HEAL SECTION TITLE TH & SAFETY
Barrier systems can greatly minimise the risk of DO incidents
several ways: the design and the materials from which the barrier is made contribute fundamentally to the longevity of safe performance, and the nature of the required installation and maintenance processes is also an essential consideration. T e Dropsafe Barrier is made of robust, high-grade, durable polymer panels that are secured along the inside of guardrailings, using a universal attachment system. Bolted or expanded metal barriers are other solutions that can be fi tted to the guardrail of platforms, stairways or walkways. Alternatively, barriers made from expanded metal are formed of sheet metal stretched into a pattern of mesh-like material. Flexible mesh netting is another option. Easy to acquire and quick to install, it is made of connected strands of fi bre or other fl exible materials.
T e material from which the DO mitigation product is constructed must be robust enough to withstand the extremities to which it will be exposed: as above, this is particularly important in an oil & gas setting. Metal barriers, for example, are less suitable in such a situation, as they are subject to corrosion, and some types of non-metal barrier can also degrade due to UV exposure and the impact of extreme weather. T e construction material must also
have high resistance to the heat and chemicals that are likely to be encountered in oil & gas operations. Indeed, resistance to corrosion and weathering is a key consideration when assessing the expected lifetime of a barrier system. A cheaper fabric netting system installed on an oil rig would be highly susceptible to
damage from strong winds, for example, whereas a lightweight but sturdy barrier system designed with harsh operating environments in mind would be a much more suitable mechanism.
A warranty of adequate duration is another key factor and the expected lifetime of diff erent types of barrier varies considerably. T e Dropsafe Barrier, for example, has a fi ve-year warranty, while some plastic clip-on alternatives are often only covered under warranty for two years, after which replacement is necessary.
HOW ARE BARRIER SOLUTIONS USED IN PRACTICE? T e versatility and durability of the barrier is demonstrated in the recent case of an international drilling contractor in need of a robust DO prevention solution
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