Maintenance Safety

Maintenance Problems n Operative usually works in dangerous areas from which others are usually excluded by various safety barriers n Emergency repairs are particularly dangerous because work is usually performed under stress, with the offending plant still hot, cold or stuck in some phase of its operating cycle

Maintenance Problems n No safe system developed or used n No means of isolation to lock-off plant and machinery or power supplies n Lack of understanding of risks by maintenance workers n Lack of training and lack of supervision

Maintenance Hazards n Confined spaces e.g. vessels, tanks, pipework, chambers, machines n Work on tanks, pipes or vessels which may contain a hazardous substance e.g. hot cutting or welding a silo containing explosive dust n Construction/demolition of structures and work at heights e.g. use of scaffolding and access platforms, excavations, roof maintenance, work on overhead cranes

Maintenance Hazards n Work on plant, machinery or equipment which is connected to a power source n Work in plant, boilers, silos etc where entry of free- flowing solids or liquids is a possibility e.g. water, grain etc. n Work in plant where entry of toxic or hazardous materials is a possibility e.g. carbon monoxide, methane etc. n Asbestos is frequently encountered in maintenance operations