The very important issues related to safety in heat treatment facilities have not been addressed in these pages since the fairly comprehensive introduction to the subject in Volume 1, Number 1 back in 2007. This is a serious omission that I intend to correct here by reminding readers of the dangers in a heat treatment environment and how to minimise the risk. The key is that you must take responsibility for your own safety and look out for safety of others. Safety is not the responsibility of some health and safety person; it is yours. It is the culture of safety in the workplace that minimises risk. However, before you can eliminate or mitigate risks, you must be aware that the hazards exist.
Alongside the hazards associated with any engineering plant there are some additional risks associated with heat treatment facilities including:
| •. | Exposure to toxic gases: you must be aware of the potential of some of the gases present in the heat treatment shop to kill you. Be familiar with the early warning signs – the smell of ammonia; the headache from carbon monoxide – and vacate the area so that the environment can be checked; the source identified and eliminated. | ||||
| •. | Asphyxiation especially in confined spaces: all the gases used in heat treatment are asphyxiants and are dangerous in confined spaces particularly pits. One good lung-full can kill you without any early warning signs. Cases of workers entering such spaces to find out why the alarm is going off or without testing the atmosphere first are all too common. If you see a body in a pit do not be tempted to try a rescue; it will just result in two dead bodies. Call for assistance. | ||||
| •. | Exposure to hot objects and surfaces and flames: along with many other foreseeable hazards, these dangers can be mitigated by the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Know what is required and wear it. | ||||
| •. | Oil fires: quench oil is difficult to ignite and fires are usually caused by equipment failure. However, that does not absolve you from knowing the correct procedure to mitigate the effect of a fire in your facility. You may be the one that takes the action necessary to stop the factory burning down. | ||||
| •. | Explosions: explosions are usually caused by the mixing of a flammable gas with air without a source of ignition present. The risk of explosions can usually be mitigated by procedures that do not allow such mixing to happen or ensure that there is always a source of ignition at the point of mixing. These procedures should preferably be automatic, but workers must be aware of the risks. | ||||
You should be fully aware of all the hazards associated with your facility. Know where the safety information and equipment is kept and ask for training if you are unsure – any competent employer will provide it. If you see somebody not wearing the required PPE or flouting a procedure (automatic or manual) to ‘get the job done’ then remind them that it is not only their own safety they are putting at risk, but yours as well.
In summary, you are responsible for your safety and that of your fellow workers. If we all look out for each other then we can eliminate accidents. Always wear the required Personal Protective Equipment and follow the proper procedures. That way we can all survive the hazards of the heat treatment environment.
Dr Paul Stratton
Editor