Line Breaking and System Opening

The work authorization procedures discussed in Section 4.4 must be satisfied before equipment or piping is opened for inspection or maintenance. The contents of the system and the appropriate safety measures must also be identified. Before work begins, maintenance persoimel should verify the following  

WHITE - Tag RED - Oval BLACK - Squara WHITE - Leltaring 

FIGURE 4-7. Accident-Prevention Tags. (OSHA recommendation Reference 29 CFR 1926.200, Subpart C.) 

Hazardous materials removed from the system must be disposed of properly. Addressing the problems of disposal during design of the plant will make the task much easier and safer. The choice of agents used for cleaning or displacement is critical it is important not to create a problem by the introduction of another hazardous material. 

Isolation of the system is another important factor. The minimum length or volume should be involved to simplify the isolation process and to reduce the magnitude of the hazard. When very hazardous materials are handled, isolation should be an important consideration in design and installation. Systems usually are isolated by physical breaks, blanking, or valving. 

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