Page 108 - Boiler_Operators_Handbook,_Second_Edition

Boiler Plant Operations 93

in your skill but can also be an indication that the chief that Cliff had simply removed and taken with him.
can’t relinquish authority appropriately. You should go Whenever possible there should be checklists pre-
to that superior and explain that you are not comfortable pared for any repair or maintenance work in the plant.
operating a plant when others can do things without That’s so it can be consistent with normal operating
your knowledge and consent. Make certain he or she procedures. Otherwise what is a normal activity could
understands that your interest is in the safe operation be made unsafe. Many a contractor has decided a line
of the plant and they should make certain the contractor has no pressure or contents and started working on it
works with your approval. without realizing it could suddenly be filled with boiler
That’s not an excuse to be dictatorial and unwav- water (bottom blowoff).
ering. I’ve known operators that seemed to enjoy the That also provokes the thought that operating pro-
power they had over contractors and saw to it that they cedures may have to be changed to accommodate work in
didn’t interrupt the operator’s schedule, regardless. If the plant. Despite the fact that the blowoff lines should be
the owner is paying the contractor to work on a time locked out and tagged out when working on them people
and material basis the contractor won’t complain a bit. make mistakes or bad assumptions. A notice for the day
Every minute the contractor’s employees stand around regarding operation of bottom blowoff should also be
waiting for you to give them approval or shut down a prepared by the chief or maintenance manager so opera-
system simply means more time and more profit for the tors know the piping will be worked on.
contractor. Treat every one of them as if they were work- When contractors are working in the plant you
ing on time and material. should be in relatively constant observation of their ac-
Probably the most difficult thing for the operator tivities. You can’t fail to enforce the owner’s safety rules
to remember during these periods is the requirement and regulations, informing the contractor when the
that everything done is recorded in the log. In the un- rules are violated and reporting any refusal to comply.
likely, but probable, revelation of problems later—either If a contractor’s employee is injured as the result of a
as a result of the workmen’s activities or because they hazard addressed by the safety rules and that employee
failed to do something—the log provides a documented was not informed of the rules the owner could be found
history of the work for reference. Believe it or not, I liable for the person’s injuries.
served as an expert witness for a customer whose boiler Make sure safety rules are complied with but don’t
operators failed to record a contractor blew up each of help the contractor comply. The contractor should do
their new boilers on two different days. I do hope you’re confined space testing before contractor’s employees
not that lax in maintaining your log. enter a confined space. The contractor should perform
There’s frequently an air of distrust between boiler the lock-out tag-out so all you should have to do is add
plant operators and contractors working in the plant. your lock when everything is proven out.
Without going into the reasons for it, because I don’t The best projects for repair, retrofit, or maintenance
understand it anyway, I just want to mention that a in a plant by a contractor exist when the operator and
log entry that reveals that distrust through nonspecific contractor work together. By preparing a schedule and
statements or general comments will not satisfy the re- working to it you will help the contractor get done and
quirements of a court. An owner whose operator made get out of your plant as soon as possible. When several
entries like “contractor XYZ is breaking everything” and people are in a plant and their goals differ that situation
“the stupid contractor broke it” couldn’t get the jury to produces many opportunities for things to go wrong.
accept it. The jury couldn’t get past the implication that If the contractor and operator share a goal of limiting
the operator logged an opinion rather than fact. interference to plant operation and getting the work
All log entries regarding a contractor’s activities done readily and quickly then there is less likelihood of
should be factual and devoid of comment. Log entries problems cropping up. Remember what I said back in
should indicate what was done, who did it, and when that first chapter on priorities.
it was done, nothing more. It’s very important you do it
because there may be nobody else there to see it—forc-
ing a later conclusion that what you’re testifying hap- CODE REPAIRS
pened, without a log entry, may be nothing but your
imagination. I know one time a simple seven word entry I’m sure you’re skilled at repairing several things.
“Cliff working on Boiler 3 control panel” later proved to Based on my own experience I believe you have to be
recover a rather expensive burner management chassis knowledgeable and capable of many repairs yourself.