Total solvent plant safety

Plant design should consider and avoid deficiencies in the critical areas of conveying, condensing, vessel design, separation sump, etc. Ask your process engineering company or manufacturer hard questions. Review your design criteria with operating personnel, get their input. Critical safety devices can provide a minute-by-minute surveillance of crucial areas; those parts of the process that can generate the potential dangerous problems. Supervisor and operator training needs constant review. Be sure the operator thoroughly understands the process, including the reasons for and the functioning of the instrumentation and automation provided. Define limits of authority, control potential hazards by using a permit system, investigate all unsafe incidents, and make a careful analysis that will result in proper corrective action. Good management makes safe plants.