Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Why do people continue to die in confined spaces? On an average, using the statistics that are available through OSHA, we continue to experience 90 deaths in confined spaces annually.

This presentation examines a handful of incidents resulting in confined space fatalities and analyzes the root causes that led to the events in question.  We will review flaws in the safe guards that assist us in protecting our most valuable asset – our employees.  We will discuss, as a group, ways that we can improve the systems we have in place to push the fatality number to zero.  The discussion will include all members of the confined space entry entourage (attendant, entrant, and supervisor).

During this presentation you will learn what is needed to move from the initial determination that the control room or building is in a blast zone to the completion of retrofitting the project. The presentation will center on the step-by-step approach of putting the project together including pitfalls to avoid and what steps are needed to choose the proper system for the retrofit. Numerous types of systems including structural steel, Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) block infill, composite e-glass and carbon fiber upgrades, tilt-up wall systems, and offset precast walls will be discussed, along with actual blast test films of various systems being tested, including CMU walls, composite e-glass coated walls, polyurethane coatings and hybrid systems. A handout with a checklist will be given to all participants to use as a model to set up a project. Participants are encouraged to bring case study or pending project information to share with the group.  Participants will receive recommendations of how to streamline the process and what materials to use.

The objective of this presentation is to provide insight in regard to establishing a team that will provide maximum benefit to the restructuring process to promote safety, increase benefit, reduce schedule and get back on line as economically as possible after a catastrophic event. No matter the reason for the damage, there are certain inherit safeguards that can be put into place to safely, quickly and economically remove the bent and twisted metal. This process can take place once the investigation is finished and all questions have been answered so that the facility may begin reconstruction.  Real life catastrophic events will be shared including Refinery and Chemical Plant Explosions, Damaged Barges and Ships, Tank Terminal Fires and Others.

How do you recover after a Hurricane surge has flooded your plant equipment with saltwater?  This presentation will detail the recovery of the control systems in ExxonMobil's Beaumont Chemical Plant after the site was flooded with ten feet of water during Hurricane Ike.  It will also address the challenges of sustaining reliable operations after this recovery effort was completed.

Insights into how we learn from significant incidents and events and five lessons learned the hard way that everyone should understand about sending everyone home Alive & Well At The End Of The Day.