Colleagues Laugh, And Egg Scared Mechanic On, While He Risks Life And Limb Releasing Stored Hydraulic Energy
I recently received the following email from a mechanic:
"Hi Rory sorry to bother you. I was working on a drilling-rig today and being new to my company and new to a customers mine site I was kinda pushed into removing hydraulic hoses with an extreme amount of stored pressure. Every time I wanted to stop and say no this is way too much stored energy I was laughed at. I did my best to slowly release the fluid without being in the line of fire but it scared the piss out of me when I heard the O-Ring let go as I was loosening the ORFS fitting. We thought we had relived all pressures in all lines by manually moving all spools but obviously didn't. How can something so big and heavy with the mast vertical be relieved of all its stored energy. This was my first time ever working on a large drill like this." (SIC)
Thank you for bringing this situation to my attention. The fact that your colleagues egged you on, and laughed at you, while you were performing an extraordinarily hazardous task, that could have severely injured or killed you, shows how naive people are about stored hydraulic energy, and the risks associated with releasing same to atmosphere.
Photo (below) of oil transmission lines the mechanic was loosening. The manufacturer apparently provided assurances that moving control levers would render the hydraulic system safe to work on. This is the good old hydraulic industry's "trust me," syndrome. If, after moving levers, you can't cannot verify that stored hydraulic energy is dissipated, DON'T TRUST IT!
I am not sure who your audience was that found humor in your fear of getting seriously injured or killed, but discharging high-pressure hydraulic oil to atmosphere is, by no means, a laughing matter. What you described in your email is precisely what I have been going on about for almost three decades. I wish more victims would come forward and describe the horror of having to risk life and limb every time they loosen a hydraulic connector.
I am afraid, Canada's standard for the control of hazardous energy (Z460-13 - Control of Hazardous Energy); including hydraulics, seems to be just as confusing; and out of touch with reality, as ours in the U.S.A.
The best advice I can offer to people that find themselves facing this predicament is to review the respective machine manufacturer's warnings about the serious risks associated with discharging high-pressure oil to atmosphere, and follow their advice - don't loosen a connector.
Regrettably, it's pointless discussing the problem with your company's safety "professional (s)," because the safety fraternity is generally as naive about stored hydraulic energy as the people in harm's way. They don't have to worry, because they never have to face the wrath of hydraulic energy when it is released to atmosphere.
Canada's Government is also to blame for the problem. It's hard to believe that there is no shortage of accident alerts about people that got sideways when they discharged high-pressure hydraulic oil to atmosphere, yet there is not a single country, I am aware of, that does anything to change the situation. The fact is, most hydraulic systems in Canada, like those in America, don't comply with Canada's standards for the control of hazardous energy, and nothing is being done to mitigate the problem.
Moreover, it's a waste of time discussing the matter with your company's safety officers. They invariably have no clue about the issue of stored hydraulic energy. If safety officials were more concerned about protecting workers than they are about appeasing management, they would have taken care of the problem decades ago. The problem has existed since the fluid power industry's inception. This is proof enough that the people that get injured and killed by liquid missiles, burns, and fires, due to inherently unsafe hydraulic are simply the "collateral damage" that comes with making profit.
Advise the people that laughed at you to search "oil-injection injuries" on the internet. When they see the maimed and dismembered hands of people that were "impaled" with liquid missiles, their laughs will undoubtedly shift to other side of their faces.
Respectfully
Development Mine Captain Oyu Tolgoi Mine
7 年That's crazy to think that people on a crew in such a hazardous field would take joy in watching a team member fail or while he/she risks their life and health. Where's the leadership and accountability?
Retired
7 年shameful to hear coworkers and others make fun and push a worker to take risks. Wonder if they would of laughed should he had been injured and/or killed. This story needs to get to a Mining Inspection for an investigation.
Employed, open to offers.
7 年Great article, sad to see that this stuff is still going on. A perfect example of one's right to refuse unsafe work. If it were me in his position, I would have without hesitation. Followed by a go f@ck yourself if laughter ensued.
Founder/Director/Teacher/Author/Red Seal
7 年I can't help but notice that most of the people that make uniformed opinions about my articles have the acronym CFSP (Certified Fluid Power Specialist); or some other IFPS certification after their names. Despite the fact they are "certified" fluid power specialists, they never engage in open and respectful debate. I wonder why!!!!
Consultant, Cert. Fluid Power Specialist, Director,
7 年Dare I ask was the system equipped with test points and minimess lines ? If not; why in the world would the "mechanic" attempt such a lethal gamble without a superior or their advice? Never discharge any fluid directly to atmosphere! Especially and SPECIFICALLY, hydraulic fluid under any pressure! con·tain·ment /k?n?tānm?nt/ noun 1. the action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits. From catch pans and tubs to collection vessels and multi-stage pressure reducing chambers and circuits, common sense is the first tool to use. A quality test point kit with adapters is the next tool to apply. This will provide answers to the question "IS THIS LINE UNDER PRESSURE? and What is the pressure in this line? Default assumption should be : Treat ALL lines as if they are under pressure and then define the pressure to apply the proper CONTAINMENT. Safety and Environment solve for each but "Safety First"