Chemical Exposure Monitoring

MODEC operate the Floating, Production and Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel the Kwame Nkrumah MV21. This is installed in the Jubilee Oil Field, Ghana.
The Jubilee Oil Field is one of the largest oil fields discovered in West Africa in the last 10 years.
A CARES Group led assessment on the FPSO identified that personal exposure to benzene and glutaraldehyde could potentially occur.
Benzene is a known carcinogen and operators could be exposed when they are handling Crude Oil (e.g. during sampling).
Glutaraldehyde is a known sensitizer and operators could be exposed when decanting the material into the Day Tanks.
As a result of this potential exposure, CARES Group was asked to complete a survey to identify risks to human health.
Concentrations of benzene and glutaraldehyde were measured using Passive Sampling Badges and analysed in the laboratory.
A report was produced to provide MODEC with sufficient information to be able to comply with the guidelines given in UK HSE document HSG173, “Monitoring Strategies for Toxic Substances”.