Safety precautions for working on pipelines

There are a variety of aspects to pipeline safety and compliance. Each of them is designed to ensure the safety and compliance of different groups, including:

  • The general public
  • Surface landowners
  • Pipeline company employees
  • Other stakeholders.

The American Petroleum Institute has documented a general overview and recommended practices: API recommended practice 1173, often shortened to API RP 1173.

This is not a legal document defining what can and cannot, or what must or must not be done, but rather a set of suggestions on how to do a good job of meeting both legal and other requirements.