1. Global Safety Standard Orientation Line and Equipment Opening

2. Line & Equipment Opening Requirements Summary
Applicability
These requirements apply to all line or equipment opening (L&EO) work.
L&EO refers to:
Opening of a process or part of a process to the atmosphere.
Removing or opening of equipment that is connected to the process in any manner
Opening lines/equipments or performing line breaks on process equipment which are in their normal place/location, even after the equipment has been isolated from the process
Opening lines/equipment associated with construction/demolition activities if in close proximity to in-service lines/equipment

3. Line & Equipment Opening When begins and when ends
A line or equipment opening begins when there is an effort to break the normal process containment (for example: at the point when the first bolt is loosened on a flange, or the first latch is opened on a centrifuge lid). Line or equipment opening ends when either the last line break is completed or the process equipment is removed from its normal location and verified to be free of process hazards.

4. Examples of L&EO Replacing a filter gauge Changing a filters
Taking samples through a sample port that is not closed
Unplugging a process line
Removing and replacing a safety valve
Opening a centrifuge for cleaning
“Hot Bolting” (replacing the bolts on a flange when the line is still in service)
Disconnection of flexible hoses if connected to process/chemical lines
Disconnection of flexible hoses if connected to process utilities (nitrogen, steam, compressed air…) and capped

5. L&EO Standard Exemptions
Using air, nitrogen or water below 60°C from stations that are intended to be opened to the atmosphere.
Using or testing safety showers and eye washes.
Routine sampling/draining activities which do NOT require task-based PPE, in addition to work area access PPE (not hazardous sampling)
Sampling activities using a truly Closed System, if PPE requirements are communicated through the PPE grid and the completed qualitative risk assessment for those activities in the QEA database shows a low priority (4 or 5).

6. L&EO Standard Exemptions (continued)
Equipment that has been removed from its normal process location and has been verified to be clear of process hazards (i.e. opening one pump at the mechanical shop which has been previously cleaned and decontaminated by operation)
Tightening bolts / tubing fitting for first attempt leak repair
Opening non pressurized reservoirs with the intention of adding lubricant or checking lubricant level
Using or testing fire, flame and spark suppression systems.
Using compressed gas for welding and cutting.

7. L&EO Standard Exemptions (continued)
Disconnecting air supply off of automatic air valve
Opening lines and/or equipment under construction which have never been used/pressurized and meet all of the following conditions:
are not in close proximity to in-service lines and/or equipment which could lead to performing the opening/break on the wrong line/equipment
newly constructed piping and/or equipment which is not connected to an existing process
Using tools that run on compressed air.

8. L&EO Standard Exemptions (continued)
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning ductwork (HVAC, NOT local ventilation or process vents
Opening valves on local exhausted ventilations which are routinely used to capture and remove emitted contaminants from the workplace ambient.
Laboratory and "bench-scale" equipment that meets the Laboratory Equipment exemption criteria.

9. L&EO Standard Exemptions (continued)
Small containers that are not connected to a process, as following examples:
Drums
Bags
Bottles
Cylinders
Cans
Totes (IBCs) that meet the Totes Exemption Criteria and are listed on the facility’s Totes L&EO Exemption List

10. L&EO General Requirements
A Safe Work Permit or an L&EO Operating Procedure is used to document and communicate the L&EO hazards and precautions. Hot L&EO always require a written critical procedure
Only Authorized Operating Procedure users can use a procedure
The line or equipment has been prepared as per the precautions in the Safe Work Permit or L&EO Operating Procedure.

11. L&EO General Requirements
The personnel involved in L&EO activities shall be properly trained, have the appropriate knowledge and skills.
With a Safe Work Permit the location must be identified during job site inspection and must be positively identified by using one of the approved methods.

12. L&EO General Requirements
A formal hazard analysis shall be performed, and reviewed with Facility / Work Group Leadership, if any of the below conditions exist:
The line or equipment contains a combustible or flammable material at a process temperature above or within 10°F/5.5°C degrees of their flashpoint, or when ambient temperature is above or within 10F°/5.5°C of the flashpoint of the material.
The concentration of flammables or combustibles is greater than to 25% of the Lower Explosive Limit before opening.
The line or equipment contains solids that could trap flammables and/or combustibles and/or toxic and/or water reactive and/or unstable materials.

13. L&EO General Requirements
Continued…
Flammables and/or combustibles and/or toxic and/or water reactive and/or unstable material in the line or equipment has not been drained or cannot be fully drained and vented and/or the cleaning/decontamination process does not ensure cleaning of the content to acceptable levels. For example, dead legs, dead ends or low spots, hollow agitator shafts, canned motor pumps, closed ball valves, wiped film evaporators, unsuccessful purging/cleaning, plugging, etc
There is a history of flammables and/or combustibles and/or toxic and/or water reactive and/or unstable material remaining in the system even after purging.
Hot L&EO

14. L&EO Requirements by Job Role
Facility Work Group Leadership
Supervisor
Person Preparing Line or Equipment
L&EO Operating Procedure Writer
L&EO Safe Work Permit Issuer
Person Doing a L&EO

15. L&EO Global vs. Standard
Note: highlight the major differences between the global requirements and your current local standard here.

16. L&EO Forms and Checklist
One of the following shall be used to identify and document the potential hazards and safeguards of a line or equipment opening:
L&EO Checklist (long)
L&EO Checklist (short)
SWP
Show either the global checklist or your site version.
The long and short Global L&EO Checklist are also available as a training and/or planning tool.

17. L&EO Training Requirements
The L&EO Standard does not require any specific training. Personnel involved in L&EO’s are required to have specific knowledge and skills.
There are checklist available that describe the knowledge and skills required for the following roles:
People who prepare and/or conduct line or equipment openings.
People who Issue Safe Work Permits for line or equipment openings

18. L&EO Site Implementation Plan
Add details about your site implementation plan, objectives and targets for this specific standard.