Real-Life Communication
You have been called to a worksite to inspect a boiler. The mess
in the boiler room shocks you. Cardboard boxes, old filing cabinets and even
a couple of old bikes are stacked in the area.
Plus, you find that
the boiler room operator has little training. He doesn't keep a boiler
logbook. What a mess!
"Boiler inspectors have to do a lot of report
writing," says Malcolm Bishop, a boiler inspections manager. "There is also
some correspondence that needs to be done."
To help the company clean
up its act, you suggest a few tips on keeping a safer boiler room. The manager
has a few questions. Read the following information. Then see if you can answer
the manager's questions at the end.
Steps toward
a safer boiler room
Cleanliness -- Keep the boiler room
clear of unnecessary items. Often, the boiler room becomes an all-purpose
storage area. The burner requires adequate air circulation. Improper air mixture
results in incomplete combustion. That can lead to the formation of carbon
monoxide. That's a gas that is odorless, colorless and deadly.
Training
-- This cannot be stressed enough. People operating or maintaining boilers
and boiler rooms should be well trained about operating procedures, control
devices and safety devices on all equipment.
Start-up checks
-- Before lighting a boiler, it should be checked for mechanical damage and
leaks. The boiler room should be checked for combustible material. The intake
and exhaust vents should be free of obstruction.
Have a current
certificate of inspection.
Boiler operating logs -- Maintaining
operating logs allows the operator to quickly see possible problems. Accidents
seem to happen suddenly, but there are several indications before the accident
occurs.
Checklists -- Make sure checklists for start-up and
shutdown procedures are posted in the boiler room.
Preventive maintenance
-- As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Proper maintenance helps to keep the control and safety devices in working
order.
(Excerpted with permission from the Louisiana Boiler Inspectors
Society)
Questions
- If the boiler room is quite empty, why can't a few boxes be stored
in there?
- What start-up procedures should be followed before lighting a boiler?
- Why is it important to keep a boiler log?