In January 2019, we carried out an audit of Equinor Mongstad to verify how they have followed up on non-conformities we previously identified within the working environment domain. The audit showed that some non-conformities have not been rectified and, in May 2019, we issued Equinor with an order.
Find out more: Order to Equinor - Mongstad (6 May 2019)
One of the non-conformities we looked at concerned benzene exposure and the fact that Equinor was unable to demonstrate a systematic and comprehensive approach capable of adequately documenting and preventing serious health impacts on people working in areas where benzene exposure could occur. (See chapter 4.2.1, item 5.1.7 of the audit report)
In the audit, we observed that Equinor had performed a lot of work to identify, map and assess risks, and implement protective measures to avoid personnel being exposed to benzene at Mongstad. However, the planning and implementation of measures had made little progress. We observed that the water purification plant was a significant source of pollution of the working atmosphere and an extensive need for modification was evident.
We found this circumstance necessitated being followed up as a separate matter.
We have now obtained more information from Equinor to shed light on the situation. The information we have obtained expands on the issues concerning benzene exposure and ongoing planning in relation to the water purification plant and other open sources, but does not alter the observations as described in the audit report.
We have consequently issued Equinor with the following order:
Pursuant to the Framework Regulations, section 69 concerning administrative decisions, with reference to the Management Regulations, section 18 concerning working environment analysis, the Technical and Operational Regulations, section 20 concerning chemicals and chemical exposure and section 48 (3) concerning the physical and chemical working environment, the Regulations concerning the Performance of Work, section 3-11 concerning special measures for work with carcinogenic or mutagenic chemicals, and the Regulations concerning Organisation, Management and Employee Participation, section 15-1 concerning general requirements for the use of personal protective equipment, we order Equinor to:
Set out a time-delimited and binding plan to implement measures in the water purification plant and other open sources of pollution, in order to reduce exposure to benzene and other hazardous chemicals in the working atmosphere as far as possible and to a completely safe level. The measure shall be achieved through enclosure if technically possible.
The deadline for compliance with the order is 1 November 2019. The plan is to be sent to us once the order has been complied with.