Energy & Infrastructure
Project Safety
Independent safety evidence for disputes on energy, renewables and major infrastructure projects. The focus is where these projects are most exposed: the move from construction to commissioning, first energisation of plant, control of hazardous energy and coordination of many contractors on one site.
Where Energy Projects Go Wrong
Energy and infrastructure projects bring civil, mechanical, electrical and controls contractors together, often with the owner's operations team and equipment suppliers on the same site. Risk peaks as the project moves from construction into commissioning. Systems are energised for the first time, temporary arrangements give way to permanent ones, and control of the plant passes from one organisation to another.
Many serious incidents and safety disputes on these projects arise at those interfaces, where it is unclear who controls a system, who can authorise work on it and whose procedures apply.
Karim has more than 20 years of safety experience across energy, construction and infrastructure, in both operational and senior leadership roles.
Karim confirms at the outset whether the issues fall within his expertise. Where a question needs a specialist engineer, such as protection system design or structural analysis, he says so and confines his opinion to safety management.
Sectors Covered
- Power generation, including gas-fired and renewable plants
- Solar farms and battery energy storage systems
- Wind energy projects
- Substations, transmission and grid connection works
- Oil and gas facilities and pipelines
- Transport, water and other major infrastructure
Issues Assessed
The issues that most often decide safety disputes on energy and infrastructure projects.
-
Construction to Commissioning
Whether the transfer of systems from construction to commissioning was planned, documented and controlled, including mechanical completion and system handover.
-
Energisation
Readiness for first energisation, notification and exclusion of personnel, and control of the boundary between live and dead systems.
-
Hazardous Energy Isolation
Isolation and lock-out of electrical, mechanical, pressure and stored energy, including verification of isolation before work starts.
-
Permit to Work Control
Which organisation's permit system applied, who held authority over each system and how permits were coordinated across contractors.
-
Simultaneous Operations
Planning and control of construction, commissioning and operational activities taking place at the same time and in the same area.
-
Emergency Arrangements
Emergency response, rescue and first aid arrangements suited to the site, its location and the hazards present during commissioning.
Hazards Particular to Energy Projects
On top of general construction risks, energy projects carry hazards that need specific controls and competence.
Electrical safety rules, authorised persons, switching programs, earthing and safe approach distances. See also electrical safety.
Thermal runaway, fire and toxic gas hazards, and the guidance in standards such as NFPA 855 and the IEC 62933 series.
Lifting of transformers, turbine components and other heavy plant, and transport of oversized loads to and around site.
Pressure testing, purging and process hazards during commissioning of gas, fuel and process plant.
Work on towers, turbines and elevated structures, including fall prevention and rescue arrangements.
Fatigue, travel, isolation and emergency response on remote sites, and safety management of projects spread across several locations.
Standards and Guidance
Performance is assessed against what applied to the project, which may include:
- The contract, the project HSE plan and the owner's site rules
- Health and safety laws of the country where the work was done
- Electrical safety rules and switching and isolation procedures
- Manufacturer instructions and commissioning procedures
- Industry guidance, such as G+ good practice guidelines for wind and IOGP guidance for oil and gas
- Standards such as ISO 45001 and relevant IEC standards
Linked Services
Energy project disputes often also involve a contractor safety management system assessment or a serious incident analysis.
For Australian workplace injury matters in the energy and utilities sector, see Energy and Utilities WHS Expert.
- Independent expert report on the safety issues in dispute
- Assessment of interface and handover arrangements
- Reply report and joint statement with the opposing expert
- Oral evidence, in person or remotely
-
Are you an electrical or process engineer?
Karim holds a degree in mechanical power engineering and practises as a safety professional rather than a design engineer. His opinions address safety management, systems of work and industry practice. Where a dispute turns on engineering design, he works alongside the appropriate engineering expert.
-
Who is responsible for safety during commissioning?
It depends on the contract and the project's arrangements, which is why it is so often disputed. Karim examines how control of each system was allocated, how that was documented and how it was actually exercised on site.
-
Can you assess projects outside Australia?
Yes. Isolation, permit control and contractor coordination follow the same principles internationally. Karim identifies the local legal requirements and project standards that applied and assesses performance against them.
-
Do you cover solar and battery storage projects?
Yes. Solar and battery energy storage projects bring electrical, fire and thermal runaway hazards that need specific controls during construction and commissioning.
-
Can you assess emergency response arrangements?
Yes. Emergency arrangements are often examined after a serious incident, including whether they matched the hazards, the location and the number of people on site.
Discuss an Energy Project Dispute
Email Karim at Karim@safetydeeds.com with an outline of the project, the parties and the safety issues in dispute.