A Procedure Where the Tank Can Be Inspected and Welded Safely - Essay Example

Tank Inspection and Safe Welding Introduction Repair and maintenance of equipment is an inevitable activity in any given processing industry. As such, proper repairs ensure safety of personnel and property eliminates untimely failures and general satisfaction of customers. The adverse effects of improper or failure of repair equipment includes environmental hazards, costly down time during production, disasters and working conditions that are unsafe. When carrying out an inspection of a tank, one must first acquire a permit from the health and safety legislation and shall comply with the requisite procedures. The essence of this requirement is to ensure safety of the personnel inspecting the tanks and any other persons in vicinage when the inspection is taking place. Some of the basic requirements are that, in case the interior of the tank that is be inspected, the tank shall be clean, empty and safe, that is, no instances of neither heating nor electrical services on the tank and the atmosphere should be safe during the inspection period (Lee's, 21). Procedure 1. Conditions of operation, Inspection history and Shell’s material Before making a repair decision, the previous inspection reports, construction material and operating parameters of the tank are considered. The operating parameters help the inspector to know how the tank behaves with oil stored in it, whereas the inspection history helps to locate potential welding defects in the past. The material of the tank’s shell is examined so as to identify whether there are defect of; cracks or flaws, defects of welding or surface corrosions Lee's, 24). 2. Ground for failure The inspector should identify the reason for the tank’s failure to work as expected. The reasons may include; wrong construction material, awry techniques of welding, presence of impurities in the oil and defective design. As soon as the damage is described, an inspection is carried out to evaluate the damage’s extent, whether it is necessary to repair and the appropriate method of repair. 3. Identification of the defects location In order to identify the defects, one has to either physically enter into the tank or use visual techniques using the tank highest hatch. For effective visual inspection, a remote visual inspection device maybe employed. In some cases, the inspection method can be replaced by an equivalent procedure based on non-invasive inspection. Non-invasive inspection refers to the regime of assessment that employs a combination of ultrasonic, radiography, magnetic particle, leakage testing, electromagnetic, acoustic emission methods generally known as non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques (Lee's, 27). 4. Re-consider urgency of repair. Design calculations are performed based on the results of the NDT outcomes. This is meant to ensure that the thickness remaining is safe and that whether or not the repairs are warranted. If the thickness of the metal is high than expected then the repairs are not necessary. 5. Choose the repair method If the cracks are wrung out and that both sides of the tank are approachable, welding is the most effective method to be employed. In case of localized corrosion or deep pits, restoring the initial thickness is visible. Sometimes both methods may fail and hence a replacing the defect area with a shell or patch maybe necessary. 6. Execution of repair method (welding) The inspector should closely supervise the execution of the repair by the welder. The qualified and written procedures are stringently followed. Pre-welding NDE techniques should be carried out as well as post-welding to assure reliable repairs. The history of the tank and the inspection record are updated immediately the repairs are completed with a stipulated schedule of next inspection being recommended to the owner of the tank (Lee's, 30). Environmental aspects and control procedures to be undertaken. (a) Electricity The major hazard of electricity is electro-cution. This happens as a result of touching live electric equipment like electric wires. Electric shock can cause serious burs or more adversely, death. As such, care should be taken to avoid instances of electric shocks. To assess the risk of electric shock, the following procedure should be employed: Collect sufficient information concerning the equipment to be used for welding. This is made possible by reading the labels of the equipment and instruction manuals on electrical ratings. Ensure that the electrical equipment have been installed properly and are in good conditions through the use of an experienced and duly qualified electrician. Consider personal inspection of the power switches, equipment, cables and connections. Proper insulation should be used to assure safety. Probe the tank to ensure that there are no structures that are live and that there are no wet areas in the tank. (b) Radiation Electromagnetic radiation is produced when welding is taking place. Gas welding is known to produce infrared radiation. The possible effect of the radiation produced largely depends on the proximity to the radiation, exposure duration and intensity of the radiation. Skin and eye damage are the consequences of the radiation. In order to avoid the adverse effects of radiation, the following procedure should be employed: Collect relevant information on the process of welding to be induced so as to know the type of radiation emitted. Analyse the intensity of the radiation produced and employ risk controls that are appropriate. The risk controls among other things may include the use of hand screens and welding helmets during the process of welding. Filter glasses must be of appropriate shade so as to avoid eye damage of the welder. Goggles for gas welding must also include a filter shade to deal with the intensity of the flame. The welder should also wear protective clothing that is in good condition to prevent escape of radiation into the skin (Lee's, 35). (c) Fire and explosions Since welding involves high-temperature welding arcs and hot metal, there is a likelihood of explosions and fires. As such, the welder should ensure that safety equipment is in vicinity and appropriate clothing is used. To assess the risk of explosions and fires the welders follow the following procedure; Ensure that there are no naked flames in the tank being welded. Point out any other sources of flammable explosives that are remote from the tank. Carry the firefighting equipment into the tank when welding. Make the welding fast or take breaks so as to avoid humid and hot conditions. Work Cited Lee, Loss. Prevention in the Process Industries: Hazard Identification, Assessment, and Control (volume 1). S.l: s.n, 2000. Print. Read More