MB Petroelum third party fatality

1
01/96

Committed to
Safety
Road Safety Background A recent third party
double fatality highlights the need to alert
personnel to the dangers of crossing tarmac roads
from graded roads. The fatal incident occurred at
a normally closed PDO rig crossing of the main
Salalah to Muscat highway. The barriers had
been removed temporarily, and not been replaced.
A brine tanker entered the restricted crossing
and proceeded across the tarmac. A third party
vehicle travelling on the tarmac could not stop
in time and slammed into the tanker. The
collision resulted in two deaths and a serious
injury. Recommendations to prevent
recurrence Travel on pipeline right-of-ways and
restricted roads is forbidden, except where
specifically authorized. Asset holders are
strongly recommended to ensure that all
restricted roads in their area have barriers
placed at all road crossings to deter traffic. In
addition these roads should be clearly marked as
restricted to authorised traffic only.
Supervisors are advised to meet out disciplinary
action to drivers observed to be using restricted
roads without proper authorisation. Properly
authorised drivers should be instructed to come
to a full stop at all road crossings, regardless
of the traffic movement. The driver should not
move his vehicle until he has checked the
crossing both ways and is confident that there
are no oncoming vehicles. Learning
Points Pipeline right-of-ways and restricted rig
roads offer a convenience of travel for specific
business purposes. Because of this convenience,
drivers may be tempted to use a restricted road.
The roads are not always graded on a regular
basis and are insufficiently marked with warning
signs and control points for regular travel.
Right-of-ways and restricted roads are inherently
dangerous for this reason. One contractor died
in 1994 using a restricted road and now two
civilians have also perished.