Good Safety Engineering


Us in the oil and gas industry always say that safety is paramount. We have catchphrases to impress this into the work culture:

  • ‘No one gets hurts’
  • ‘Nothing is so important that it cannot be done safely.’

Engineers work hard to ensure that there are design safeguards in place:

  • Perform specific reviews to identify and minimise safety hazards (HAZOP, HAZID, QRA)
  • Hire a safety engineer to champion safety causes.
  • Physically restrict flows such that downstream systems cannot be overpressurized (restriction orifices)

If a risk can’t be eliminated by design, then procedures are put in place and enforced to reduce the risk to the people and assets:

  • Work Permit Systems.
  • Safety Training.
  • Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO).

The photo below shows a design feature I like that has been incorporated into a water cooler. Note the knob on the hot water dispenser button. The knob has to be rotated before you can press the button. This reduces the risk that a child could scald themselves if they get it in their minds to experiment with the unit.

Safety Engineering

Safety Engineering

Why not put the knob on all the buttons, you may ask? Well, that is the realm of risk analysis, and cost-benefit studies. The convenience of dispensing tepid or cold water outweighs the risk of a messy puddle cause by a young experimentalist.

Another thing this brings to mind is an analysis of applicable features. Would you require this (presumably more expensive) feature if the water dispenser is in an office environment?

Oh, if you decide to buy the above brand, please give me a cut šŸ™‚

6 Responses to Good Safety Engineering

  1. Fadzli says:

    Dear mr Wata

    What’s full meaning for QRA?
    tq

  2. jabbathehutt says:

    Jabba is trying to put fencing around the lava pit so the slaves doesnt drop into it. That’s safety. That’s because if they start dying, who’s going to work in the saltmines?

    Cost benefit at its best

  3. jabbathehutt says:

    u need to buy it from overseas to have this function

  4. Wata says:

    Jabba: darn! Must be an imported item, sold on the grey market.

  5. jabbathehutt says:

    In the back alley on the planet tattoine, Jabba is the crime boss, and anyone interested, I’d be happy to smuggle a few to “Safety conscious” companies….. for a fee……

    Next step is how i am going to smuggle that through customs…..

    QRA in engineering means Quantified Risk Assessment

    QRA for Jabba means Quit Resting Already! (I shout at my slaves everyday)

  6. Fadzli says:

    Mr Jabba
    Thank for QRA.

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