Five Golden Rules for Avoiding Catastrophic Events
Prevention – or pre-emption – is better than cure and that’s certainly true when it comes to managing the risks associated with thermal oil systems. At TFS we specialise in developing proactive risk management strategies that safeguard production and avoid serious or catastrophic events arising from their operation.
Our approach centres around Five Golden Rules:
- Consider demonstrating compliance a minimum expectation
Why? Because compliance (with regulations, insurance requirements or OEM instructions) doesn’t always equate to safety. For example, you might not fall within flammable atmosphere regulations but if you have a leak you could easily create one!
- Treat fluid condition as a critical indicator
Expert testing of thermal fluid offers vital information that can be used to detect changes in conditions before a problem arises or starts to escalate. Testing should be thermal fluid specific, thermal fluid process specific and what you require out of the thermal fluid to deliver.
- Understand your ‘Layers of Protection’
System protections are designed to protect against specific scenarios – and these may not always align with your business priorities For example, OEM protections are designed to prevent system damage (which of course you want) but they may involve shutting down your operation at the stage where the protection kicks in – your priority is to continue production. The earlier you become aware of issues, the less disruption they’ll cause.
- Apply ‘Hierarchy of Protection and Detections’ rules to processes
Meet the level of risk with the appropriate level of protection; improve your thermal oil system to maintain system integrity, include detection that informs ahead of integrity failure and ensure the detection response is appropriate.
- Remember your people are your best defence.
A system protection only tells you that something is wrong – it’s people who will act. And if you give them the right training, any change in conditions will prompt their curiosity and investigation ensuring early detection of system faults and effective incident escalation prevention.
‘Five Golden Rules for Avoiding Catastrophic Events’ was the subject of a recent webinar delivered by our managing director, Richard Franklin.
It was part of an ongoing online programme designed to help process manufacturers learn more about the ways in which they can minimise the risks associated with the operation of thermal fluid systems and also run them efficiently, cost-effectively, safely and with statutory compliance.
It can be viewed here, along with others in the series. New webinars will be taking place at regular intervals and are easily accessible by registering here, where you will also be able to see details of forthcoming events.
For further details, please visit www.thermalfluidsolutions.com/webinars/ or call 44(0)1298 815862 (UK) or +1 713 253 3272 (US)