I would like to ask how to ensure construction safety for this project
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I am about to take charge of the installation work for a **X production unit renovation project** at a chlor-alkali plant. This unit is located in the center of the plant complex, surrounded by vinyl chloride production workshops; chlorine and cyanide pipelines pass by it. The liquid chlorine packaging workshop of the plant is located less than 20 meters away, and it is filled with liquid chlorine cylinders. The existing facility contains a large number of old equipment pipelines that need to be removed; some storage tanks must be dismantled using gas cutting, and chlorine pipelines need to be taken down. Pipelines for steam and Qingjiang water remain in use, and electricity is also available. The owner said that the entire system has been thoroughly purged. A fire hazard analysis is also conducted before starting any welding work. However, the construction environment is too dangerous; any accident that occurs could have catastrophic consequences. Therefore, please discuss how safety work can be carried out in a construction environment like this to ensure absolute safety.
I suggest that you refrain from carrying out any work; wait until the owner stops their operations and clears the site before proceeding with the construction
Producing while constructing is the most dangerous situation. It is recommended to conduct a work safety analysis, with the factory’s safety department, the production department, and your construction team working together to carry out this analysis. Each construction step should be broken down, potential risks identified, and the measures that need to be taken to address them specified. Before starting work, ensure that all safety measures have been implemented before proceeding with the construction. Safety measures mainly include replacement, cleaning, purging, isolation, gas detection, and so on.
Thank you for the suggestion from the second floor. But that’s impossible – a one-day shutdown of the factory would result in losses of over 100 million. Another issue is that if our construction work causes the factory to shut down or some of its workshops to cease operating, it would also be considered a serious liability incident.
How are the regulations for preventive measures managed? Could you share it?
I am about to take charge of the installation work for a **X production unit renovation project** at a chlor-alkali plant. This unit is located in the center of the plant complex, surrounded by vinyl chloride production workshops; chlorine and cyanide pipelines pass by it. The liquid chlorine packaging workshop of the plant is located less than 20 meters away, and it is filled with liquid chlorine cylinders. The existing facility contains a large number of old equipment pipelines that need to be removed; some storage tanks must be dismantled using gas cutting, and chlorine pipelines need to be taken down. Pipelines for steam and Qingjiang water remain in use, and electricity is also available. The owner said that the entire system has been thoroughly purged. A fire hazard analysis is also conducted before starting any welding work. However, the construction environment is too dangerous; any accident that occurs could have catastrophic consequences. Therefore, please discuss how safety work can be carried out in a construction environment like this to ensure absolute safety. A comprehensive risk analysis can be conducted, namely the Hazard and Operability Study; once the risks are identified, measures can be taken.
As for how to ensure safety in such situations, it depends on the specific conditions. First, it is necessary to check that there are no leaks in the pipelines passing through the construction area; as long as the pipelines are not damaged due to forceful handling during construction, the safety of this aspect of the work can be guaranteed. For electricity-related systems, warning signs can be installed and locks can be used to prevent accidental operations, thereby ensuring safety during construction. Additionally, an isolation curtain wall should be installed along the perimeter of the construction area, extending as far outward as possible; absorbent materials can be applied to it and water sprayed on to ensure safety in the event of minor leaks.