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Applicable to all Oil & Gas Operators and Service Providers GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK AT HEIGHT AND IN CONFINED SPACES IN THE NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

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Applicable to all Operators and service 
companies 
GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK AT HEIGHT AND IN 
CONFINED SPACES IN THE NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY 
Code:  DPR Guide 0037 – 2020  
 
Revision Date: 2nd October 2020 
 
 
 
This is a property of the Department of Petroleum Resources. All rights reserved. 
 
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i. 
Testing shall be carried out if the atmosphere which has been contaminated 
or to any extent unsafe to breathe or where any doubt exists as to the 
condition of the atmosphere. The results shall be recorded on the permit-to-
work. 
ii. 
Gas detectors shall be used to conduct regular monitoring to ensure that 
there is no change in the atmosphere while the work is being carried out. 
iii. 
Any time a hazardous atmosphere is detected, every entrant shall leave the 
space immediately. Before re-entry, the space must be recertified by a 
competent person.  
6.5 Gas Purging 
Purging the gas or vapour from the confined space shall be carried out where there 
is presence or possible presence of flammable or toxic gases or vapours. For 
confined spaces with flammable contaminants, inert gases shall be used. After 
purging, the requirements in section 6.4 shall apply. 
6.6 Mechanical Ventilation 
Mechanical ventilators such as a blower/exhaust fan shall be used to continuously 
ventilate a confined space, if there is a limitation to natural ventilation. When 
mechanical ventilation is used, the following shall, at the minimum, apply:  
i. 
An entrant shall not enter the space until the hazardous atmosphere is 
eliminated. 
ii. 
The air supply for mechanical ventilation shall be from a clean source, free 
from any contaminants and shall not increase the hazards in the space. 
iii. 
The requirements of section 6.4 shall apply in testing and evaluating the 
confined space atmosphere. 
iv. 
The mechanical ventilator shall: