Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway --Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority has introduced stricter rules concerning nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from Norwegian petroleum operations.
Following new analysis of health effects, it has lowered the legal limit from 2 ppm to 0.6 ppm of NO2 during the course of an eight-hour working day. For offshore installations with a 12-hour working day, however, the applicable standard is now 0.36 ppm.
The authority says NO2 can occur as a component of exhaust, in particular from fuel gas and diesel turbines, generators, and other diesel-powered machinery, and in connection with welding. It is also aware that exhaust pollution can be a problem on some offshore facilities.
The tighter rules mean that some companies may have to identify circumstances where NO2 may occur and evaluate the risk of exposure.
01/08/2008
