Petrochemical

Many industrial processes work in conjunction with one another to successfully drill and extract oil and gas. These processes each pose a unique hazard to workers on oil derricks and drilling rigs. In addition to the obvious occupational hazards of working around heavy machinery and moving parts, workers extracting oil and gas can also face the more invisible threat of chemical exposure. Examples of chemical threats include high mercury content in petroleum in some part of the world, and the multitude of chemicals in the pressurized liquid used for fracking. Chemicals used in the oil and natural gas extraction processes pose an increased danger to employees working  in an enclosed space. SafeAir and ChromAir badges help workers in the petrochemical industry stay safe by identifying toxic chemicals before the employee receives a dangerous dose.

Flue gas emissions in the petroleum refinery process results from the combustion of gas and oil in gas turbines, boilers, engines, and process heaters. These processes emit a number of chemicals including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and small amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). SafeAir and ChromAir badges allow employees to monitor for toxic flue gas emissions, thus helping to keep employees working in the oil and natural gas industry safe from chemical exposure.

Venting and flaring are used in non-routine operations at petroleum refining facilities as a means to safely dispose of vapors. Flaring modifies, by means of combustion, the chemical nature of the substances being emitted, presenting the opportunity for occupational exposure to other hazardous compounds. SafeAir and ChromAir badges allow employees to monitor for toxic gases as a result of venting and flaring.

Fugitive emissions, emissions not meant to be released, are a source of potential employee exposure in the petroleum industry. Fugitive emissions can occur during the storage, loading and unloading of hydrocarbons, or from leaks from a wide variety of refinery systems, such as tubing, valves, seals and conveyance systems. SafeAir and ChromAir badges allow employees to monitor their exposure to toxic gases released as fugitive emissions.

A large amount of industrial wastewater is created each year as a biproduct of the petroleum fracking and refining processes. Wastewater from refining is generated by several processes including desalting, topping, vacuum distillation, pretreating, distillate hydrodesulfurization, cracking, and coking. This wastewater can be contaminated with a variety of chemicals such as hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia. Petroleum wastewater is treated through physical, biological, and chemical means. Both the chemicals in wastewater and the chemicals used to treat it can pose health hazards to employees. SafeAir and ChromAir badges allow employees to monitor for exposure to toxic gases released from wastewater and its treatment.

Petroleum refining facilities manufacture, use, and store significant amounts of hazardous materials that can pose a danger to employees. For instance, hydrogen sulfide leaks may occur from amine treatment units, and carbon monoxide leaks may occur from cracking units. Occupational health and safety professionals work to mitigate the hazards and provide a safe working environment for employees in the petroleum refining industry. SafeAir and ChromAir badges help to keep employees working around toxic hazards in the oil and natural gas industry safe from chemical exposure.