Technical and operational regulations § 11

§ 11 Materials handling and transport routes, access and evacuation routes

Onshore facilities and transport routes shall be designed so that materials handling and personnel traffic can take place in an efficient and prudent manner. Handling of materials shall to the extent possible take place by means of mechanical systems and technical appliances.
Where access routes between different levels are used daily, there shall normally be a stairway or ramp.
Evacuation routes shall be designed so that all evacuation can take place in a simple, quick and safe manner. There shall be at least two escape routes from areas with regular traffic.
Section last changed: 01 January 2011

Stairs, doors and hatches, etc. are also included in the terms access, transport and escape routes.
When designing for handling of materials and personnel traffic as mentioned in the first subsection, account should be taken, inter alia, of the following:
  1. the need for, type and quantity of lifting and transport appliances, including cranes and lifts,
  2. the need for loading and unloading areas, provision for forklifts, trolleys, etc.,
  3. access to areas and workplaces in connection with operations and maintenance,
  4. safe handling of loads.
The various work sites should be designed so that they can be serviced and maintained without the use of temporary equipment such as scaffolding, ladders, etc. As a permanent solution, stepladders should be selected in favour of vertical ladders.
Escape routes as mentioned in the third subsection, should have a satisfactory guiding system.
The NORSOK R-002 standard Appendix B should be used for material handling facilitation.
As regards design of scaffolding and ladders, Chapter 4 of the Regulations concerning the construction, design and production of work equipment and chemicals (Producer regulations) (in Norwegian only) should be used.