Page 18 - Boiler_Operators_Handbook,_Second_Edition

Operating Wisely 3

tion is capable of eliminating a source of income for you ing they are protecting their job. That first priority is not
and fellow employees. your job, it’s your safety, health, and welfare. Note that
Several of the old rules have changed as a result. It protecting your position is not even on the list. When
is no longer appropriate to maintain an efficiency haze an employer becomes aware of an employee’s acting to
because it contributes to the degradation of the environ- protect the job, and they will notice it, they have to ask
ment. The light brown haze we thought was a mark the question, “If he (or she) is afraid of losing her (or his)
of efficient operation when firing heavy fuel oil has job maybe we don’t need that position, or that person.”
become an indication that you’re a polluter. Once upon Let’s face it, if the boss wants to get rid of you,
a time an oil spill was considered nothing more than a you’re gone. On the other hand, if the boss wants to
nuisance. I have several memories of spills, and the way move you up to a management position or other better
we handled them, that I’m now ashamed of. You should paying or more influential job and you can’t be replaced
be aware that insurance for environmental damage is readily, well… Many operators have been bypassed for
so expensive that many firms cannot afford insurance promotion simply because there wasn’t anyone to re-
to cover the risk. Today a single oil spill can destroy a place them. It’s simply a part of your job, so do it.
company. Preserving historical data is a responsibility of
Most state governments have placed a price on the operator. The major way an operator preserves data
emissions. At the turn of the century it was a relatively is maintaining the operator’s log. The simplest is get-
low one. The trend for those prices is up and they are ting the instructions back out of the wastebasket. If that
growing exponentially. information is retained only in the operator’s mind,
You must understand that operation of the plant the operator’s replacement will not have it and other
always has a detrimental effect on the environment. You personnel and contractors will not have it. Lack of in-
can’t prevent damage, but you can reduce the impact formation can have a significant impact on the cost of a
of the plant’s operation on the environment. The wise plant operation and on recovery in the event of a failure.
operator has a concern for the environment and keeps it Equipment instructions, parts lists, logs, maintenance
appropriately placed on the list of priorities. records, even photographs can be and are needed to op-
Those four priorities should precede continued erate wisely. It’s so important I’ve dedicated a couple of
operation of the plant on your priority list. Despite chapters in this book to it.
what the boss may say when the plant goes down, he Operating the plant economically is last and the
or she does not mean nor intend to displace them. Most priority that involves most of your time. The priorities
operators manage to develop the perception that con- discussed so far are covered quickly by the wise opera-
tinued operation of the plant is on the top of the boss’s tor. You are paid a wage that respects the knowledge,
list of priorities, that impression is formed when the skill, and experience necessary to maintain the plant in
boss is upset and feels threatened, not when she or he a safe and reliable operating condition. You earn that
is conscious of all ramifications. Continued operation is money by operating the plant economically. One can
important and dependent upon the skill and knowledge make a difference equal to a multiple of wages in most
of the operator only after the more important things are cases.
covered. Note that the word efficiency doesn’t fall on the
Since continued operation is so important, the op- list of priorities. It can be said that operating efficiently
erator has an obligation many never think of, and some is operating economically but that isn’t necessarily true.
avoid. The wise operator is always training a replace- For example, fuel oil is utilized more efficiently than
ment. If the plant is going to continue to operate there natural gas; however, gas historically costs less than
must be someone waiting to take over the operator’s job oil. The wise operator knows what it costs to operate
when the operator retires or moves up to management. the plant and operates it accordingly. Efficiency is just a
Producing a skilled replacement is simply one of the measure used by the wise operator to determine how to
more important ways the wise operator ensures contin- operate the plant economically.
ued operation of the plant. Frequently the operator finds this task daunting
Right now you’re probably screaming, “Train my because the boss will not provide the information nec-
replacement! Why should I do that, the boss can replace essary to make the economic decisions. The employer
me with that trainee?” It’s a common fear, being replace- considers the cost data confidential material that should
able, many operators refuse to tell fellow employees only be provided to management personnel. If that is
how they solved a problem or manage a situation believ- the case in your plant you can tell your boss that Ken