"Unique" hazards of various processes 2

[RPG]

As an engineer who has been out of school for 35+ years, I have learned that certain processes have their own inherent dangers, e.g. A Refinery can have H2S exposure, Chemical Plants can have steam vacuum jets that cause corrosives to rain down on cold days, etc. Our Company sends engineers to all sorts of facilities and many of the engineers have little plant experience. I am looking for help in pinpointing specific unique hazards that are associated with specific types of facilites, e.g. Refineries, Chemical Plants, Paper and Pulp Processing, Pharamaceuticals, Food Processing, etc.. I am not looking for the general hazards that we find in all facilities. The companies that we visit should have this information, but the smaller companies are not as good at providing this type of information.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

MOST plants I visit have a 20-30 minute video outlining the hazards that may be found. And you MUST watch and sign off on it.

Before a visit - I would contact the plant manager and tell him of your predicament and that you don't a junior engineer hurt while visiting. EVERY plant is different!!

My guess is that he does NOT want that either!!

Most places are very aware of this and will help out in anyway possible.

 

[RPG]

I wish that it was that easy. The large facilities that our people visit have the safety orientation videos. It is the small facilities that are what I am worried about. Also, what could be a recognized hazard to people in a specific industry may not be of concern to others.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

RPG -

Not sure what to tell you.... How high is up or how low is down??

I just don't think there is a comprehensive list of things to watch out for. You could read OSHA for ten years and not cover everything!!

My list is pretty short -

1. Don't touch anything!!!
2. Stay away when it says "HOT" or "COLD"
3. If the pipeline is marked with a chemical ending in an "INE" or an EZE" - it is probably nasty stuff.
4. Steam lines with leaks can cut off your fingers or arms.
5. Find the "EXIT" gate - know where it is at all times.
6. Don't step in puddles - only God knows what they contain.
7. Pick out a couple of the "oldest" guys around. If they start running - follow them!!

Other than that - use your good judgement and BE CAREFUL!!

 

[Duwe6]

MiketheEngineer did a real good job of hitting the main ones. I have worked in a LOT of plants I've never seen or heard of, until somebody handed me a work order and some directions. Those rules will keep you 'intact'. I'd like to add 2 more;

8. Unless you need to perform work on an item, stay on the walkway.
9. If you have to go inside the equipment/process areas, make sure that you know where the closest Safety Shower is, before you get off the walkway.

 

[owg]

10. Just because you can't smell it, doesn't mean it isn't there.

HAZOP at

http://www.curryhydrocarbons.ca

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I'll add #11 based on owg

11. Even if you can't see it, feel it or rub it, it does mean it isn't there.

 

[coderedsafety]

OSHA is important and I think you must also study about it as hazards can occur any time and safety is very important in such situations so that necessary steps can be taken in such emergency situations.

confined space services | confined spaces permit

 

[Phosrat]

MiketheEngineer got most of it. I would add that just because everyone at the plant thinks it is safe, doesn't mean it is. Ask lots of questions about what things are and the danger they present. Remember that if you don't go home at the end of the day it doesn't matter who's "fault" it is that the danger was not identified.

 

[RPG]

I appreciate people taking the tie to respond, although I never got the answers that I am needing. Yes, all plant locations have their hazards and we try to train our employees to be diligent in all situations. Yes, we ask our employees to go through a Hazard Analysis checklist whenever they go to a new site. What I am trying to put together is a listing of UNIQUE HAZARDS that are specific to SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES. Example: H2S is a hazard to be aware of when going to a refinery, large rotating equipment is a hazard when going to a paper mill.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Sounds like you are planning on writing about a 1,000 page book. Good luck.

Any plant is dangerous - so are supermarkets and taxi cabs.

Life is dangerous.

But I will buy a copy when you are done!!