Under 2019’s ESHB 1817, owners of petroleum refining or petrochemical manufacturing must ensure their contractors and subcontractors use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all on-site construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, or maintenance work. The new law is under Chapter 49.80 RCW.
A “skilled and trained workforce” means a workforce where all the workers are either
- registered apprentices in a Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (WSATC)-approved apprenticeship program or
- skilled journeypersons as defined in under RCW 49.80.010(7).
In addition, skilled and trained workers are required to complete 20 hours of advanced safety training for workers at high-hazard facilities every three (3) years.
The 20-hour advanced safety training requirement goes into effect on JANUARY 1, 2022. The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), in consultation with the WSATC, is charged with approving in the curriculum for the advanced safety training for workers at high hazard facilities. L&I DOSH is also responsible for approving training providers and will be soliciting stakeholder input on draft proposed rules as well.
This document outlines the draft curriculum elements for the advanced safety training. The draft curriculum is consistent with training under Washington’s Skilled and Trained Workforce for Petroleum Refinery law [Chapter 296-XX WAC.]
Draft Curriculum Elements Overview – Refinery Safety Training 20-hour Course
Fundamentals of Petroleum Refining (4.0 hours)
Fundamentals of Petroleum Refining will explore the critical role refining plays in unleashing the potential of a barrel of crude oil and turning it into the specially formulated products that we rely on every day. These products include gasoline, agricultural chemicals, heating oil, plastics, and even prescription medicines. The training will also cover basic refining streams and unit configurations. Also covered will be hazards inherent to high hazard facilities and common emergency response processes. A section of the training will explain refining culture as it may differ from other industry sectors. An introduction to common refining terminology will be covered. A major objective of this course is to address:
- Fundamentals of the petroleum refining industry
- Crude oil and its properties
- Classes of refinery processes and refinery configurations
- Properties of the refinery-produced streams
- Refinery hazards and emergency response procedures
Refinery Safety Overview (RSO) (8.0 hours)
Refinery Safety Overview addresses the basic safety principles associated with working in high-hazard facilities. The RSO program provides an awareness level orientation of the following elements:
- Overview of Personal Requirements for Refineries
- Hazard Communication
- Emergency Action Plans
- Toxicology
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for working in a refinery
- Respiratory Protection
- Hearing Conservation
- Energy Control (Lockout/Tagout)
- Confined Space
- Prevention of Heat Stress
- Refinery Safe Work Practices
- Refinery Process Overview
- Process Safety Management
- Craft Specific Safety Training (8.0 hours)
This section provides training on hazards specific to the trade of the worker and covers interdependencies and relationships of trades for work being performed at refineries.
For more details, see the attached “Draft 20-hour Course in Advanced Refinery Safety Training – Minimal Required Elements Chart.”