Example question paper and Examiners feedback on expected answers (IOGC1)

Example question paper and Examiners feedback on expected answers NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE IN OIL AND GAS OPERATIONAL SAFETY

UNIT IOG1: MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL OIL AND GAS OPERATIONAL SAFETY

CONTENTS Introduction 2 General comments 3 Comments on individual questions 4

NEBOSH, Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1QW tel: 0116 263 4700 fax: 0116 282 4000 email: info@nebosh.org.uk website: www.nebosh.org.uk The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health is a registered charity, number 1010444

Introduction NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) was formed in 1979 as an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. We offer a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, vocationally-related qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors. Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract around 50,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 600 course providers, with exams taken in over 110 countries around the world. Our qualifications are recognised by the relevant professional membership bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM). NEBOSH is an awarding body that applies best practice setting, assessment and marking and applies to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) regulatory requirements. This report provides guidance for candidates which it is hoped will be useful to candidates and tutors in preparation for future examinations. It is intended to be constructive and informative and to promote better understanding of the syllabus content and the application of assessment criteria. NEBOSH 2014 Any enquiries about this report publication should be addressed to: NEBOSH Dominus Way Meridian Business Park Leicester LE19 1QW tel: 0116 263 4700 fax: 0116 282 4000 email: info@nebosh.org.uk

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General comments Many candidates are well prepared for this unit assessment and provide comprehensive and relevant answers in response to the demands of the question paper. This includes the ability to demonstrate understanding of knowledge by applying it to workplace situations.

There are always some candidates, however, who appear to be unprepared for the unit assessment and who show both a lack of knowledge of the syllabus content and a lack of understanding of how key concepts should be applied to workplace situations. Course providers and candidates will benefit from use of the Guide to the NEBOSH International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety which is available via the NEBOSH website. In particular, the Guide sets out in detail the syllabus content for Unit IOG1 and tutor reference documents for each Element. Some candidates may over rely on knowledge of health and safety gained through their own work experience. While practical experiences can sometimes be helpful they are not a substitute for tuition and study of the syllabus content, to the breadth and depth indicated in the Guide referred to above.

In order to meet the pass standard for this assessment, acquisition of knowledge and understanding across the syllabus are prerequisites. However, candidates need to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in answering the questions set. Referral of candidates in this unit is invariably because they are unable to write a full, well-informed answer to one or more of the questions asked.

Some candidates find it difficult to relate their learning to the questions and as a result offer responses reliant on recalled knowledge and conjecture and fail to demonstrate a sufficient degree of understanding. Candidates should prepare themselves for this vocational examination by ensuring their understanding, not rote-learning pre-prepared answers.

Candidates should therefore note that Examiners Reports are not written to provide sample answers but to give examples of what Examiners were expecting and more specifically to highlight areas of underperformance.

Common weaknesses and suggestions to assist providers and candidates

It is recognised that many candidates are well prepared for their assessments. However, recurrent issues, as outlined below, continue to prevent some candidates reaching their full potential in the assessment. Weakness in examination technique

Many candidates fail to apply the basic principles of examination technique and for some candidates this means the difference between a pass and a referral

Candidates need to plan their time effectively. Some candidates fail to make good use of their

time and give excessive detail in some answers leaving insufficient time to address all of the questions.

In some instances, candidates do not attempt all the required questions or are failing to provide complete answers. Candidates are advised to always attempt an answer to a question even when the question is on an unfamiliar topic. At the risk of stating the obvious, an unattempted question will gain no marks. Questions or parts of questions missed can also indicate a weakness in time management

Some candidates fail to answer the question set and instead provide information that may be relevant to the topic but is irrelevant to the question and cannot therefore be awarded marks. The comment below about rote learning may be relevant also.

Some candidates fail to separate their answers into the different sub-sections of the questions. These candidates could gain marks for the different sections if they clearly indicated which part of the question they were answering (by using the numbering from the question in their answer, for example). Structuring their answers to address the different parts of the question can also help in logically drawing out the points to be made in response.

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Candidates benefit from the chance to practice answering questions in examination like conditions. This should assist them to become familiar with the need to read questions carefully, consider, plan their answer and then begin to write. By examination like conditions, practicing their answers within appropriate time limits should help candidates with time management within the examination. Feedback to candidates on their answers to questions is a key part of these practice activities. Lack of attention to command word

- Many candidates fail to apply the command words (also known as action verbs, eg describe, outline, etc). Command words are the instructions that guide the candidate on the depth of answer required. If, for instance, a question asks the candidate to describe something, then few marks will be awarded to an answer that is an outline. Similarly, the command word identify requires more information than a list.

- The most common weakness is the provision of too little content in an answer to meet the requirement of the command word. This is an unfortunate error as it can mean that a candidate who knows the topic, and correct points to include in their answer, misses out on marks.

There is good guidance available to candidates and providers Guidance on command words and question papers which can be accessed on the NEBOSH website. This guidance will assist candidates to see and understand what is required in an answer when the different command words are used in questions. Some candidates miss out on marks by spending too long writing about one or two points when the answer requires more points to be covered. The chance to practice questions with a range of command words and to receive feedback on the quality of their answers will benefit candidates. Rote learning

- Some candidates appear to have answered a question they hoped to see in the question paper rather than the question actually asked. This error can lead to all the available marks for a question being missed, with the consequent impact on the likelihood of reaching a pass standard.

- The weakness described can be due to rote learning but may also relate to the need to read and consider the question commented upon above

Other weaknesses observed

Candidates should also be aware that Examiners cannot award marks if handwriting is illegible.

Candidates should note that it is not necessary to start a new page in their answer booklet for each section of a question.

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UNIT IOG1 Management of international oil and gas operational safety

Question 1 Risk management tools and techniques are used to minimise hazardous

events associated with oil and gas exploration and production activities.

(a) Identify risk management tools and techniques. (6)

(b) Identify the steps of risk management AND outline EACH of the steps identified. (8)

(c) Identify project phases where risk management applies. (6)

(a) Examiners are looking for responses including Bow-tie analysis, Hazard and

Operability studies/HAZOP, Swiss cheese model, Job hazard analysis/JHA, Fault Tree analysis/FTA and Failure modes effects analysis/FMEA.

(b) Examiners are looking for responses including identifying hazards and an outline

of a range of hazards, evaluating risk and an outline of determining acceptability of a specific risk, risk reduction measures and an outline of mitigating measures and setting functional requirements and an outline of necessary risk reduction measures.

(c) Examiners are looking for responses including design, construction,

commissioning, start-up, shut down and decommissioning. Candidates should avoid describing the five steps to risk assessment rather than the more detailed steps of risk management asked for in the question. Candidates making general comments including qualitative techniques semi quantitative, risk assessments cannot gain full marks without fully naming the relevant tools and techniques. Course providers should ensure they encompass fully the requirements of risk management.

Question 2 Outline the following terms: (a) Upper flammable limit (UFL); (2)

(b) Lower flammable limit (LFL); (2) (c) Flashpoint; (2)

(d) Highly flammable liquids. (2)

(a) Examiners are looking for responses including the highest concentration of a

flammable substance in air and above the upper flammable limit the mixture is too rich to burn.

(b) Examiners are looking for responses including the lowest concentration of a

flammable substance in air and below the lower flammable limit the mixture is too

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lean to burn.

(c) Examiners are looking for responses including the minimum temperature to which a material must be heated for the vapours emitted to ignite in the presence of a flame.

(d) Examiners are looking for responses including substances which remain liquid

under pressure and having a flashpoint lower than 21 C. Most candidates generally answer this question well, although some candidates associated LFL and UFL with temperature which is incorrect. Others stated that the limits were not capable of combustion. Candidates should avoid confusion by correctly identifying specific temperatures and not simply ambient temperatures. Course providers should ensure that they include full and detailed definitions of the relevant terminology.

Question 3 Identify EIGHT marine hazards associated with all types of floating

production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs). (8)

Examiners are looking for responses including extreme weather conditions, long term exposure to environmental conditions, additional motions/stresses from a ship-like structure, wave loading against the ship, operational hazards of unloading, anchoring failures and collisions with passing supply vessels. Candidates mention general hazards such as falls from height, working at height, dropped objects and fire and explosion and but instead should mention specific marine hazards.

Question 4 (a) Give the meaning of the term standard operating procedure. (2) (b) Outline the benefits of a standard operating procedure. (4) (c) Describe the style in which a standard operating procedure

should be written to aid understanding. (2)

(a) Examiners are looking for responses including a sequenced set of written

instructions and accessibility to workers.

(b) Examiners are looking for responses including promotion of operational quality, minimising variation between workers, compliance with government procedures, and a reference source for modifications of plant.

(c) Examiners are looking for responses that are unambiguous. With the exception of part (c) answers to this question are generally limited. Very few candidates are able to give a convincing meaning of the term standard operating procedure. Many definitions are simply rephrases the question or state that it was the

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safe way or standard way of doing things. Answers to part (b) tend to give practical information of what is in the standard operating procedure rather than outlining the benefits.

Question 5 (a) Petroleum storage tank fires have been substantially reduced by

using floating roofs but a fire risk may still exist. (i) Outline how a fire risk may still exist with floating roof tanks. (4) (ii) Identify TWO examples of a fire protection system used on

floating roof tanks. (2)

(b) Process modules in an oil and gas installation often contain computer rooms that require fire protection.

Identify TWO examples of fire extinguishing media that could be

used in a computer room. (2)

(a) (i) Examiners are looking for responses including sinking the roof due to

insufficient water drainage, failure of the annular seal between the floating roof tank and annular seal and ignition through static electricity.

(b) (ii) Examiners are looking for responses including over the top systems, foam

based types and examples of chemical types such as Du Pont FE36.

(c) Examiners are looking for responses including CO2, water mist and inert gas.

Answers provided are generally limited. In part (a) (i) many candidates do not make reference to the risk arising from the use of a floating roof tank, and many candidates confuse floating and fixed roof tanks. For part (a) (ii), most candidates identify foam systems. In part (b), many candidates identify inert gas systems but others identify portable extinguishers. Halon and nitrogen systems are also specified, as extinguishing agents, which fail to gain marks. It is important that candidates fully understand the hazards and risks of the different types of storage tanks in use in the oil and gas industry.

Question 6 Within an oil and gas production platform, effective shift handovers can

prevent incidents. Outline practical operational issues that should be communicated at shift

handover. (8)

Examiners are looking for responses including an update on ongoing permits, issues with the process over previous days, physical demonstration of plant isolations, overrides on instrumentation, plant out of commission, ongoing trials, preparation of relevant documentation and abnormal events during the shift.

This question is generally not well answered; many candidates give general shift

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handover principles e.g. formal meeting instead of concentrating on the practical operational issues.

Question 7 Outline fire precautions that may be included in a hot work permit. (8)

Examiners are looking for responses including provision of a standby/fire watcher, isolation of flammable services, removal of combustible material, firefighting equipment available, gas cylinders fitted with regulator and flashback arrestor and fire resistant PPE (candidates would not merit a mark for simply specifying PPE). Many candidates duplicate the same points. Many candidates state that ignition sources should be identified which does not merit a mark. Control of hot work is a key operation within the oil and gas industries and candidates should have the correct level of understanding of the topic.

Question 8 Outline the content of a procedure for bypassing an emergency

shutdown (ESD) system. (8) Examiners are looking for responses including assessment of alternative levels of protection, senior level authorisation for the bypass, bypass period defined and time bound, clear radio communication during the bypass, informing supervisors, actions logged in operators log book, unique identification of the ESD to be bypassed, and use of a dedicated log book for ESD bypasses. Examiners are looking for the component parts of an ESD or the processes to be followed rather than specific requirements for by passing an ESD. This question is typically not attempted by many candidates, which may indicate that the topic is not being adequately covered by course providers. Given the number of incidents that have occurred within the oil and gas industry which relate to the bypassing of ESD systems it is an important topic and should be covered.

Question 9 Many major oil / gas incidents have occurred in recent years, e.g. Texas

City, Mumbai High.

(a) Outline FOUR reasons why such incidents should be investigated by employers. (4)

(b) Identify FOUR parties, other than the employer, who may want

to investigate these types of incident. (4)

(a) Examiners are looking for responses including preventing re-occurrence, legal

requirements, to gather evidence to defend against legal action and to determine costs.

(b) Examiners are looking for responses including the local authority, police, coroner

and insurance companies. This question is generally well answered with many candidates gaining maximum marks.

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Question 10 The diagram below shows a typical arrangement for receiving a pipeline

inspection gauge (PIG). A pressure gauge (P) and a PIG detector (D) exist within the receiver/trap. The detector (D) confirms that the PIG has been received in the trap, having earlier been launched upstream at high pressure.

Main line flow

Main line isolating valve A

PIG receiver isolating valve B

By-pass valve C Vent valve E

Drain valve D

PIG receiver/trap

P

Main line flow

D

DoorPIG

(a) Outline the functions of a PIG. (4) (b) Using the information and diagram above: (i) Identify TWO valves that must be closed before removing the

PIG from the door; (2) (ii) Identify TWO valves that must be open before removing the PIG

from the door. (2)

(a) Examiners are looking for responses including cleaning, facilitating hydro-testing, relaying information and plugging of pipelines.

(b) (i) Examiners are looking for responses including valve B and valve C.

(b) (ii) Examiners are looking for responses including valve E and valve D.

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Answers to part (a) are generally limited. This question requires candidates to outline the function of a Pipeline Inspection Gauge, (PIG). Many candidates are unable to answer this fully and fail to state the functions of a PIG apart from the cleaning of pipelines. Candidates generally have no problem with part (b).

Question 11 In relation to weld failures:

(a) Give the meaning of the term non-destructive testing (NDT); (2) (b) Identify TWO NDT techniques that detect surface defects only; (2) (c) Identify TWO NDT techniques that detect sub-surface defects; (2)

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(d) Outline disadvantages of visual inspection techniques. (2)

(a) Examiners were looking for responses including testing of a material for

defects/cracks and without affecting the integrity of the material.

(b) Examiners are looking for responses including dye penetrant and visual techniques.

(c) Examiners are looking for responses including eddy current and radiography.

(d) Examiners are looking for responses including detection of surface defects only

and surfaces need to be clean. This question is generally well answered and many candidates gain good marks however many fail to gain marks for not giving the full name of the relevant NDT techniques.

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NEBOSH Dominus Way Meridian Business Park Leicester LE19 1QW

telephone +44 (0)116 263 4700 fax +44 (0)116 282 4000

www.nebosh.org.uk

Registered in England and Wales Company number: 2698100 Registered charity number: 1010444

NEBOSH, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, is the worlds leading provider of Health, Safety and Environmental qualifications.

IOGC- FCIOG SampleExample question paper and Examiners feedback on expected answersNEBOSH INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE IN OIL AND GAS OPERATIONAL SAFETYUNIT IOG1: MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL OIL AND GAS OPERATIONAL SAFETYIntroductionGeneral commentsUNIT IOG1Management of international oil and gas operational safety

IOGC- BC