February 2018 | AIChE

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February 2018

Energy Isolation - Common Program Practices

  • Non-routine work increases process risk and can directly lead to conditions that make a catastrophic accident much more likely.
  • Safe work practices are critical elements in the management of this non-routine work.
  • Safe work practices include an integrated system of policies, procedures and permits that help protect workers from hazards and prevent the sudden release of process materials or energy during non-routine work activities.

Energy Isolation - Possible Work Flow

 

Person In Charge

Responsible for the Operation of the Plant. This is typically a Site Manager whose responsibilities include:

Energy Isolation - Strategies & Effective Practices to Manage and Mitigate Hazards

Effective Practices to Manage and Mitigate Hazards

 

Reduce risk by minimizing work on lines or equipment still connected to operating portion of the process unit

  • Consider deferring work activities requiring line or equipment opening to a future turnaround or outage when inventories of hazardous materials are at a minimum or eliminated.
  • Consider deferring work activities on energized electrical circuits to a future turnaround or outage when these circuits can be properly de-energized.

Energy Isolation - Potential Hazardous Consequences

Property Damage (Fire / Explosion)

  • A release of hazardous material during a task requiring Lock-Out/Tag-Out can cause property damage if released materials are flammable, combustible, corrosive, or toxic.  Depending on the surrounding area, the released material may find an ignition source and cause a fire or an explosion.  It could also damage other equipment or require specialized cleaning and removal. A release can happen if the equipment being worked on is not isolated properly and chemical energy is released unexpectedly.

Energy Isolation - Fundamental Intent

To identify and manage release of hazardous energy that could result in personal injuries, property damage, community impacts, environmental impacts, or business impacts.  This includes inadvertent start-up of de-energized equipment, release of stored energy and release of hazardous materials during maintenance or operations activities.  Types of hazardous energy releases that should be controlled include:

Special thanks to Kathy Anderson and Elena Prats of ioMosaic for their contributions to the content of this safe work practice.

March Meeting - Steam Coffin: the true story of the Steamship Savannah

Thursday, March 22, 2018,
5:30pm to 8:00pm
EDT
American Institute of Chemical Engineers https://www.aiche.org/community/sites/local-sections/central-pennsylvania Central Pennsylvania Local Section March Meeting Talk on Steam Coffin The True Story of the Steamship Savannah By John Laurence Busch Date & Time: 5:30 PM on Thursday, March 22,...Read more

February Meeting - Tour of TPS

Thursday, February 8, 2018,
5:30pm to 9:30pm
EST
American Institute of Chemical Engineers https://www.aiche.org/community/sites/local-sections/central-pennsylvania Central Pennsylvania Section February Meeting Tour of TPS Thermal Product Solutions Date & Time: 5:30 PM on Thursday, February 8, 2018 (Bucknell Van leaves from in front of...Read more

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