Equipment
Water Treatment Systems
Systems for treating, disinfecting and distributing water for safe use.
Documents
- 2025Nov
Water Management
Inspection guidance for assessing offshore dutyholders’ potable-water arrangements and legionella controls. It covers system-wide risk assessment, written control schemes, hose disinfection, biocide dosing and chemical and microbiological monitoring. Success criteria, performance scoring and enforcement expectations support inspectors’ judgements on legal compliance and occupational health protection.
- 2025Jul
Hydrocarbon Active Fire Protection
An inspection guide for offshore hydrocarbon fire protection, setting out regulatory expectations, success criteria and dutyholder scoring. It examines firewater pumps, ring mains, deluge coverage and chemical dosing, with emphasis on corrosion, marine growth, system availability, as-found testing and investigation of recurring blockages.
- 2020Sep
Guidelines for Environmental Health for Offshore Installations
This addendum addresses potable-water management on offshore installations, including normally unmanned assets. It covers storage, bunkering, disinfection, Legionella control, sampling and emergency recovery. Chemical treatment, ultraviolet disinfection and pasteurisation are distinguished, alongside laboratory and field testing, written control schemes, competence assurance and management of change.
- 201711 May
Freedom Industries Chemical Release
Investigates the Freedom Industries chemical spill in Charleston, West Virginia, where internal tank-floor pitting corrosion released a mixture into the Elk River and public water supply. Examines deteriorated secondary containment, inspection deficiencies, treatment limitations, water testing, emergency communication and regulatory gaps, with recommendations for source-water protection and contamination response.
- 201625 Nov
Electrolytic Chlorination Units (Electrolysis) in Marine Ballast Treatment Systems
Safety alert following catastrophic failure of an electrolytic ballast-water treatment unit on a UKCS semi-submersible installation. It describes projectile damage and potential overpressure or hydrogen explosion hazards, including continued electrode operation during low or absent flow. Operators should assess risks, with attention to pressure relief and instrumented protection assurance.
- 201627 Jan
Lost time injury (LTI): Stored pressure release – Crewman lost an eye
A crewman lost his left eye while installing an emitter protection tube in an offshore vessel’s freshwater UV disinfection unit. Water pressure expelled the glass tube after apparent inadvertent valve opening. The flash identifies valve design, restricted ergonomics, incomplete isolation, absent work authorisation and failure to wear required safety glasses.
- 2011Jul
OCE15 - Potable water and legionella control
Guidance for offshore dutyholders on preventing potable-water contamination and legionella exposure. It addresses system design, temperature control, bunkering-hose hygiene, automated biocide dosing and scheduled water testing. Tank cleaning precautions, respiratory protection, chemical handling, maintenance records, dermatitis surveillance and worker training are also covered.
- 201020 Dec
Waterlogic water dispensers with a UV system or WL 3000 Cold only model
Following a dispenser fire in an offshore platform’s temporary refuge, this alert addresses modifications to Waterlogic UV units and the WL 3000 Cold only model. It identifies moisture ingress and internal pipe leaks as concerns and requires affected units to be isolated pending implementation of supplier technical bulletin recommendations.
- Undated
Electrical Shock During Water Maker Level Sensor Cleaning
An investigation examines an electrical shock sustained while a contractor cleaned water-maker level sensors. The report identifies an electrical malfunction that prevented a breaker from tripping and energised tank water, alongside failure to isolate power. It discusses lockout procedures, manufacturer switch instructions and subsequent employee communications.