Life Saving Rules
What are the Life Saving Rules?
The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers Life-Saving Rules are among the most effective techniques for preventing fatalities and are proving effective due to their simplicity, relevance, and practicality – consequently IMCA aligns our Safety Flash incidents to Life-Saving Rules (LSR).
Each of the nine Rules highlights a key action to prevent fatal injuries during activities that research has shown to be high-risk. Aimed at individual workers, every Rule is geared to a specific task.
A key benefit of using the LSR is standardisation or uniformity in application – having everybody with the same understanding of these simple and clear actions aimed at preventing fatal injuries during higher-risk activities.
IMCA recommends that, as far as possible, its members adopt the IOGP Life-Saving Rules; they will be of benefit to members and to the wider industry to use a widely adopted standard for safety, leading to fewer injuries and fewer fatalities and a safer workplace for all.
IMCA aligns Safety Flash incidents to the IOGP Life-Saving Rules. Members submitting safety incidents can attribute which of the Rules has been broken; it is possible that none of the Rules were broken. In each published safety flash incident or event, we will highlight which of the Rules were not followed in the lead up to the incident.
The nine rules are below
IMCA Contact
Nicholas Hough
Technical Adviser – HSSE and Offshore Survey
Contact
Bypassing Safety Controls
Obtain authorisation before overriding or disabling safety controls
- I understand and use safety-critical equipment and procedures which apply to my task
- I obtain authorisation before:
- disabling or overriding safety equipment
- deviating from procedures
- crossing a barrier
Confined Space
Obtain authorisation before entering a confined space
- I confirm energy sources are isolated
- I confirm the atmosphere has been tested and is monitored
- I check and use mybreathing apparatus when required
- I confirm there is an attendant standing by
- I confirm a rescue plan is in place
- I obtain authorisation to enter
Driving
Follow safe driving rules
- I always wear a seatbelt
- I do not exceed the speed limit, and reduce my speed for road conditions
- I do not use phones or operate devises while driving
- I am fit, rested and fully alert while driving
- I follow journey management requirements
Energy Isolation
Verify isolation and zero energy before work begins
- I have identified all energy sources
- I confirm that hazardous energy sources have been isolated, locked and tagged
- I have checked there is zero energy and tested for residual or stored energy
Hot Work
Control flammables and ignition sources
- I identify and control ignition sources
- Before starting any hot work:
- I confirm flammable material has been removed or isolated
- I obtain authorisation
- Before starting any hot work in a hazardous area I confirm:
- a gas test has been completed
- gas will be monitored continually
Line of Fire
Keep yourself and others out of the line of fire
- I position myself to avoid:
- moving objects
- vehicles
- pressure releases
- dropped objects
- I establish and obey barriers and exclusion zones
- I take action to secure loose objects and report potential dropped objects
Safe Mechanical Lifting
Plan lifting operations and control the area
- I confirm that the equipment and load have been inspected and are fit for purpose
- I only operate equipment that I am qualified to use
- I establish and obey barriers and exclusion zones
- I never walk under a suspended load
Work Authorisation
Work with a valid permit when required
- I have confirmed if a permit is required
- I am authorised to perform the work
- I understand the permit
- I have confirmed that hazards are controlled and it is safe to start
- I stop and reassess if conditions change
Working at Height
Protect yourself against a fall when working at height
- I inspect my fall protection equipment before use
- I secure tools and work materials to prevent dropped objects
- I tie off 100% to approved anchor points while outside a protected area
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