Engineering & Industry News: Safety Health & Environmental

1. Background and Importance of SHE

Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) is a fundamental pillar in high-risk industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, and power generation. These sectors involve hazardous materials, high-pressure systems, and flammable processes that demand rigorous control and responsibility. SHE ensures the protection of people, assets, and the environment — contributing to long-term operational sustainability.

2. Common Causes of Incidents and Health Hazards

Human error – lack of training, misjudgment, or fatigue.
Mechanical failure – equipment malfunction, corrosion, or overpressure.
Unsafe procedures – neglecting SOPs or taking risky shortcuts.
Weak safety culture – lack of leadership engagement and accountability.
Poor emergency preparedness – untested plans, lack of response drills.

3. Regulatory Frameworks: Local & International

Indonesia Regulations:

UU No. 1 Tahun 1970 – Occupational Safety Act
PP No. 50 Tahun 2012 – SMK3 (OSH Management System)
Permen ESDM No. 38/2017 – Safety Management for Oil & Gas

International Standards:

ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System
OSHA Standards (USA)
API RP 75 – Safety and Environmental Management Systems
IEC 61511 – Functional Safety for Process Industry

4. Notable Industrial Accidents & Lessons Learned

Piper Alpha (1988): Offshore platform explosion due to miscommunication during shift change. Lesson: Always verify PTW and isolation systems before restarting operations.

Texas City Refinery (2005): Overfilled distillation tower caused vapor cloud explosion. Lesson: Maintain instrumentation and conduct regular safety audits.

Fukushima (2011): Nuclear plant meltdown after tsunami impact. Lesson: Plan for natural disasters and worst-case scenario modeling.

5. Key SHE Systems and Practices

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA)
Permit to Work (PTW) – hot work, confined space, electrical isolation, etc.
Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and regular drills
PPE Compliance – gloves, helmets, fire-resistant clothing, etc.
Monitoring – air quality, noise, chemical exposure levels

6. Developing a Strong SHE Culture

Management commitment must be visible and consistent
Encourage “Stop Work Authority” for all personnel
Reward safety compliance and hazard reporting
Conduct safety leadership training
Promote safety awareness campaigns

7. How Individuals Can Contribute

Be alert and aware of hazards around your work area
Never bypass safety systems or ignore alarms
Report unsafe acts or near-misses
Encourage others to follow safety procedures
Participate actively in toolbox talks and training

8. Conclusion

Safety, Health, and Environment is a shared responsibility that goes beyond mere compliance. By applying best practices, learning from past failures, and cultivating a safety-first mindset, we can protect lives, reduce operational risks, and ensure environmental stewardship.

“No Job is so Urgent that it Cannot be Done Safely.”

📎 SHE Supporting Materials and Tools

To help readers better understand and implement SHE practices, the following resources are provided:

✅ General SHE Checklist
📋 HIRA Template
🛑 Permit to Work (PTW)
🚨 Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
📊 SHE Infographic

✅ General SHE Checklist

✔️ Site-specific risk assessment completed?
✔️ Permit to Work (PTW) issued and valid?
✔️ All personnel trained for the task?
✔️ Emergency evacuation route posted?
✔️ First Aid Kit available and accessible?
✔️ Fire extinguishers inspected and functional?
✔️ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn by all workers?
✔️ Toolbox talk conducted before starting the job?
✔️ Chemicals and hazardous substances labeled and stored properly?
✔️ Housekeeping standards maintained at work area?

📋 HIRA Template (Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment)

No	Activity	Hazard	Impact	Risk Level	Control Measures	Responsible
1	Welding	Fire, Sparks	Burn injury, fire spread	High	PPE, Fire Blanket, Fire Watch	Supervisor
2	Crane Lifting	Load Falling	Injury, Fatality	High	Inspection, Exclusion Zone	Lifting Team

🛑 Permit to Work (PTW) Template

Permit Number	______________
Type of Work	Hot Work / Confined Space / Electrical / Lifting
Location	______________
Work Description	______________
Start Date/Time	______________
End Date/Time	______________
Issued By	______________
Accepted By (Supervisor)	______________
Precautions Taken	Fire watch, barricade, gas test, etc.
Authorization	Signature & Date

🚨 Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

Emergency Type: Fire / Explosion / Chemical Spill / Electrical Shock
Alarm Type: Siren / Bell / Verbal Alert
Assembly Point: North Gate Assembly Area
Emergency Contact: Site Safety Officer – +62 812 xxx xxx
Evacuation Route: Posted on notice boards and at every exit
First Responder Roles: Fire team, first aiders, security
Drill Frequency: Monthly fire drill and annual full-scale simulation

📊 SHE System Infographic

This infographic summarizes the major components of a standard SHE management system.

📌 If you are interested in seeing articles that are relevant to this field, you can find them 👉 here

📌 If you are interested in working in this field, you can find it 👉 here

Introduction.

In high-risk industries like oil & gas, petrochemical, and power plants, maintenance is never a simple task. It involves working around hazardous materials, pressurized systems, electrical energy, and moving machinery — all of which pose significant dangers if not handled properly. That’s why safety isn’t just a checklist item — it’s a culture, a discipline, and a must-have skill for anyone involved in maintenance operations.

Whether you're an experienced technician or a jobseeker aiming to enter the field, understanding these core safety practices can make you more competent, confident, and job-ready.

1. Permit to Work (PTW): Controlling High-Risk Tasks

Before starting any non-routine or high-risk work, a Permit to Work (PTW) system must be in place. It’s a formal document that outlines the nature of the work, the hazards involved, and the safety precautions required.

Types of PTWs include:

Hot Work Permit – For welding, cutting, grinding
Confined Space Entry – For tanks, pits, vessels
Electrical Isolation – For working on energized systems
Working at Heights, Excavation, and Cold Work

PTW helps everyone stay on the same page and ensures that all risks are identified and controlled before the job begins.

2. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): Zero Energy, Zero Accidents

Imagine working on a pump and suddenly it starts up — that’s a nightmare scenario. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures are designed to prevent that by isolating energy sources (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, etc.) and physically locking them off.

LOTO steps:

Identify energy sources
Inform affected workers
Shut down and isolate the equipment
Apply locks and tags
Verify zero energy before starting work

Only the person who applied the lock is allowed to remove it. This prevents unintentional re-energization and keeps workers safe from electrocution, crushing, or amputations.

3. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA)

Before you touch any tool, conduct a HIRA. It’s about thinking ahead and asking, “What could go wrong?”

Common hazards in maintenance:

Flammable and corrosive chemicals
Moving machinery
High temperatures or pressures
Slip, trip, and fall risks
Electrical shock

By analyzing each task step-by-step, assessing the risks, and applying controls, you can significantly reduce the chance of injury or incident.

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Your Last Line of Defense

PPE is not a fashion statement — it's your barrier against injury. It should be selected based on the specific hazards of your job.

Common PPE items:

Helmets, goggles, gloves, flame-resistant coveralls
Safety boots, hearing protection, and respirators

PPE must be maintained, properly fitted, and used as part of a wider safety system — never as a substitute for engineering or procedural controls.

5. Emergency Preparedness: When the Unexpected Happens

Accidents, fires, or chemical leaks can happen despite all precautions. That's why having a clear emergency response plan is essential.

You should know:

How to raise the alarm
Where the emergency exits and muster points are
How to use a fire extinguisher or first aid kit
Who to call and what to report

Regular drills help make sure everyone responds effectively when seconds matter.

Other Smart Safety Practices

To boost safety performance, companies and workers should also focus on:

Toolbox Talks (TBTs) before each shift
Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for complex tasks
Good housekeeping and equipment organization
Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) to reinforce good habits
Incident Reporting to learn from mistakes

Final Thoughts

If you’re already in the field or aiming to join it, safety knowledge is not optional — it’s your ticket to staying employed, staying alive, and keeping your team safe.

✅ Always follow procedures
✅ Never cut corners
✅ Speak up if something looks unsafe

Remember: “No job is so important or urgent that it cannot be done safely.”