COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

The health and safety of employees, contractors and the local population is an absolute priority for the Petronor refinery and is an intrinsic part of its commitment to society.

We conduct our activities in a safe and responsible way. We comply with all current laws and legal regulations, as well as the best practices, established by demanding international safety codes.
 

PREVENTION

The prevention of occupational and industrial risks is integrated into the Refinery’s general management system. It is based on a series of risk assessments processes, lines of action for preventive activity and periodic controls.

Preventive/corrective measures

Preventive/corrective measures in facilities, equipment, workplaces and work stations, resulting from risk assessment of workplaces; process safety studies; inspections derived from legal regulations; inspections by reinsurers; all types of external and internal audits; scheduled inspections; development of predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance programs for facilities and equipment; maintenance programs for fire detection/action facilities; product information sheets; health surveillance; suggested measures by the workers’ representatives on the Refinery’s health and safety committee.

Information to workers

Information to workers on the risks, prevention and protection measures for their position, with the necessary education and training in the performance of their duties.

Procedures and instructions

Procedures and instructions for operations and work that require predefined guidelines for action, in which safety is contrasted.

Emergency measures

Emergency measures to mitigate the hypothetical consequences in the event of chain failures of all preventive measures.

Health surveillance

Health surveillance by Petronor’s occupational health service.

Coordination of business activities

Coordination of business activities given the involvement of the many contractors who, together with Petronor staff, conduct their work at the refinery and maritime terminal.

MAINTENANCE

Regular maintenance operations are essential to ensure that equipment, machinery, and work environment are kept safe and trustworthy. They also help to remove hazards from the workplace. Inadequate or no maintenance can lead to dangerous situations, accidents, and health problems. Maintenance is a high-risk activity. And it must be conducted safely.
– Accidents (such as slips, trips and falls) occur due to lack of maintenance or poor-quality standards.
– Lack of regular maintenance and overhaul of construction equipment and machinery may cause equipment failure and injury to operators and other employees (e.g., defects in conveyor belts, cranes, hoists, ladders, etc.).
– In the catering industry, low levels of maintenance are one of the main underlying causes of accidents. Most incidents due to poor maintenance are either equipment related (e.g., power socket or cable failures, inadequately maintained gas appliances) or occur due to leaks and spillages.
– Safety critical equipment can fail due to lack of maintenance and cause serious accidents. For further information, see the maintenance section of EU-OSHA. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA): Maintenance

EVALUATION

At design stage

Risk prevention in the design phase, by assessing the risks of new installations or extensions to existing ones, prior to their commissioning, using the most recognized techniques in the refinery industry.

In the purchase

Risk prevention in the purchase of equipment, materials and products, subject to high safety specifications.

In the operation and maintenance phase

Risk prevention in the operation and maintenance phase, covering the assessment of all workstations and workplaces, including hypothetical influences on the environment.

Hazardous substances

Prevention of events involving hazardous substances, subject to strict inspections by the administration.

CONTROL

AENOR CertificateIQNET Certificate

Operation

Operating controls of the installations and equipment, by conducting maintenance procedures as well as periodic inspections that comply with the legal requirements and demanding standards of recognized reputation.

Fire

Control of fire detection/action installations, to guarantee their reliability and correct functioning, in the event of having to activate the existing contingency plans.

Execution of works

Control of the execution of work through the work permit system, a tool that provides an authentic ‘in situ’ risk assessment of all work carried out at the Refinery.

Audits

Legal and voluntary audits that go beyond administrative requirements, aimed at verifying that our safety management system, as well as our prevention service, is correctly implemented, maintained and comply with current legislation. Proof of this is the ISO 45001:2018 certification, which replaces the OHSHAS standard.