Policies on Pig Pipeline Cleaning Safety

Pipelines must be periodically maintained to retain the pipe's structural integrity.

Pipelines transport many key resources, such as natural gas or oil. Over time, a pipeline may become coated in excess debris from the movement of a resource. Industrial pigs, under specific safety parameters, are brought in to clean pipelines.

Identification

Industrial pigs are mechanical devices, resembling rockets, placed within the body of a pipeline to analyze and clean the interior pipe length. One key advantage of using a pig is that the flowing resource does not have to be stopped for the pig to maintain the pipeline.

Safety Concerns

Either gaseous or liquid propellants move a pig down the pipeline after it has been released from its holding trap. Workers must be aware of their surroundings so that they are not in front of the activated pig. Additionally, the holding trap should be periodically inspected by workers to avoid malfunctions.

Considerations

Training of the employees is imperative, especially if the pig becomes lodged in the pipeline. Workers need to follow safety precautions, especially for dislodging the pig, to prevent injuries.

References

• Stanley Services, Inc.: Pig Launchers & Receivers
• Natural Gas: The Transportation of Natural Gas
• National Energy Board: Pipeline Pigging Operations: Open to Injury