How do we improve safety during routine maintenance?
The Phillips Petroleum disaster and the recent explosion in Iran both originated during routine maintenance activities. What are the most effective engineering controls or procedural changes you have implemented to ensure safety during hot work and maintenance?
Replies: 1
- excodex
Maintenance is the moment when a plant is least like its design. Lines are opened, isolations are temporary, contractors are on site and ignition sources are introduced on purpose. That is why so many of the large incidents, including the ones mentioned in this topic, start during routine work.
Some practical points we would like members to compare:
- Gas testing before hot work: one test at permit issue, or continuous monitoring with a portable or temporary fixed detector during the whole job?
- Isolation: double block and bleed, blinds or single valves? Who verifies the isolation before the permit is signed?
- Handover between shifts: how do you make sure the night shift knows what the day shift opened?
If you have a permit-to-work rule that made a real difference at your site, please share it.
Earlier threads on refinery incidents: https://atexmarket.com/t/8 and https://atexmarket.com/t/11
Excodex Editor