Regulatory Frameworks and Internationally Recognized HSE Standards

Upstream operators must comply with a combination of national legislation and international standards developed to ensure effective risk governance and stakeholder protection. Key frameworks and organizations include:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, U.S.)

  • 29 CFR 1910 & 1926 cover occupational health and general industry safety, including confined space entry, hazard communication, and process safety management.

  • 29 CFR 1910.119 addresses Process Safety Management (PSM) of highly hazardous chemicals, applicable to gas processing and high-pressure wells.

American Petroleum Institute (API)

API develops comprehensive standards, including:

  • API RP 75 – Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental Management Program (SEMP).

  • API RP 500/505 – Classification of hazardous (classified) locations for electrical installations in petroleum facilities.

  • API STD 53 – Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells.

  • API RP 14C/14J – Safety systems and hazard analysis for offshore production facilities.

ISO Standards

  • ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (replacing OHSAS 18001).

  • ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems.

  • ISO 31000 – Risk Management Principles and Guidelines.

  • ISO 14224 – Reliability and maintenance data for equipment.

International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP)

  • IOGP Reports such as Report 510 (Life-Saving Rules), Report 511 (Leading Indicators), and Report 432 (HSE Management Guidelines) provide best practices and benchmarking data for global operators.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

  • NFPA 30 (flammable and combustible liquids)

  • NFPA 70 (NEC) – applicable to electrical safety in hazardous areas

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, U.S.)

  • Governs air emissions (40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOO/OOOOa), wastewater discharge (NPDES), spills (SPCC Plans), and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for hazardous waste.

Local Regulatory Authorities

  • Regulatory compliance must also align with the jurisdiction-specific rules of host countries, such as UK HSE regulations, Saudi Aramco GI standards, NORSOK standards in Norway, or Petrobras Technical Norms in Brazil.