Successful execution of a shutdown, turnaround or outage (STO) project requires a lot of careful budgeting and planning. But nothing in that planning is more important than worker safety.

Turnaround projects by their nature involve a variety of worker safety issues. If a project has an especially tight deadline, and most turnaround projects do, it may require more labor, extended shifts or both to be completed on time. If the project uses contract labor, which is also typical, those workers will most likely be unfamiliar with the layout of the worksite, its processes and equipment. In these cases, workers may need to rely on varying degrees of professional training and past experience to navigate the unfamiliar work location, whether it’s a refinery or chemical facility. During turnaround, in the petrochemical industry especially, workers often find themselves in challenging work environments such as extreme heights or confined spaces, and may be assigned activities they don’t normally do, such as inspections, maintenance or repairs.