1.0 INTRODUCTION

" Continuous process chemical plants have evolved over the last two decades towards higher equipment reliability and therefore on-line time. This fact, their sophisticated technology and capital intensive nature, have dictated fewer and more broadly skilled directly employed personnel and an increasing reliance on contractor support for periods of high intensity maintenance, such as plant shutdowns and turnarounds."

The local petrochemical industry, which in 1959 had its genesis in Federation Chemicals Limited (now Hydro Agri Trinidad Limited) initially comprised four (4) separate operating plants, with a total production capacity of 132,000 tonnes of ammonia, urea, ammonium sulphate and sulphuric acid. Since then there have been fifteen (15) additional petrochemical plants, with an almost 1000-fold increase in production over the 1959 level. One attendant problem with this unparalleled expansion has been the fierce competition for qualified, experienced and trained personnel to operate these plants. Another major concern has been the quality and training of available contractor personnel to undertake maintenance and repair especially during plant shutdowns and turnarounds. This has been reflected in unacceptable contractor accident statistics in the industry.

Common contractor services provided across these plants include:

• Plant & equipment repair and maintenance

• Mechanical fitting and fabrication

• Vessel / tank cleaning

• Pressure washing

• Sand blasting and painting

• Insulation

• Electrical & Instrumentation

• Catalyst handling

• Hazardous waste removal & disposal

• Welding & other hot work

• Confined space entry

TTEMAS has developed a generic contractor HSE orientation program with common HSE rules and requirements for the benefit of all TTEMAS member companies. On successful completion of the program, participating contractor personnel will be certified for a period of two years. The program will be further developed to:

• Provide on request, site specific safety training for contractor workers; this could be presented following completion of basic generic program

• Conduct additional safety training programs such as: respiratory protection, first aid / CPR, emergency patient handling, HAZMAT and emergency preparedness and response

• Fire training

• Plan and conduct other generic programs such as:
  • Confined Space Entry
    
  • Lock Out / Tag Out & Electrical Safety
    
  • Basic Rigging & Crane Safety

• Certify contractor training

• Establish, analyze and disseminate contractor safety statistics

Participating member companies in TTEMAS Generic HSE Orientation Program will be required to make the possession of a valid certificate a condition for contractor employees working on their respective facilities. The presenters will be the TTEMAS member representatives, who are for the most part responsible for managing their companies HSE function.

Worldwide there has been an increasing focus on contractor HSE performance, this orientation seeks to: