Make the transition from the university to the world of work easier, and thus enhance

students’ contacts for later job placement;

Provide students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in real work

situation, thereby bridging the gap between university work and actual practices; and

Highlight to the student areas more profitable for research.

1.3 Components and Composition of SIWES

The main operators of SIWES are the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Nigeria University

Commission (NUC), NBTE, NCCE and labor workers in the institution.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is responsible for the funding of SIWES in Federal

and State tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

An approximate of students participating in SIWES from Nigerian Universities,

polytechnics and colleges of Education is about 78,000 annually and the beneficiaries are

undergraduates of faculties of Technology/Engineering, Agriculture, Environmental Design and

Management, sciences, Education, pharmacy and Basic Medical Sciences

1.4 History of Pipeline and Product Marketing company (PPMC)

The Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) was created as one of the

subsidiaries of the Nigerian National and Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in March 1988, a time

when NNPC itself underwent administrative reorganization with the aim to bring about proper

capitalization and commercialization. PPMC was at the time set up with the objective to provide

excellent customer services by transporting crude to refineries and moving white petroleum

products to the existing and future market efficiently and at low operating costs through a safe

and well maintained network of pipelines and depot and this was perhaps the most significant

event of the 1988 reorganization of NNPC

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PPMC as at commission consisted of about 35 depots scattered in different states around

the country and five area offices which are located in Port Harcourt, Warri, Mosimi, Kaduna and

Gombe.

The company carries out most of its activities around in different parts of the nation

through its area offices depots and pump stations. The Port Harcourt area office has seven depots

under its jurisdiction namely: Port Harcourt depot, Enugu depot, Markudi depot, Calabar depot,

Okirika Jetty, Bonny Export Terminal, and Aba depot. The Kaduna depot comprises nine depots

which are Kaduna Depot, Abaji Pump Station, Izom Pump Station, Minna Depot, Suleja Depot,

Sarkin Pawa Pump Station, Zaria Pump Station, Kano Depot, Gusau Depot. Five stations make

up of Gombe depot which includes: Jos Depot, Gombe Depot, Yola Depot, Biu Pump Station,

and Maiduguri Depot. The Warri depot comprises of seven depots as well namely Warri depot

Warri, Warri jetty, Benin depot, Auchi pump station, Abudu pump station, Lokoja pump station

and the Escravos Terminal. The Mosimi depot comprises Mosimi depot, Atlas cove jetty &

depot, Satellite (Ejigbo Lagos) depot, Ibadan depot, Ilorin depot and Ore depot. The NNPC

Satellite depot, which is located in Ejigbo, Oshodi /Isolo local government area of Lagos state,

was commissioned in 1976. Being one of the depots under the Mosimi operational area, it

receives its petroleum product from Atlas Cove Jetty in Marine island, Lagos State.

1.5 Objectives of the Report

To show the extent of training and provide a concise, succinct and detailed description of

what was learnt during SIWES.

This report provides information about the scientific and engineering principles adopted

by personnels at Satellite depot in the reception, proper storage and sales of product.
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To paint a picture of the involvement of HSE department in the smooth running of

Satellite depot through thorough description of on job activities couple with clear and illustrative

diagrams.

It describes the practices adopted by the HSE department in maintaining the occupational

safety and good health status of workers, injury and incident prevention and a safe environment.

It also recommends technological practices that could be adopted and measures that

should be taken for better result.

1.6 Justification for the Study

Chemical engineering is an extensive field of engineering that deals with the processing

of raw materials to finished and semi-finished goods, the c

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CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Health safety and Environment (HSE)

HSE also known as SHE is a discipline and specialty that studies and implements

practical aspects of environmental protection and safety work. In simple terms it is what

organizations must do to make sure that their activities do not cause harm to anyone.

From a Health & Safety standpoint, it involves creating organized efforts and procedures

for identifying workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and

substances. It also includes training of personnels in accident prevention, accident response

emergency preparedness, and use of protective clothing and equipment.

From an environmental standpoint, it involves creating a systematic approach to

complying with environmental regulations, such as managing waste or air emissions all the way

to helping site’s reduce the company carbon’s content.

2.2 Overview of Health Safety & Environment

The evolution of Health Safety & Environment can be dated back to 1985 when the

Chemical industry introduced the first formal EHS management approach as a reaction to several

catastrophic accidents (like the Sevesto disaster of July 1976 and the Bhopal disaster of

December 1984).

Successful HSE programs also include measures to address ergonomics, air quality, and

other aspects of workplace safety that could affect the health and wellbeing of employees and the

overall community.
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HSE goes by a number of acronyms which may exclude environment or include security

and quality depending on the nature of enterprise or its geographical location. Some of the

acronyms include:

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

Work Health and Safety (WHS)

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE)

Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (QHSSE) etc.

Regulatory requirements play an important role in HSE discipline and HSE manager

must identify and understand relevant HSE regulations, the implications of which must be

communicated to executive management so the company can implement suitable measures.

Organizations based in the United States are subject to HSE regulations in the Code of

Federation Regulations, particularly CFR 29,40, AND 49.

Some of the regulatory agencies, national legislations and public organizations that

oversees Occupational safety and health in the United States includes:

Federal / international

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), etc.

State

Safety & Health council of North Carolina, Massachusetts Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, etc.
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2.3 HSE Policy

HSE is committed to ensuring the following:

o Meeting and exceeding customer’s HSE requirements and expectations;

o Good Health & Safety of Employees, contractual workers while safeguarding material

and equipment from damage;

o Environment protection by minimizing pollution and optimizing the use of natural

resources;

o Compliance of all safety and regulatory requirements;

o Continual improvement of HSE performance through team work, innovation, skill and

competence;

o Spreading awareness of HSE among employees, contractors and interested parties

2.4 HSE Objectives

The objectives are:

o Operations without incidents and accidents;

o The assurance of safe working conditions in order to reduce the level of professional

diseases, personal traumatism and loss of time caused by it.

o Strike to reduce the probability of the accidents which have the potential to cause injury,

disablement, loss of life & property.

o Take measure to minimize health impairment of people involved inloading as well as

unloading of PMS.

o Taking measures to inspect the unsafe working conditions.

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o The timely identification and estimation of industrial dangers and risks for the

company employees and the inhabitants within areas of company’s activities, decreasing

possibilities of their occurrence and preventing any losses.

o To minimize degradation of the general environment in & around the location, by

controlling probable situations which have the potential to adversely affect the

environment.

o To minimize undue wastage of the material resources including water and other

Solvents, which help in preventing environment pollution.

o To educate the employees so that they can be aware of their own safety, health & well-

being as well as their responsibility towards the environment.

o To train, retrain & thereby motivate the employees so that they are able to identify &

eliminate prevailing unsafe practices as well as being able to improve, upgrade &

mention their workplace free of unsafe action & condition. Easing possibilities of their

occurrence and preventing any losses.

o The betterment of environment & care for nature to reduce the effects of construction

wastes, contaminants dumping.

2.5 The Nigerian Petroleum Industry

Petroleum is no doubt a predominant source of Nigeria's revenue and foreign exchange

earner. The petroleum industry in Nigeria is divided into two main segments; the upstream and

the downstream sectors. The upstream refers to activities such as exploration, production and

delivery to an export terminal of crude oil or gas. The downstream on the other hand

encompasses activities like loading of crude oil at the terminal and its user especially

transportation, supply trading, refining distribution and marketing of petroleum.

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Previous studies on the Nigeria economy in the last decade reveal that the petroleum

industry has been playing a dominant role and occupies a strategic position in the economic

development of Nigeria. This is evidenced by the total oil revenue generated into the Federation

Account from 2000 to 2009 which amounted to N34.2 trillion while non-oil was N7.3 trillion,

representing 82.36% and 17.64% respectively (Alarape et al, 2017). The mean value of oil

revenue for the 10year period is N3.42 trillion compared to non-oil revenue at N732.2 billion.

Further evidence was ten year’s average crude oil and condensates production of 832,866,752.1

barrels from 2000 to 2009. The importance of crude oil to the economic development of Nigeria

cannot be over emphasized, Nigeria gained an extra $390 billion in oil-related fiscal revenue

between 1971 and 2005.

2.6 Key Participants in the Nigeria Petroleum Industry

Taking a thorough observation of the activities in the petroleum industry over the past

thirty years, one can observe the existence of four major players in Nigeria petroleum industry.

They include Government, NNPC, Oil Marketers, and Petroleum Inspectorate

2.6.1 Government

Acts in capacity of administrative facts, which is often carried out through the face of

law.

2.6.2 NNPC

The NNPC itself also serves as the next major player through its joint venture

Organization, National Petroleum Industry Management Service (NAPIMS). This arm of the

corporation is responsible for monitoring and vetting all operator’s programmes, budgets,

designs studies, contractors etc. NAPIMS is also responsible for providing government’s share of
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the funds required for executing the joint venture operations. The NNPC carries out most of its

distribution and marketing activities through its newly emerged subsidiary the pipelines and

products marketing company (PPMC). Its mission is to ensure adequate and secure supply of

petroleum product to the domestic market at low operating cost, provide excellent customers

service by effectively transporting crude oil to the refineries. Also, moving petroleum product

to the existing and future markets through a network of pipelines and depots, costal ward, rail

transportation, and to market special product competitively in the domestic and international

market.

The company carries out most of its activities around in different parts of the nation

through its area offices depots and pump stations. PPMC performs its activities through five-area

offices, which are located in Port Harcourt, Warri, Mosimi, Kaduna and Gombe. The Port

Harcourt area office has seven depots under its jurisdiction namely: Port Harcourt depot, Enugu

depot, Markudi depot, Calabar depot, Okirika Jetty, Bonny Export Terminal, and Aba depot. The

Kaduna depot comprises nine depots which are Kaduna Depot, Abaji Pump Station, Izom Pump

Station, Minna Depot, Suleja Depot, Sarkin Pawa Pump Station, Zaria Pump Station, Kano

Depot, Gusau Depot. Five stations make up of Gombe depot which includes: Jos Depot, Gombe

Depot, Yola Depot, Biu Pump Station, and Maiduguri Depot. The Warri depot comprises of

seven depots as well namely Warri depot Warri, Warri jetty, Benin depot, Auchi pump station,

Abudu pump station, Lokoja pump station and the Escravos Terminal. The Mosimi depot

comprises Mosimi depot, Atlas cove jetty & depot, Satellite (Ejigbo Lagos) depot, Ibadan depot,

Ilorin depot and Ore depot. The NNPC Lagos Satellite depot, which is located in Oshodi / isolo

local government area of Lagos state, was commissioned in 1976. Being one of the depots under

the Mosimi operational area, it receives its petroleum product from Atlas Cove jetty in Marine
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Island, Lagos State. NNPC major and independent marketers’ peddlers and the directorate of

petroleum resources carry out its marketing operation at the depot. The depot receives petroleum

product namely PMS petrol, DPK kerosene, and AGO diesel. These products are brought by the

marketers and taken to their various petrol stations or outlets for further production process or

purchase by final consumers (wiki 2014).

2.6.3 Oil Marketers

The set of players who are directly responsible for managing our petroleum resources are

the oil companies who have been appointed operators of the joint ventures. They are responsible

for drawing up plans; work program and budgets, as well as for getting the work done either

directly or through contractors and their sub-contractors. In other words, the operators are

responsible for meeting the target and programme agreed upon between themselves and NNPC.

The independent marketers and also major marketers (mobile, oando, conoil, forte oil etc), the

transporters, dealers could be added to this group.

2.6.4 Petroleum Inspectorate

The petroleum inspectorate now renamed as the department of petroleum resources

(DPR) is the fourth agent in the management of the nation’s petroleum resources. In the first

quarter of every year, every company searching for or producing crude oil in Nigeria

mandatorily submits to the DPR its work programme for the year, which the company must

defend before experts of the DPR. Such programmes are specially scrutinized for the quality of

the operator’s oil field management and gas utilization programmes. Manpower training and

development is a statutory responsibility, which also come under the supervisor of the petroleum

inspectorate.
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2.7 Administrative Management and Organization of PPMC

PPMC at the level of the depot is made up of various departments with each department

headed by an administrative head. There is the maintenance department headed by the

superintendent Maintenance officer, the Health Safety & Environment department headed by

safety superintendent, the operations, account, sales administration and security department each

with its head. PPMC is structured to operate under a Board of Directors headed by a non-

executive Chairman. The Company affair is in itself daily managed by a Chief Executive Officer

and the Managing Director who is assisted by four Executive Directors namely:

 Executive Director Operations

 Executive Director Services,

 Executive Director Commercial and

 Executive Director Finance and Accounts

The powers and duties of each officer and employer as the case may be, the procedure

followed in the decision making process, channels of supervision and accountability of functions

are as described below.

CEO, NPPC

All work connected with the general administration of the depot. Ensuring (Board of

Directors) BOD meetings every quarter, timely completion of annual financial accounts and

audits, compliance of all statutory requirements. All related to activities for revival of the depot.

Coordination activities with the Ministry concerned with regard to revival and other general

administration.
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Chairman Managing Director

The Chairman and Managing Director is the Chief Executive of the Corporation and is

responsible to the Board of Directors. He is responsible for all the activities of the Corporation

including personnel, financial and commercial management, and corporate planning and project

implementation. He is responsible for the effectiveness of the organization in the pursuit of the

Company’s goals and objectives and in particular for the performance and supervision of the

technical, administrative and day-to-day operations of the Company.

Director (Operations)

Director (Operations) is a member of Board of Directors and reports to Chairman and

Managing Director. He assists the CMD in all technical matters, in procurement of providing

support to the depots for efficient operations, forestry raw material and other major inputs,

setting technical parameters and monitoring the operations against the set norms, closely inter-

acting with the Chief Executives of the depot on all technical matters including innovation in

achieving optimal capacity utilization, quality improvement equipment balancing,

modernization, etc.

Director (Finance)

Director (Finance) is a member of the Board of Directors and reports to the Chairman and

Managing Director (CMD). He advises the CMD and the Board of Directors (BOD) on all

important financial matters having a bearing on the affairs of the Company. He is required to

render advice on matters pertaining to formulation of sound policy relating to finance and

accounts and to direct, coordinate and implement financial policies and financial and accounts

management systems so as to achieve effective and efficient mobilization, deployment and

utilization of financial resources towards fulfillment of the short-term and long-term goals and
 14

objectives of the Company. His principal responsibility is to exercise control over the financial

and accounting matters of the company and to conduct the affairs of the company, ensuring

optimum utilization of resources. He acts as principal Advisor of the company in all matters

pertaining to finance and accounts.

Head of Marketing

Head of Marketing reports to Chairman-cum-Managing Director. He is a member of the

Top Management team. He is responsible for all matters relating to Marketing operations,

domestic sales and exports of the production output of HPC’s materials and of subsidiary

companies, if called upon to do so (presently marketing of newsprint is directly undertaken by

HNL). He is expected to provide the Board with well-considered and mature inputs on

marketing policies and practices, keeping in view the industry norms and practices. He is

responsible for conceiving and executing marketing strategies and activities for ensuring

adherence to the medium term and long term growth and profitability projections of HPC.

The powers exercised by Head of Marketing are as per “Delegation of Powers” of

Director (Marketing) in vogue from time to time.

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The Departments.

FIG 2:1 An organizational chart showing the departments in the depot and its
Heads.
The various departments in operation in a depot including their duties and mode of

operation are listed below:

 Fire\Safety Department

 Maintenance Department

 Administration Department

 Accounts Department

 Sales Department

 Operations Department which includes stock, Laboratory, Loaders and Product

 Reception (PRA) subunit.

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Fire\Safety

This section ensures that all safety regulations are observed in the depot. It maintains

standard firefighting equipment for use in the depot and its environs. The department carries out

regular inspections of trucks to ensure that they adhere strictly to safety to safety precautions by

carrying fire extinguishers, spare tires; observation of color code and driver’s safety wears before

gaining entry into the loading gantry or island.

It is mandatory that all staff of NPDC including the SIWES and I.T students doing their

training undergo a compulsory HSE training headed by the HSE. This is in accordance to the

improvement efforts and initiatives being made in order to promote the health and safety of her

employees, assets and the public as well as the environment.

Maintenance

The department is responsible for all repairs and maintenance of all depot operational

equipment to ensure smooth continuity in operations. This department is responsible for all the

engineering matters in the depot, from servicing of generators to installation and troubleshooting

of mechanical equipment. The maintenance department as earlier stated is responsible for the

proper running of all equipment in the depot to make sure that it functions optimally.

This means that repairs and installation of all mechanical equipment in the depot is

performed by them. Equipment’s that were frequently repaired includes the Meters for loading

arms, Loading Pumps, Industrial Generators, Valves, Loading arms, Fractured Pipelines Product

Storage tanks, Generating Sets, Pump Supply Cubicles etc.

Administration

This section is in charge of the welfare of the staff. They are also in charge of engaging

and disengaging of staff and SIWES. They see to the protection of life and property/security.
 17

They host meetings and do other activities like staff appraisal, enlightens campaign and Human

Resources.

Accounts

They receive the payment for the petroleum products in form of bank drafts, keep record

of all transaction taking place in the depot, sees to the collection and sees to the payment of

internally generated funds for the day to day running of the depot.

Sales

They prepare the monthly petroleum product loading program, issue loading meter tickets

to all marketers, prepare daily loading batch/report, prepare daily meter tickets, dispatch loaded

meter tickets, documentation of leftover meter tickets and reconcile daily loading report from

other department.

Operations

The operation department in Lagos satellite depot Ejigbo is divided into four segments

namely;

Stock

Laboratory

Loaders

Product Reception Area (P.R.A)

Stock

The Nigerian accounting board (NAB) in the statement of accounting standards defines

stock as items of value held for use or sale by an enterprise. In addition, stocktaking exercise is a

process that enables the determination of the quantity and quality of product held in the depot at

any reference time. The main process in stock taking exercise is the fiscalisation and
 18

defiscalization of product tanks at the stable state, i.e. stock is static (Engr. Silas H.B 2016). The

stock department accounts for the sales, reception of product and the dewatering of the tanks

when water is received in to the depot. The calculations are done in liters and cubic meters. The

stock department and P.R.A are expected to work hand in hand.

Laboratory

The lab attendant also known as, depot chemist is assigned to assist in quality control of

the product in order to do this he ensures that the products are tested before sales on a daily basis

and the test includes;

o Flash point test

o Color test

o Distillation test

o Temperature test

o Density test

In the depot, daily sampling and analysis of white petroleum products like PMS is carried

out before sales of the product. This is done solely to know if such petroleum products are within

required specifications after which the analysis of this petroleum products are dispatched to the

different sections of the departments of the depot that need it for the commencement of their own

activities. Certificate of petroleum products quality are issued out to customers that guarantee the

product is within required specifications.

Loaders

As their name implies they control all the loading operations in the depot and due to this

fact their office is not farther than 50M apart, to the loading gantry. With the use of power driven

machinery like pumps, and loading arms their work is done easily and faster. Provided that that
 19

the meters are working well, each of the loaders can load up to 35-50 trucks a day in as much as

the product capacity for sale is much, and mind you, each truck minimum capacity is not lower

than 33000 liters. Their daily routine is to load trucks, and switch on the right pump for use and

they might be in the loading gantry for up to 8 hours. If they notice any fault in the meters being

used, i.e. giving out more/less product, they notify the O.P.S who tend to order the joint effort of

the maintenance/operation department for calibration of the faulty meter under the supervision of

the fireman, and these calibration is done using a meter prover.

CALIBRATION OF METER/ METER CALIBRATION

This is the act of correcting the errors of particular meter/meters. In order to achieve

these, the meter has to be calibrated severally using the meter prover and setting it manually until

it attains the allowable/desirable limit.

Also the loaders also account for the sales of product alongside the stock assistants.

P.R.A (Product Reception Area)

The term P.R.A is an abbreviation for the word product reception area, and the P.R.A

subsection consist of tank farm/control room operator. In Lagos satellite depot currently as at the

day of this article there are four (4) shift operators and a daily operator. And these operators’

daily routine include reception of product from pipeline, tank to tank transfer, lining up of tanks

for sales of product, dewatering, decanting, re-injection, transmitting of radio messages to

control center and preparing of stock report for each day’s operation, just to mention a few.
 20

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

The last two chapters dealt with the aim of the study, the objectives of the study and the

review of available relevant literature on HSE. The primary role of HSE department speaking of

a depot is to prevent a fire outbreak and reduces the chances of a fire incident. That is why safety

personals are popularly referred to as firemen. The onus of maintaining the occupational health

and safety of workers and customers, prevention of accidents and lost time injury, environmental

hazard prevention and control, avoidance of gross oil and chemical spillage and the possible

control in the event of one, prevention of harmful gas emission and the general coordination and

supervision of other field workers also lies on them. These underlines the fact that much role is

been given to the safety department and much is expected in the discharge of their duties

everywhere at all times.

This chapter of the report contains explicit step by step procedure of the methods and

principles used by the HSE department in achieving the stated objectives, the materials used in

carrying out their duties and the description of such materials. It is a blue-print or framework for

the study and hence answers the questions of what the HSE does, how they do it, which material

they so employ in doing it and the frequency of the activity where appropriate.

Of importance is the intention that after careful study of this body of report, considerable

justice would have been done in areas highlighted above such that the work and its results are

reproducible using the description provided and anybody else would be able to carry out the

same thing, with the same effect.

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3.2 Work done & Experience Gained

During my compulsory industrial training programme under SIWES undertaken at

PPMC, I was attached to the HSE department, where I learned the duties of a HSE officer in a

loading depot together with various methods and materials used in discharging the duties. The

core relevance of the HSE department in a depot can be summarized as:

 Risk management

 Hazard prevention and control

 Daily supervision and coordination of loading activities

 Issuance of work permit

3.3 Risk Management

Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse

health effect if exposed to a hazard. A risk is also the chance or likelihood, high or low, that any

hazard will actually cause somebody harm. Risk does not only apply to persons and may also

apply to situations with property or equipment loss, or harmful effects on the environment.

There are various sources or causes of risk in loading depot and by extension an

engineering workplace but careful observation made it possible to identify the following 10

activities as high risk and therefore requiring high level of HSE consideration and evaluation

(CNOOC hsehandbook) . They are

i. Equipment maintenance and operation

ii. Electrical operation

iii. Hot work

iv. Confined space entry operation

v. Excavation operation
 22

vi. Lifting operation

vii. Working at heights

viii. Hazardous materials handling

ix. Transportation operation

x. Simultaneous operation

Since it is the work of HSE department to oversee the occupational safety of other field

workers and provide a working environment with low risk and incident free casualties,

comprehensive risk management and assessment practices are therefore put in place to identify,

evaluate and determine the means of reducing risk to an acceptable level across a wide range of

factors to protect people, the environment, properties, assets and to avoid loss.

The HSE department at the Satellite depot has procedures and structure put in place to

systematically identify the hazard and effects that may arises from our activities and material that

are used or encountered in them. The scope of the risk management process put in place which

ranges from design through fabrication to installation, practices and operation includes:

 Making sure that all field worker uses personal protective equipment (PPE)

 Training of field workers and contractors, safety induction and creation of awareness

 Conduction of job safety analysis before embarking on field operation

Use of Personal Protective Equipment by all Field Workers

Personal protective equipment are such equipment that are being worn by field workers

to protect them from exposure against various kinds of risks and hazards. PPE themselves do not

eliminate accidents or the hazard, but protect against the effects there of. The best of engineering

provisions at one time or other can fail, hence the use of PPE is a must. PPE are available for

protection of various parts of body against each type of risk. PPE should be usable, reliable,
 23

economical and maintainable in a clean hygienic condition. It should be borne in mind that PPE

add to the cost of production. If these are not used appropriately, it would affect its availability,

hence PPE at all times must

o Able in good condition and fit for purpose.

o be provided by the hauler for all drivers whilst inside the site.

o be regularly checked and cleaned or replaced whenever their function to protect

personnel cannot be judged as fit for purpose anymore.

As the significance of PPE in risk management and accident prevention is in itself

evident,on arrival in the work place (field, workshop or laboratory) all field operators and any

other related persons must be properly dressed in their personal protective equipment gear (or

laboratory gear for those in the laboratory). This is in strict obedience and compliance to the

HSE regulatory demands.

Example of PPE of common use in an engineering workplace includes but are not

limited to the following :

 Goggles

 face mask

 apron/coverall

 Gloves

 safety boots

 helmet
 24

safety glasses/goggles

The safety glasses are a form of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the

eyes and the area surrounding the eyes in order to prevent particles, water or chemicals from

splashing into the eye.

FIG 3:1 Safety Glasses/Goggles

Safety Helmets

Safety helmets are also known as hard hats. These are protective gears worn on the head

to protect it from injuries, which could result from a hard fall, equipment falling from above etc.

The safety helmet must also have a strap to ensure the helmet is properly strapped to the head of

the individual wearing it.

 25

FIG 3:2 Safety Helmet

safety boots

This is also called rain boots as it is also worn as a protective foot wear against rain.

There are different types depending on the sole of the boots; generally, it is worn to protect the

feet and ankle during operations or working hours from injuries in case of any.

FIG 3:3 Safety Boot

Gloves

Gloves protect, comfort and cushion the hands against heat or cold and injuries by

friction, abrasion or chemicals and disease. It also serves as a guard (for what a bare hand cannot

do).
 26

FIG 3:4 Gloves

coverall

Coveralls are most often used as protective clothing over “street” clothes at work, it

covers every part of the body except the head, hands and feet. It is not fitted to the body to ensure

comfort and easy movement around the work area.

FIG 3:5 Coverall

 27

Safety belt

All field operators must use safety belts and shoulder restraints (if available) whenever

they operate a vehicle on company business. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all

passengers’ seat belts are buckled properly both the passenger in the front seat and those in the

rear seats. Applicable for tanker driver especially.

FIG 3:6 Safety Belts

Ear Muffs

The earmuffs consist of rigid cups with soft plastic cushion that seal around the ears to

reduce noise. They are a popular choice in hearing protection due to their ease of use and greater

comfort. They are available in headband, neckband, helmet attachable and folding models to

meet the needs in most common applications.

FIG 3:7 Ear Muffs

 28

There are other examples of Personal Protective Equipment which are used for special

purposes like firefighting, chemical handling etc which have not been metioned above. Mention

would be made of them where appropriate in the later part of this chapter.

Table 3.1 A Table Body Parts and the Personal Protective Equipment Used for
Covering Them.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
BODY PARTS
EQUIPMENT

EYES SAFETY GLASSES,SAFETY

GOOGLES

HEAD SAFETY HELMET

FEET SAFETY BOOT(with metatarsals

protection)

HANDS AND ARMS SAFETY GLOVES

BODIES COVERALL

HEARING EARMUFFS,EARPLUGS
 29

Employee Training, safety Induction and Awareness Creation

SAFETY BEGINS

WITH YOU AND ME

FIG 3:8 Figure Representing Safety Awareness

HSE department creates awareness and training programs depending on each individual’s

activities and worksite environment and makes sure that everyone undergoes an HSEQ

introduction to the company and a site specific induction. As part of her effort to ensure safety

and create socio cultural awareness amongst field workers, contractors and other stakeholders at

the satellite depot, the HSE department in conjunction with the health officials from the depot

clinic does not only stage a fortnight safety talk but also sets specific HOUSE RULES which

must be complied with at all worksites, in an office, fabrication yard and workshop.

Some of the HOUSE RULES are:

 Always follow safety sign information

 Keep work sites clean, tidy and obstruction free

 Use the right tool in the right way for the job

 Use the correct manual handling technique if manual handling cannot be avoided

 Hold the handrail on stairs, walk, do not run

 Always plan every lifting operation

 Never cross safety barriers or enter prohibited areas

 When risk assessing task plans, always consider the environmental conditions and

their effects
 30

 Always wear vehicle seat belts and never use a hand held mobile phone when

driving

 Wear and maintain the correct PPE

A question to address is that of how the department sees to the safety of first timers or

visitors to the company especially when these visitors are neither workers or contractors. In this

category belongs IT student and other short term visitors. The answer isn’t far-fetched in the

sense that comprehensive safety induction policy is made available to such person or group of

people at their own convenience. The induction may include some of these issues:

 Organization at the worksite-roles and responsibilities

 The Emergency Plan and its location, alarms, and responses

 Overview of work areas, “no-go” areas and general traffic areas

 Muster points and escape routes

 Survival craft and equipment

 Man overboard actions

 Firefighting equipment

 First aid treatment and location of equipment

 Safety signs and their meaning – PPE areas, first aid, warnings etc

 Identification of safety representatives

 Review of safety notice board

 Smoking rules and smoking/no smoking areas

 Worksite waste disposal and segregation procedure

 31

 Worksite security procedures

 HSE Risk Assessment system at the site

 Permit to work system and type of work which requires a permit

 Hazardous areas and precautionary measures

 Confined space working

 Handling of dangerous

 Protective clothing, equipment and what you must use in your job

 Reporting of incidents, damage and injuries

 Reporting of HSEQ observations

 Project/location specific information

Conduction of Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a way of studying a job in order to identify the hazards or

potential accidents associated with each step of the job and to develop solutions that will

eliminate, nullify or prevent such hazards. A JSA can help identify and eliminate potential

accident causes. It is the responsibility of operations to develop and maintain JSA lists.

JSA Steps

There are four steps to doing a JSA:

1. Select the job to be analyzed.

2. Break the job down into steps.

3. Identify the hazards or potential accidents that could happen.

4. Develop measures to eliminate hazards.

Select the job to analyze

 32

There are many jobs and job positions that can be hazardous to perform. To narrow the

list of those that require a JSA, an employee should consider the following items to determine

which to do and in what order:

Job accident frequency – jobs that have a history of accidents are good candidates for a

JSA. It is a good assumption that if a job has produced many accidents in the past five years, it is

going to continue to do so.

Job injury severity – jobs that have provided serious injuries are potential JSA

candidates.

Potential injury severity – some jobs have no injury history but have the potential to

produce severe or crippling injuries or death. Newly established jobs – changes in tools and

equipment or new machinery create new hazards, and as such are natural candidates for a JSA.

The JSA will document the hazards and safe procedures associated with the operation

hopefully preventing an accident.

Break the job down into steps

The major reason for breaking the job down into steps is so that each step can be

examined for hazards and the potential for accidents. It permits the analysis to be done

systematically, one step at a time; in the order the job is done. Each step in the job process tells

generally what must be done. (Use active verbs – remove, position, tighten, etc.). The details are

omitted. Hazards are not listed in this process, nor are any safety precautions.

Identify the hazards (Potential Accidents)

FOLLOW SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

AND ACCIDENTS WILL BE MORE

 33

FIG 3:9 Figure representing a Safety Instruction

Once the job is broken down into steps, each step is studied for hazards or potential

accidents. The job is to identify all the hazards, whether they are part of the job environment or

surroundings, or one of the worker’s own doing. Record those hazards that are present or may

occur as the job is performed. One of the best ways to identify job hazards is to observe the jobs

as they are done.

Employees should ask questions similar to these as the task is being observed (this is a

partial list, each situation may suggest others):

 Could the worker be struck or make contact with anything?

 Could the worker strike something or fall in any way?

 Could an exposure or overexposure occur to any condition such as gas, heat, fumes,

etc.?

 Could a strain or overexertion occur?

Develop measures to eliminate hazards

Once all the known or observed hazards are noted, a solution should be developed for

each hazard. Solutions may take any one of the following forms:

1. Job procedure solution – spell out exactly what workers are to do to accomplish the task

safely.

2. Job environment solution – change some aspect of the environment to make the job safer.

3. Radical solution – a combination of the two above, but an entirely new way to do the job.
 34

4. Reduced frequency solution – find a way to reduce the amount of repair, cleanup, wear, etc.,

to reduce the amount of times the task is done.

3.4 Hazard prevention and control

A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something

or someone. Workplace hazard can come from a wide range of sources including substance

abuse, equipment mishandling, process and even practice e.t.c.

Notable examples of hazards in the oil and gas sectors includes but not limited to:

 Fire and explosion

 Environmental pollution

 Loss of stability/Loss of station

 Structural failure

 Health challenges among field workers, indigenous and tribal people

 Oil and chemical spillage

HSE main challenge is eliminating the major hazard incident that could result in fatal

damage, death or serious injury to lives and property. Piper Alpha, macondo and Bhopal disaster

are examples

In a depot, where highly combustible substances as PMS, AGO, DPK are being stored for

an extended period, the chances of fire incident and explosion are not only high but remains the

most potent threat to lives and property at all times. The focus of the next section is therefore fire

hazards, prevention and control itself.

Fire incident, prevention and control

 35

Fire remains a threat to the loading island and property, particularly as we use a number

of flammable chemicals; all big fires are initially small and are best prevented if detected &

extinguished in the incipient stage. Hence one should be alert about fire and know how to

extinguish it.

A fire explosion takes places if a flammable material gets heated up to its ignition point in the

presence of air. The fire further propagates due to the chain reaction taking place between the

molecules of the fuel & oxygen. The energy released as a result of the chemical reaction is in the

form of heat, light and flames. Thus, a fire will start if all the three elements Heat, Fuel and

Oxygen come together in right proportions. The proponents of explosion, heat; oxygen and fuel

are best described as the three edges of a triangle and this illustration is described as fire triangle.

FUEL

CHEMICAL

REACTION

AIR HEAT

FIG 3:10 Fire Triangle

 36

Fire can be prevented if the three sides of fire triangle are never allowed to meet together.

A fire will continue to burn if the chain reaction is also present. This is known as tetrahedron of

fire.

Classes of Fire

Fires are classified into six categories:

CLASS A: Combustible material: caused by flammable solids, such as wood, paper, and fabric

CLASS B: Flammable liquids: such as petrol, turpentine or methane

CLASS C: Flammable gases: like hydrogen, butane or methane

CLASS D: Combustible metals: such as magnesium, aluminum or Potassium

CLASS E: Electrical fires: panel, motors, cable etc.

CLASS F: Cooking oils: chip-pan fire

Fire Prevention and control

The measures adopted to prevent the outbreak of fire are similar to those used in risk

management (see 3.2.1) and was discussed to detail earlier on.

Generally, an average field worker has undergone training and awareness programmes at

a point in time and knows the basic measure to take just so there is an explosion. In the event of

fire outbreak, individuals are advised to locate the nearest fire alarm, sound the alarm so that

people could evacuate the environment while the firemen see to extinguishing the fire.

Fire Safety Equipment

Fire safety equipment will be discussed under two categories which are:
 37

 Fire extinguishing agents

 Firefighting machines

 Fire Extinguishing agents

There are five main fire extinguishing agents and each or combination of these are

appropriate for extinguishing different classes of fire in different environment. The fire

extinguishers (extinguishing agents) are:

 Water

 Foam

 C02

 Dry chemical powder

 Wet chemical powder

 38

FIG 3:11 A Figure showing the Different Classes of Fire and its Extinguishing Agent

Water

We can use water to extinguish fires of class A. water extinguishes a fire by cooling. Water spray

gives better cooling; water jet is used to extinguish fire from a distance.

Foam

to extinguish fires of class b i.e. Fires in solvent/chemicals which are lighter than water. Foam

being lighter, floats on solvent surface and extinguishes the fire by cooling and smothering.

Foams are of two kind’s chemicals foam & mechanical foam. Chemical foam is produced by the

reaction of two chemicals solutions. Mechanical foam is produced by mechanical impact on a

solution of foam compound in water

 39

FIG 3:12 Foam Compound

CO2

It is used to extinguish fires of class E, electrical fires. It may also be used to extinguish class B

fires in containers

DCP

Dry chemical powder extinguishes fires of class A, D & E. it extinguishes by

blanketing/smothering action.

WCP

Wet chemical powder extinguishes fires of class A& F

Firefighting Machinery

These are not really extinguishing agents but rather assemblage of machines and facilities

used at the satellite depot in the event of fire incident. Examples are
 40

 Fire hoses

 Fire buckets

 Fire blanket

 Sand box

 Fire truck

 First Aid kits

 Fire hydrant

 Ground Monitor

 Booster pump

 Storage Tank

Fire hoses

The fire hose reel lets out a powerful stream of water that extinguishes large fires. The

hose usually comes in a fire hose reel, which holds 30metres of tubing. This makes the hose easy

to unravel so a fire can be fought quickly. Fire brigades can also attach different nozzles to the

end of the hose to fight a variety of fire situations.

A fire hose is one of the standard types of firefighting equipment, and it is effective

against even the largest fires.

 41

FIG 3:13 Fire hose

Fire Buckets

This is the simplest piece of firefighting equipment, but still serves a purpose. The

standard red bucket has the word ‘Fire’ written on it and is made of metal or plastic

It can also be filled with water, sand or a flame smothering powder like flamezorb. To

use, dump the bucket over the fire and keep repeating the process until the fire is out.

FIG 3:14 Fire Bucket

Sand Box

This is another of the simple firefighting equipment. It is a metallic container which

comes in different shapes and sizes. It serves as a storage facility for sand at the site of a possible

fire outbreak and used for extinguishing small fires and sparks.
 42

FIG 3:15 . Sand Box

Fire blanket

A fire blanket is a safety device designed to extinguish incipient(starting) fires. It consists

of a sheet of a fire-retardant material which is placed over a fire in order to smother it.

FIG 3:16 First Blanket

Fire truck

A fire truck is truck designed primarily for firefighting operations. The primarily purpose

of a fire engine include transporting firefighters to an incident scene, providing water with which

to fight a fire, and carrying other equipment needed by firefighters. A typical modern fire truck

will carry tools for a wide range of firefighting tasks, with common equipment including a pump,
 43

a water tank, foam tank hoses, ground ladders, hand tools, self-contained breathing appliances

and first aid kits.

FIG 3:17 Fire Truck

First Aid kits

First aid kits are essential in the aftermath of a fire. Having adequate first aid measures on

hand will help with minor injuries sustained during a fire

 44

FIG 3:18 First Aid Kits

Fire hydrant

A hydrant is an outlet from a fluid main often consisting of an upright pipe with a valve

attached from which fluid (e.g. water or fuel) can be tapped. A Fire hydrant, also called a

fireplug, fire pump is a connection point which firefighters can tap into a water supply.

FIG 3:19 Fire Hydrant

 45

Ground Monitor

A ground monitor hydrant is a safety device that directs spray of water, or other

firefighting fluid towards the Hazard. It can be turned on and left so that personnel can leave the

area of immediate danger while the hydrant continues to hose the fire, chemical spill, or other

dangerous situation.

Booster pump

A booster pump is a machine which will increase the pressure of a fluid. The booster

pump is operated when wetting is done so as to increase the pressure of water used for wetting

the loading island.

FIG 3:20 Booster Pump

Water

Globally, the oil and gas industry use far less water than agriculture or power generation,

though it can be a significant use of water at the local level. Water is essential in providing

energy, just as energy is needed to provide water.

 46

Water is the most essential types of fire attacking agent as such fire fighters should easily

locate fire hydrants and have the best access to available water supplies. Firemen at PPMC

Satellite depot uses water for:

Wetting of the loading island to reduce dust, heat and wash away the PMS on the floor on a daily

basis.

Fire fighting in the event of any fire outbreak

Source of water

The source of water at PPMC Satellite depot, Ejigbo, Lagos state is underground Bore

hole. Water from the borehole is being pumped out by a pumping machine and a network of

valves carries it to the storage tank where its being stored before use.

Storage Tank

The Satellite depot has a large cylindrical tank use for the storage of water for immediate

and future use. The tank is about about 15m high and has a large circumference.

FIG 3:21 Storage Tank

 47

Health hazards, Prevention and Control

There had been discussion about the various occupational risks and hazards that besets a

field worker in the depot (and other engineering workplace) and how the HSE department seek

to limit the risk or tackle the resulting incident in the event of one. These are part of on job duties

of the HSE personnel but not however limited to that.

The firemen in conjunction with the health arm of the Satellite depot also seeks to the

Health and general wellbeing of field workers. The details of common health challenges,

possible cause, prevention and control measure shall be discussed onward.

Health challenges

Truck loading and ullage, product reception, early morning wetting of the loading island

and a round the clock safety patrol are few such operations taking place in depot and exposes the

field workers to extreme cold, windy and wet weather conditions, dust and direct exposure to

sunrays.

Most diseases caused by work do not kill, but they can involve years of pain and

suffering for those affected and their family members. As well as the human cost, there are

potential production costs from sickness-related absences, staff turnover and, in extreme cases,

dealing with medical emergencies and compensation claims.

Lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, nutritional deficiencies

and physical inactivity of some field workers also interact with workplace hazards and their

combined effects increase health risks to workers. However, the early detection and appropriate

treatment of incident diseases will reduce mortality and lower the frequency and extent of

residual disability from many occupational and work-related diseases.

 48

Some of the challenges most relevant to the health and well-being of workers especially

major field players are:

o Cold

o Sore throat

o Fever and malaria

o General body pain

o Skin abnormalities and infection

o Stress and depression

o Cardiovascular diseases

o Chronic respiratory infection

o Digestive difficulties

o Diabetes

o Eye infection

Prevention and control

The prevention and control of health challenges is not a one body job. Every stakeholder

has its role to play in maintaining his health and wellbeing. The roles of each parastatals are

discussed below. The HSE Officers and Health Practitioners :

o Conduct health impact assessment;

o Conduct health risk assessment and planning;

o Public health interference and promotion of good health;

o Industrial hygiene and control of workforce exposure;

o Health reporting and record management

o Organize timely safety talk

 49

o Training of employees

o Employees

o Compliance with safety rules and regulations

o Go through safety manual and ask questions where necessary

o Maintain personal and industrial hygiene

o Use personal protective equipment

3.5 Supervision of daily Loading Activities

A depot is an industrial facility for the storage and sale of fuel (PMS). In the absence of

external challenge, the loading of trucks takes place on a daily basis from 8am in the morning till

late in the evening say 4pm.

This is yet another area where the specialty of a safety officer comes in, the relevance of

the HSE department in loading activity is as significant as that of the loader who operates the

loading machine and cannot be over emphasized.

The HSE department in its pursuit of zero accident and injury casualties, maintenance of

occupation health and safety of field workers and customers is directly involved in the following

activities within and outside the loading island.

 Wetting of loading island

 Inspection of trucks before entering the loading island

 Checking of tickets and coordination of drivers

 Inspection and coordination of loading and ullage operation

Wetting of Loading Island

The island is a designated area of a depot where the actual loading of trucks takes place.

It is usually a large and spacious expanse of land housing the loading arms and surrounded by
 50

the product receiving area and the ullage unit so that after successful loading of trucks, they pass

to the ullage unit where the product is accurately gauged and cross checked for overloading.

Wetting of the loading island involves the uniform spraying of water on the areas of

ground around the loading island using the fire hose. The fire hose is connected to a hydrant

(more or less like tap in homes) and is sometimes accompanied with the booster pump in wetting

operation. The hydrant links to the water storage tank via a network of underground pipes and

supplies water for wetting and other domestic use. They are always on standby at different

accessible locations on the loading island in case of emergency.

Wetting of loading island is necessary technically to:

i. Reduce dust and cools the air temperature around the loading island. This is a form of

pollution control and health management

ii. Wash away oil spills from the loading island

iii. Cool the ground as hotness is believed to induce sparks in rare cases.
 51

FIG 3:22 A Diagram Showing the wetting of the Loading Gantry

Inspection of trucks at the gate before entering the loading island.

Prior to entering the loading island, trucks pass through heavy scrutiny and inspection at

the gate a process being supervised and coordinated by at least two safety personnel. Information

like Truck’s plate number, Marketer’s Name and Destination of each truck are recoded for

proper documentation at this point. This data is usually collated together and sent to the Area

office at Mosimi depot in Sagamu on a weekly basis.

The safety officer on duty makes sure that the following parts are checked or conditions

satisfied before considering a truck being fit for loading.

o The truck is in good condition

o has the correct color code

o has spare tyre

o has a fire extinguisher

 52

o driver wears the company uniform and uses the appropriate PPE

o GSM is switched off

o Battery are covered and man hole opened.

o The last product carried by the truck was PMS etc.

Checking of Ticket and Coordination of Drivers

After the inspection outside the gate, the driver proceeds to the entrance gate of the depot

where they undergo another scrutiny, this time coordinated by the security department and

information on their loading ticket is being checked and made to tally with the one with them.

The security guy then waver the driver to the safety personnel stationed to supervise the pre

loading activities. Their duties listed below is a very coordinated and highly sensitive chain of

operation.

o They ensure to check the driver license and truck particulars jointly referred to as chart so

that information on the license agrees with that on the truck itself.

o They check that information like quantity of product, Marketer’s Name, Destination and

Address of destination which are usually on the ticket correlates with that on the batch

with them. The Ticket is then marked and signed and passed on to a PRA operative for

further scrutiny usually of the ticket.

o They also ensure that general safety rule and policy are being kept by the drivers

o They direct the driver to the available loading arm for subsequent collection of their

product.

Supervision of Loading Operation and Ullage

The loading activity and ullage operation are two different yet congruent operation

handled by different trained personnel. The loaders handle the loading and are members of staff.
 53

Ullage is however carried out by special trained operatives too but aren’t recognized member of

staff. It is the work of the safety officer to ensure that:

o Trucks are carefully and properly packed in the appropriate loading arm

o Ensures that there are no leakages and spills are washed off as this could damage the soil

or water table

o Available to offer first Aid treatment and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to field workers

and drivers in the event of an accident or injury. This may arise from falls, slips, spill,

hand injuries, allergic body responses etc.

o Available to guild and direct first time drivers. He might occasionally need to take such

driver on a quick tour around the loading island

o Coordination and supervision of hot jobs like change of faulty battery or repair of faulty

parts.

o General patrolling of loading island

3.6 Issue of Work Permit

The HSE department at Satellite Depot operates a Permit to Work (PTW) system at

worksites to control non-routine or special work activities that could present a health or safety

risk to anyone or risk of environmental damage as identified in risk assessment. According to

Subsea 7 HSES-handbook (2012), Examples of where this process would apply are:

o Non routine welding, burning or grinding where flammable materials are present

o Dealing with explosives

o High pressure water jetting or grit blasting

o Pressure testing

o Breaking into pipelines/hoses containing residual pressure or combustible liquids

 54

o Isolating electrical or mechanical machinery to allow maintenance or repair

o Working at height i.e. any position where the potential exists for a person to have a fall

likely to cause a personal injury

o Removing protection systems (e.g. machinery guards)

o Any work that directly affects critical safety systems Entering into confined spaces or

places where the atmosphere is suspect

o Spray painting or using chemicals in closed or confined spaces

o Activities involving radioactive sources such as non-destructive testing

Work may need to be carried out by specialists with specific training or qualifications and

require dedicated supervision at all times. Only people who have completed PTW training and

are designated as the Person in Charge are allowed to raise a PTW.

3.7 Participation

My industrial training programme was undertaken at an oil depot where I was attached to

the Health Safety and Environment department, the department is saddled with the fire control

responsibility and prioritize the good wellbeing of lives and safety of property among its key

policies. In the department relentless pursuit of its goal zero aim and discharge of other duties

(see 3.2), I have been directly involved in the following operations:

i. Operation of booster pump, turning of valves and hydrant, handling of fire extinguisher,

fire blanket and other firefighting equipment except the firetruck.

ii. I assisted in taking and recording the water level in the water storage tank

iii. I assisted in the laying, coupling and making of firehose used in the daily wetting of the

loading and ullage island

 55

iv. Coordination and mobilization of field workers and truck drivers to the emergency

ground for safety talk and fire drill

v. I assisted in the supervision of daily loading activities where I was actively involved in

the inspection of trucks before entering the loading island, cross examination and

registering of loading ticket, coordination of truck drivers and general patrol of loading

island.

vi. I assisted in the washing of oil spills away from the loading island during and after daily

loading activity using foam compound, excess of water and bio solvent as the case may

be.

vii. I assisted in the coordination and supervision of hot jobs including the repair and

calibration of the loading arms using the prover calibrator, unprecedented changing of

batteries and repair of other faults or welding of components outside the loading island.

viii. I also assisted in the occasional washing of oil spills around the pump pit and supervising

the decanting of overloaded truck

ix. I occasionally assisted and accompanied in quality operation – a process where samples

of PMS are taken from the storage tank and a series of quantitative and qualitative

analysis is performed on it. This is to check if the PMS is deemed fit for sale and

domestic use
 56

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Results

Careful study through the yearly report submitted by HSE departments of the NNPC

groups across the country, Nigeria and those of other oil producing states around the globe, it is

easy to deduce that the most lethal accidents and hazards the oil and gas industry (at the level of

a depot) and chemical industry had had to face up till date are those of fire outbreak and

chemical or gas leak arising from tank farm explosion amongst others and negligence on the part

of field workers respectively.

Many notable fire accidents and gas leaks had rocked the oil and chemical industry in

Nigeria and across the globe but mention should be made of the Bhopal disaster and Seveso gas

leak occurring in India and Italy respectively towards the end of last millennium. The Buncefield

Fire explosion that took place in England in the year 2005 is described as the biggest of its kind

in peacetime Europe and certainly the biggest such explosion in United Kingdom since 1974 is

also of concern.

The subject of this chapter is however that of fire and explosion that had occurred in

public depots across Nigeria.

4.1.1 Fire and explosion accidents of oil depots in Nigeria

Oil depots including oil terminals or gas stations store a lot of flammable petroleum

products. Once the fuel-air mixture or stored fuel is ignited, it may break out a large fire or

explosion accident during the cleaning, antirust, spray-painting, storage tank maintenance,

welding, loading or unloading works, etc, it may cause serious fire and explosion accidents in oil
 57

depots which lead to great casualties, severe environmental pollution and large economic losses.

For the past few years, a series of large fire and explosion accidents happened in oil depots

around the world, such as the Buncefield oil depot explosion in London (Mather et al., 2007;

Devenish & Edwards, 2009), the Bayamon oil storage facility fire in Puerto Rico (Godoy &

Batista-Abreu, 2012), and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. explosion accident (Sharma et al., 2013).

With the rapid economic growth and large petroleum consumption in Nigeria, fire and explosion

protection becomes more and more essential to security management in oil depots as a result of

continuous increase in its total capacities. Detailed characteristics of accidents of certain

facilities or equipment in oil depots like storage tanks, pipelines, or any other certain accidents

like lightning triggered were previously analyzed. However, the overall analysis of fire and

explosion accidents in oil depots has not been carried out. In addition, the past fire and explosion

accidents of oil depots in Nigeria were caused by the similar reasons repeatedly, of which a large

number would have been prevented by scientific studies or reasonable guidance. This part of the

report utilizes the past statistics of fire and explosion accidents of public oil depots to identify the

most dangerous areas, vulnerable facilities & equipment, ignition sources, types of accident

substances, and major causes to propose enough special lessons learned from those accidents to

improve the future security management in oil depots.

4.1.2 Overall Analysis of Accidents

Different incident of fire and explosion accidents of oil depots in Nigeria during the

period of commissioning of oil depots till 2015 were collected from papers, books, codes for

design and fire protection, reports, and the Internet (Fan et al., 2017). For the data extraction,

selection criteria were defined as follows:

 58

1. the accidents that occurred or could have occurred in oil depots in Nigeria were related to

fire or explosion or fire-to-explosion or secondary explosion or the combination.

2. Some accidents like pipeline rupture or oil spill that had been controlled without a break

of fire or explosion were excluded from the data.

3. The fire or explosion accidents that occurred or could have occurred in the area of an oil

depot, whereas others outside of such area were excluded from the data, and

4. for the reason of not widespread application in the oil depots in Nigeria, the accidents of

sphere storage tank were not included in the data.

From the overview of oil depot accidents in Nigeria, it could be claimed that not all fire

and explosion accidents of oil depots in Nigeria are collected in for the reason of some

unrecorded ones or those which were not showed in printed or electronic form. The reports of

these accidents included personnel casualties, poison pollution and economic losses. Because the

time span of these accidents is very long, the figures of economic losses are meaningless.

Therefore, only the numbers of casualties are collected. The numbers of casualties are listed in

Table 1. It can be seen from Figure 1 that the majority of accidents happened towards the end of

last millenium for the booming of petroleum industry and rapid growth of oil consumption in

Nigeria. By the introduction of scientific security management and awareness of fire protection,

the number of accidents during the 1990s decreased enormously from its previous value (about

30 %) to 7.36 %. However, the accident number grew up to 15.17 % in the past decade. Since the

rapid increasing of fuel consumption in Nigeria, the capacities of oil depots were required to be

enlarged. The novel bulk or ultra-large storage tanks were built in some reservoir bases for

national strategic reserve, and the application of such newly technology or equipment brought

back to high risk of fire and explosion. Besides, most of the oil depots were built in the 1980s, so
 59

a large number of basic facilities and equipment (such as storage tanks, pipeline system,

pumping station, etc) were vulnerable to fire and explosion accidents after close to 30 years of

service. For this reason, it is sure that the fire and explosion accidents might increase to some

extent in the next few years. Table 1 shows the total death and injured numbers of personnel, in

which we can find that nearly half of the personnel casualties (42.16 %) were dead or seriously

injured. Among all these 435 fire and explosion accidents in oil depots, an average of

approximately 3 personnel casualties is listed in every accident, thus it is sure that fire and

explosion are extremely harmful for human beings in oil depots.

Table 4.1 Number of casualties

Personnel Number Proportion

casualties

Death 390 29.10

Seriously 175 13.06

injured

Slightly 775 57.84

injured

Total 1340 100

4.1.3 Areas of Accident

In terms of the places of oil depot in which fire and explosion accidents broke out, over

two scores of accidents are categorized into four areas, namely the oil storage area (including

storage tank farm, fire dike, distribution substation, etc), the loading and unloading operation
 60

area (including railway trestle, railroad platform, pumping station, oil dock, oil drum warehouse,

oil filling and off-loading equipment, etc), the auxiliary operation area (including firefighting

pump station, instruments warehouse, boiler room, laboratory, sewerage, etc), and finally, other

areas (including office building, dining hall, dormitory or lounge). The numbers of accidents in

different areas and their proportions are shown in Table 4.2.

Table 4.2 Area of accidents

Area of Accidents Number of Proportion

Accidents (%)

Oil storage area 103 23.68

Loading and unloading 222 51.03

operation area

Auxiliary operation area 37 8.51

Others 73 16.78

Subtotal 435 100

From Table 4.2 we can see that over half of the accidents (51.03 %) take place in the

loading and unloading operation area. A large amount of fuel-air mixture evaporates from the

loading and unloading operation area during the ritual oil filling or off-loading works from oil

tank trucks. When encountering the ignition source, such evaporation will lead to severe vapor

gas explosion. So the possibility of explosion accidents in such area is bigger than that in any

other places. The second most dangerous area is the oil storage area of which the proportion

reaches 23.68 %. Storage tanks are the major equipment to store the flammable fuel in oil depots.
 61

When the fuel in the storage tanks is ignited by lightning, electric spark or static electricity, it

will cause some serious pool fire, surface burning or deflagration within the protective fire dike.

Therefore, the possibility of fire accidents in the oil storage area is larger than that in others.

However, accidents are not likely to take place in the auxiliary operation area with only 37 cases

(8.51 %). But once the fire or explosion breaks out in the auxiliary operation area, such accident

may threaten many facilities and equipment in those areas next to it. Additionally, operations in

other places of oil depot must be ceased or interrupted by such burning or heating threat.

Therefore, the daily security management and safety checkout should be focused on the accident-

likely areas like the loading and unloading operation, the oil storage area as well.

4.1.4 Facilities & equipment of accidents

In view of facilities & equipment in oil depots where fire and explosion accidents

happened, many cases took place in storage tank, oil tank truck, oil pump, oil pipelines, oil drum,

and others (including electrical equipment and circuits, wires and cables, engine, measuring

instruments, intelligent facilities, etc). Then the statistical data are categorized into these above

six groups to find out the relationship between fire and explosion accidents and facilities &

equipment. The numbers of different facilities & equipment of accidents and their proportions

are shown in Table 4.3.

Table 4.3 Facilities & equipment of accidents

Facilities & Equipment Number of Proportion

Accidents (%)

Storage tank 112 25.75

Oil tank truck 87 20

Oil pump 54 12.41

 62

Oil pipelines 38 8.74

Oil drum 24 5.52

Others 120 27.59

Subtotal 435 100

It is clear in Table 4.3 that the most vulnerable equipment to fire and explosion is storage

tank (112 cases, 25.75 %) regardless of the summation of other types of facilities & equipment

which is the largest number of 120 cases (27.59 %). Due to some studies on all kinds of storage

tank accidents (Chang & Lin, 2006; Zheng & Chen, 2011), the most triggering reason is

lightning, which is in line with the accident statistics of oil storage tanks. In other cases, though,

the causes of oil storage tank accidents involve human errors, equipment failure, sabotage, tank

crack and rupture, intentional act and nature disaster. The second most vulnerable equipment is

the oil tank truck of which the number is 87 (20 %), thus explosion accidents are prone to be

brought about during the oil filling or off-loading. This conclusion meets with the above analysis

of the area of accidents. Besides, the following high-risk facilities & equipment are oil pump

(12.41 %), oil pipelines (8.74 %) and oil drum (5.52 %). Therefore, the storage tanks in the oil

storage area and oil tank trucks in the loading and unloading operation area are more important

to be taken good care of in the daily security management, and a lot of concentration should also

be focused on other high-risk ones such as oil pump, oil pipeline system and oil drums.

4.1.5 Ignition source and accident substances

Many sources can cause the ignition of fuel-air mixture or stored fuel in an oil depot.

From the collection of various causes of fire and explosion accidents, the ignition sources could

be divided into 8 groups, namely electric spark, static electricity, lightning, open fire, smoking,
 63

heat source (such as engine hot surfaces or heat generated by electric equipment), welding, and

other types of sources such as impingement or friction. The ignition sources of these accidents

are shown in Table 4, while the substances of fire and explosion accidents are shown in Table

4.5.

Table 4.4 Ignition source

Ignition Source Number of Proportion

Accidents (%)

Electric spark 87 20.00

Static electricity 53 12.18

Lighting 18 4.14
 64

Open fire 66 15.17

Smoking 31 7.13

Heat source 53 12.18

Welding 71 16.32

Others 56 12.87

Subtotal 435 100

Table 4.5 Type of accident substances

Accident Number of Proportion

Substances Accidents (%)

Fuel-air mixture 331 76.09

Fuel 77 17.7

Unknown 27 6.21

Subtotal 435 100

 65

From Table 4.1 we can draw the conclusion that the proportions of different ignition

sources are quite evenly distributed. The biggest proportion of ignition source is the electric

spark which only takes up 20 %, while other proportions involve the static electricity, open fire,

heat source, welding, and other types of ignition sources which are quite similar to each other

which is ranging from 12.18 % to 16.32 %. Nevertheless, lightning and smoking take up smaller

proportions. The control of ignition sources should be equally concentrated to several impact

factors to all types. Table 5 shows the relationship between substances and these fire and

explosion accidents. Despite of some unclear cases, the majority of accident substances are fuel-

air mixture which accounts for over 76.09% of total cases. As we all know, ignition of fuel-lair

mixture tends to a vapor cloud explosion, whereas ignition of the stored fuel tends to accidents

like pool fire, surface burning or deflagration. As a result, the accidents in oil depot are likely to

be the vapor cloud explosion type. However, recent technology safety treatment for emergency

in oil depots is cooling system, firefighting, fire alarming or fire monitoring, which mostly

accentuates fire protection but takes little attention to explosion prevention. So it is urgent to

build up a fuel-air mixture explosion prevention system in oil depots to provide a scientific

guidance for future security management and emergency reaction.

4.1.6 Responsibility for Accidents

According to the investigation on the causes of accidents, many reasons would result in

fire and explosion in oil depots. The responsibilities for all fire and explosion accidents can be

divided into 6 categories, namely the management responsibility (including operation error,

maintenance error, poor field guidance, poor fire or explosion safeguards, etc), technological

responsibility (including design deficiency, materials deficiency, construction deficiency of

facilities & equipment, poor erosion protection, poor lightning grounding, etc), combined
 66

responsibility of both management and technology, external responsibility (including illegal

constructions, external buildings which violate the fire separation distance, third party damage,

etc), sabotage, and natural disaster. The numbers of different types of responsibility and their

proportions are shown in Table 4.6.

Table 4.6 Responsibility for accidents

Responsibility for accidents Number of Proportion

Accidents (%)

Management responsibility 238 54.71

Technologic responsibility 80 18.39

Combined responsibility 90 20.69

External responsibility 23 5.29

Sabotage 4 0.92

Natural disaster — —

Subtotal 435 100

From Table 4.6, it is sure that nearly all the accidents (roughly 94 %) are attributed to

management or technological responsibility, or the combination of both. In addition,

approximately 54.71 % of the accidents are related to management responsibility of which the

proportion takes up the first place, hence it plays a pivotal role to improve the security

management in the daily operation works. Accidents due to management responsibility are likely

to break out in the daily routine operation, maintenance and repair, whereas accidents resulting

from technologic responsibility are likely to happen at the beginning construction or design of an

oil depot. As a result, it is sure that the fire and explosion accidents may break out throughout the
 67

whole period of oil depot from its design or construction to afterward operation or management.

For this reason, it should pay more attention to the security management throughout the whole

period of time. Besides, from the comparison analysis of many fire and explosion accidents of

different oil depots in Nigeria, many cases are related to similar reasons repeatedly. Most of

these accidents could have been prevented or avoided with improvement in security management

from scientific guidance.

4.2 Challenges

This section will be viewed in lieu of the setbacks that besets the Satellite depot as an

organization and the daily challenges faced by the average IT student as at the period of

compilation of this report, so that all challenges would be addressed and the aim of the

subsection would be properly achieved. The recommendation and solutions for better result

would be provided later on in the report where appropriate.

Organization

Some of the challenges faced by the Satellite depot, Lagos State as an organization

includes but are not limited to the following:

o Disobedience and incompliance with basic safety regulations due to feeble strategies

o Obsolete firefighting equipment and facilities

o Undertraining of staffs leading to unprofessionalism among some staff in the discharge of

their duties

o Obsolete technology and breakdown of existing facilities especially in the product

receiving area, the loading arms are improperly calibrated resulting in decanting a

thorough and very stressful process.

 68

o Raining season might have not been put in consideration and earlier installed storage

tanks doesn’t have overhead covering, so that tanks needed to be drained after rainfall are

process called dewatering causing loss of time or bringing the loading activity to a halt in

some cases.

o Harsh weather condition leading to health difficulties and complication, field workers are

exposed to direct beating by sun during hot season and rain during raining season.

o Poor power generating set leading to untimely delivery of product between customers and

the corporation and occasionally arising to violence and

o Pipeline vandalism is a problem the corporation on behave of the Federal Government

had had to deal with since as far back as inception.

Individual

o Undertraining of staffs and non-involvement of students in key activities

o Student has had to face the problem of low welfare – lack of transportation, feeding,

basic housing and even training allowances. Even the ones on the payroll are not paid on

time.

o Harsh weather condition resulting in ill health.

4.3 Discussion

Fire and explosion accidents occurred frequently in oil depots in Nigeria which leads to

great casualties, severe environmental pollution and large economic losses. Studies of fire and

explosion accidents of oil depots with Nigerian depots as case studies were reviewed above.

From the analysis of time scale, area, facilities & equipment, ignition sources, types of accident

substances, and responsibility, results show that the most dangerous area is the loading and

unloading operation area, and the most vulnerable facility is the tank farm and most lethal
 69

equipment are the storage tanks. Meanwhile, the proportions of ignition sources are so evenly

distributed that the prevention of fire and explosion should be equally concentrated to several

impact factors. The vapor cloud explosion could be said to be the most common accident type in

oil depots, and the management responsibility dominates in all of the accident causes. According

to data analysis, lessons were learned from these accidents as would be proposed in the next

paragraph, and the majority of fire and explosion accidents in oil depots would have been

prevented or avoided if safety measures had been improved and security management

heightened.

From those fire and explosion accidents mentioned above, several special lessons were

learned and should be proposed to improve the total safety level of the petroleum storage

industry. These lessons include:

i. The major accident substances are fuel-air mixture according to the data statistics.

However, the recent firefighting system in an oil depot is based on fire extinguishing not

on explosion protection. The basic firefighting equipment includes fire alarm system, fire

monitoring system, fire hydrant, etc. which could not effectively deal with an explosion

like fuel-air mixture gaseous vapor cloud explosion. The basic scientific explosion

protection system like water mist, inert gas or dry powder should be introduced to the oil

depot in addition to the original fire extinguishing system. The fire and explosion

evaluation system should be changed from the former experience based methods to other

more scientific ones

ii. The recent lightning protection of the ultra large storage tank is using its metal tank wall

to grounding. However, several large fire accidents happened due to the bad electrical

connection between the storage tank roof and tank wall. Thus it is strongly recommended
 70

that the lightning protection of should be improved by using a separate lightning rod near

the storage tank to attract the lightning instead of using its metal tank wall to grounding.

iii. The fire and explosion accidents are likely to break out when a large number of basic

facilities and equipment in the oil depot are vulnerable to fire and explosion sources after

many years of service.

iv. Those oil depots built between 1980s and 1990s are at a high risk of fire and explosion

accidents, therefore the management responsibility of the personnel in oil depot should be

enhanced and the daily security check and safety maintenance should be improved in the

next few years.

 71

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion

Data and accidents of fire and explosion in oil depot are collected and analyzed. The results

provide useful information on most dangerous area and vulnerable facilities & equipment to fire

and explosion, i.e. the loading and unloading operation area and the storage tanks. Moreover,

various ignition sources are studied to find out that all of them may be possible for a fire and

explosion accident in oil depot because of their evenly distributed proportions. The fuel-air

mixture contributes the largest proportion in the causes of accident, thus the vapor cloud

explosion should be paid more attention to and the explosion prevention would be the major

concerns for safety emergency reaction in oil depots. The analysis of responsibility for accidents

shows that the management responsibility dominates among all the causes, so it is essential to

prevent accidents in the daily routine operation, and security management should be

concentrated throughout the whole period time in oil depots. In addition, the majority of fire and

explosion accidents of oil depot in Nigeria would have been prevented or avoided if the security

management had been heightened and safety measures improved by scientific guidance.

5.2 Recommendations

Furtherance to the challenges collectively faced by the field, corporate workers and

students and the consequences borne by the corporation, executive and non-executive directors,

the federal government and nation as crude oil remains the major foreign earner of revenue by

the government, the recommendations for a better result are as stated below:
 72

o Making of stronger and friendlier policies on health, safety and environment related

matters by the corporation (PPMC) and the enforcement / strict compliance to these

policies by all and sundry

o Organization should resolve to training and improving the technical know- how of its

staffs by investing in seminars and other self- development programmes. They should

extend this to training of students too.

o Provision of modern firefighting facilities alongside the available fire extinguishing

agents and adoption of improved, fast rising and state of art technologies in product

reception and storage.

o Product storage tanks should be covered and loading arms efficiently calibrated to reduce

the incidence of dewatering of tanks and decanting of trucks respectively..

o Construction of a modern loading and product ullage island and repair of worn out ones

that could stand the test of different weather and climatic conditions.

o Provision of high power generating set and maintenance manuals.

o Lightning and thunderstorm are possible source of spark and poses huge fire explosion

threat hence thunder arrestor and more electrophorus materials should be provided

o Constant vigilance and security in vicinities where oil pipeline passes across to put the

disaster of pipeline vandalism and oil theft in check. Appropriate technological aid and

manpower should be invested into in this regard.

o COREN and other sister agencies should make reforms and appropriate regularization in

students training and welfare during training

 73

o The ITF on behalf of federal government should strengthen their policies and provide the

basic industrial training allowance of students on time. This should not be later than three

months after successful completion of training

 74

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Alarape, B.A., Onafadeji, A.O, Lawal, A.F. (2017). ‘Assessment of the Distribution Strategies

of PMS in Nigeria: The Nigerian Petroleum Industry’. International Journal of Business and

Management Invention. Volume 6, 3.

Mather T.A., Harrison R.G., Tsanev V.I., Pyle D.M., Karumudi M.L., Bennett A.J., Sawyer

G.M. Highwood E.J. (2007), ‘Observations of the plume generated by the December 2005 oil

depot explosions and prolonged fire at Buncefield (Hertfordshire, UK) and associated

atmospheric changes’. Proc. of Royal Society A, 463, 1153-1177

Sharma R.K., Gurjiar B.R., Wate S.R., Ghuge S.P., Agrawal R. (2013). ‘Assessment of an

accidental vapour cloud explosion: Lessons from the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. accident at

Jaipur, India, J. Loss Prevent. Process’. 26, 82-90

‘Subsea 7 Group Health Safety Environment and Security handbook: Permit to Work’. Version

1, 25-26.

‘CNOOC Health Safety and Environment Handbook: 10 High Risk Activities’. Volume 2, 5-7.

www.wikipedia.com/history of HSE

www.nnpcgroup.com/history
75