Posted By s_jesu We are assinged to cut, remove and modify a fuel oil pipe line, which is in an offshore trestle. I never ever handled such a task. I got the method statement and risk assessment. We are using Hydro flow for cold cutting of this live pipes after shut down, latter modification by hot work. Can any one give me some safety inputs, like any un predictable risk, Hazard or plant failure. Regards, jesu@topaz

Posted By s_jesu Can any provide me with some incident related with Ultra pressure hydro cutting. Jesu@topaz

Posted By Bob Youel how did your company win such work? as they must have indicated in their bid that they are competent in this area! Live working is very dangerous as you know so speak to the trades who are to carry out the work as you should do when risk assessing and creating method statements - in fact they should undertake the designing etc of the method statements etc with you as possibly the facilitator. You are displaying competence by posing the question so don't worry but do get competent support

Posted By al wood in a past life i have been involved with UHP water jetting in numerous operations and conditions including confined space work and hydro demolition. whilst undertaking some hydro demolition work on a bridge the lance i was using failed and i was hit in the right wrist by the UHP water. the pump we were using was operating at 22,000 p.s.i. and delivering 40 litres of water per minute. the injuries i suffered let to 3 operations and an 8 day stop over in hospital. i was informed prior to the 1st operation that there was i serious possibility that i would lose my right arm just below the elbow, quite fortunatly this didnt happen but even to this day some 7 and a half years on i still have problems with my right arm (i had several hundred stitches in my forearm due to the surgery required and months of physiotherapy). there was also an incident at the firm i worked for when the operator slipped whilst hand lancing and let go of the lance and upon doing so he was "shot" through the back and left with an exit wound through his chest. the high pressure fluid passed through one of his lungs just missing his heart. my advice would be to ensure that the company you are using to undertake this task are fully aware of all the risks associated with high pressure injection injuries, and that they are members of the water jetting association if the work is being undertaken in the UK. you should also try to ensure that wherever possible hand lancing is eliminated. the water jetting associations web site shows some good examples of mechanised cold cutting. UHP water jetting and cutting is a very effective work method but as i have described above when it goes wrong it goes wrong big time. Al w