Inspections hazardous energy

The identified machine/equipment requires a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures according to 1910.147(c)(6) - The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). Check ( ) or complete all elements of this form that apply to the Periodic Inspection. [NOTE This standard does not apply to construction, agriculture, or maritime industries.]... 

The utility should certify that the periodic inspections have been performed. The certification needs to identify the machine, equipment, pipelines, or other sources of hazardous energy on which the energy control procedure was being used the date of the inspection the employees included in the inspection and the person performing the inspection. 

Providing a checklist to an untrained person can result in his or her failure to properly identify hazards or unsafe conditions. General checklists serve as tools that guide an inspection process. These documents do not contain information about all potential hazards. The effective use of demand-response checklists will also require some type of education or training. Demand-response checklists address specific operations and complex job processes, such as the operation of robotic systems or the locking out hazardous energy. 

Certification of periodic inspections, certification of training, and documented procedures for the control of hazardous energy must be available. 

While it is important to take proper precautions (see Appendix 2), properly built equipment offers few hazards if relatively small quantities of liquids are used under pressure. The energy stored in a compressed liquid is of the order of 0.2-0.5 kJ mor kbar" this is much less than in a gas. In the event of the catastrophic failure of a vessel, only around 10 per cent of the liquid would need to escape to reduce the pressure to the atmospheric value, and double-walled vessels are unlikely to suffer a failure of both cylinders. The author has experienced the failure of a piston-cylinder apparatus which led to nothing more than a sudden depressurization. On the other hand, hazards may arise from the low-pressure side, which is likely to be carrying oil at 500 bar or more a pin-hole jet at this pressure can penetrate the human body. The valve threads may become worn and the stems may then be forcibly ejected. So hose connections should be inspected and renewed regularly and, where possible, they should be shielded from personnel, the valves should be mounted with the stems pointing away from the operator, and the guidelines set out in the code of practice (see Appendix 2) should be followed. 

A liquid pipeline has less stored energy than a gas pipeline, and a rupture does not cause an explosion. However, an explosion can occur on ignition of an explosive product. In the case of a hazardous liquid product pipeline, the environmental impact can be as serious as an explosion. The risk of an oil leak from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System has continued to be the primary driver for the aggressive corrosion prevention and inspection program maintained by the operator. Of major concern is the risk of oil leakage into water streams and thereby contaminating water supplies. 

The items to evaluate to determine the adequacy of the controls designed to prevent unwanted energy flows and exposures to hazardous environments include the technical information system, maintenance and inspection programs, direct supervision and services provided by higher levels of supervision, and the functional operability of facilities (Fig. 18-11). 

Turbine over speed could result in a maj or turbine feilure that produces missiles these would pose an internal hazards threat (see APIOOO Internal Hazards Topic Report, Reference 6.3). The turbine stop valves and the reheat stop valves are all closed by actuation of the overspeed trip system, which is completely independent of the turbine control system (Sections 10.2.2.4.3 and 10.2.2.5.1 of Reference 6.1). The probability of destructive overspeed condition and missile generation, assuming the recommended inspection and test frequencies, is less than 1x10 per year. In addition, the orientation of the turbine-generator is such that a high-energy missile would be directed away from the nuclear island (Section 10.2.2 of Reference 6.1). 

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