|
|
__Solvent
Extraction Plants: Requirement
_____
|
Accidents
by Human Failure
In spite of all
the precautions taken in designing a solvent extraction plant, an
accident can occur due to what is called human failure. This is essentially
due to the lethargy on the part of the operators to observe a few
well established and simple safety rules and sidetrack the same to
`SAVE' some work. Therefore, the following guidelines shall be strictly
enforced in a solvent extraction plant to avoid accidents due to human
failure:- |
|
|
- Putting
hands and limbs into running machinery is a common mode of accidents.
The operators of plants shall be strictly warned that no machine
shall be run without the covering of moving parts in place. Many
a times operators take out the guards and covers for maintenance
or repairs, but do not replace them before starting the machine.
This should strictly not be allowed.
- The operators
shall be strictly prohibited from taking any matches, candles,
cigarettes, and naked flames in any form inside the solvent plant
area, including preparatory section, bagging section and oil storage
tanks. Warning signs in regard to the same shall be exhibited
at such restricted areas.
- The plant
operators shall be thoroughly made to understand the potential
hazards involved and their causes as explained under A and B above
to evolve safety consciousness in them.
- People who
are not authorised to work in the solvent plant area shall not
be allowed to enter there.
- 'NO SMOKING'
signs shall be exhibited at as many spots as possible to repeatedly
remind the people not to smoke and about the consequent fire hazard
in case of smoking.
- Many a times
the plant personnel are tempted to `Dry Clean' their clothes using
the hexane available in the plant. To avoid detection they do
so in the electrical cabin which is the only enclosed room available
for such clandestine activity. This is most dangerous to do as
there are continuous electrical sparks in the panel board and
the hexane vapours generated may get ignited. There are instances
of electrical cabin blowing off with the personnel inside. The
plant personnel must be thoroughly educated in this regard and
the hazard involved must be impressed upon them. Using hexane
for washing clothes shall be totally disallowed.
- Normal-Hexane
is a slightly toxic substance and continuous and heavy inhaling
of hexane vapours can render a person `Drunk'. Therefore, no personnel
shall enter the extractor or any other equipment in the plant
when there are heavy hexane vapours. The equipment shall be properly
desolventised before entering. In conclusion, it can be stated
that if all the safety precautions enumerated above are diligently
implemented, a solvent extraction plant can be as safe as or even
safer then any other INDUSTRY.
|
|
Page Top
|
|
| ©
Copyright MECPRO Heavy Engineering Limited, 2000 |
|
