Tenders

Below are the clarification notes (in BLUE) from the HSE Meeting, held at STOS’s New Plymouth office on Thursday 8^th July.

·       Work Hours:
It is expected work will progress within normal “40 hour week time” to align with STOS manning hours.  STOS will provide access to site, but will not necessarily be present on site 100% of the time.

·       Bundings:
Bundings are not required to be re-instated back to their original purpose. The level of re-instatement required for bundings is replacement to a similar cosmetic state.

·       Ground compaction testing:
Has this not been completed (e.g. for vehicle and crane access) and there are no plans to test it.

·       Medical requirements while on the de-ballast site:
The distinction is made between Scoping Phase (prior to award of tender) and Work Execution Phase (after award):
- During Scoping Phase, visitors to site will not require a medical, unless they complete a confined space entry of the tank.  If this occurs, they will meet their own company’s medical requirements.
- During Work Execution Phase, people on site will require a medical to the standard of STOS’s own Fitness to Work requirements.

·       PPE requirements while on the de-ballast site:
The distinction is made between Scoping Phase (prior to award of tender) and Work Execution Phase (after award):
- During Scoping Phase, visitors to site will require PPE as follows: gloves, hard hat, coverall, safety glasses, and steel capped boots.
- During Work Execution Phase, people on site will require PPE as follows: gloves, hard hat, coverall (fire retardant), safety glasses, and steel capped boots (laced) and any other appropriate PPE (e.g. noise mitigation PPE).

·       Cleaning state of tanks:
The interior of both tanks have been cleaned by water blasting from the floor.  A gas free certificate has been issued. 

·       On-site security:
There will not be any on-site security provided.  Reinstatement of fences is required at the end of each working day so the de-ballast site is secure.

·       Lifting Checklists:
STOS’s lifting (and other) checklists are part of the STOS Permit to Work Manual, and are to be used in conjunction with the permit.  These will be provided to the successful bidder to plan activities under STOS Permit to Work system.

·       Entry into Tanks for inspection (scoping phase):
Prior to the tender closing, access to tanks for internal inspection (confined space entry) is able to be arranged for Friday 16th July 2010 or on another day with at least 24 hour notice to STOS.  Entry into the tank(s) to be managed as a conforming confined space entry, i.e. those entering the tank will not need to wear Breathing Apparatus and a safety observer will be present.  Photos are able to be taken from within the tank.

·       Entry into Tanks (work execution phase):
The company removing the tank(s) is required to supply the equipment and people to manage the confined space entry into the tanks as a part of their job to remove the tank(s).  STOS will manage the entries under the Permit to Work system, and all people and equipment supplied will need to meet STOS’s confined space rules and standards.

·       Approved contractor list:
STOS would normally outsource these type of services to Transfield Worley, and no list of approved contractors exists.