CR Plus

 CR Plus

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Aston University

Health & Safety 

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European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University - Health & Safety Support - Summer 2016 

What Key Client Goal Was Met?

CR Plus provided a clear strategy aligned roadmap for the Health & Safety upgrade of the EBRI Pilot Plant to the latest standards.

Summary of CR Plus Achievements

• Full Health & Safety Review of an industrial scale generation plant within the University.

• Clarification of the strategy for the future of the EBRI Plant, from a Health & Safety perspective.

• Identification of a multitude of actions, aligned with the Strategy to ensure their long-term resilience to potential future changes.

• Obtained the Client’s agreement for the proposed actions.

Description of the EBRI Pilot Plant

The EBRI Pilot Plant is located in the Aston University campus. The plant consists of a wood gasifier, a CHP (using either biodiesel or biodiesel with wood gas), a heat storage tank, an absorption chiller, hot water distribution pipework and electrical distribution in order to provide heat and electricity for some buildings.

Why Was CR Plus Selected for This Work?

Aston University has extensive experience of applying Health & Safety within the academic environment however external support was needed here due to the complexity and size of the EBRI Pilot Plant. The work required experience of practical application of Health & Safety Standards within the industrial environment.

What Did the Review Cover?

The review commenced with a Strategy review to set the framework (scenarios) for the technical H&S review – yielded the following focus areas:

• Engine Technical H&S Review to identify and report any detectable H&S issues based on the site visit and review of the available documentation.

• H&S Controls for Site Visits - provide an overview of safety aspects that EBRI should consider in relation to escorted tours for visitors, especially students, of the EBRI Pilot Plant when no process equipment is running.

• Management of Change - provide EBRI with an overview of the type of Management of Change processes it should consider putting in place, to use when it wants to make any changes.

• Health & Safety Management Audit to highlight where improvements are required to manage health and safety effectively, thus helping the safety of personnel, contractors and visitors and enhancing EBRI’s ability to demonstrate compliance with health and safety legislation.

• COMAH Threshold Check to confirm that the chemical inventory associated with EBRI is not large enough to bring it under COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) legislation, which is the mechanism in the UK for implementing the European Seveso III Directive.

What Were the Action Areas?

The areas in which actions were identified were very diverse and included:

• Safe design / process safety including HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) studies, CE Certification, machinery guarding, signage and labelling, emergency stop circuitry, safe access, electrical safety, leak minimisation, bunds and surface water interception

• Documentation e.g. operating and maintenance manuals, safe operating procedures (SOPs) and preventive maintenance

• Management of Change

• Personnel competency and training including housekeeping and 5S

• Emergency preparedness and response including safe egress, gas detection, fire safety, control of potentially explosive atmospheres and ventilation

• Risk assessments including noise, workplace chemical exposure (COSHH) and control of corrective and preventive actions

• Control of high risk equipment e.g. lifting and pressure 

• Control of visitors including induction and control of contractors including induction, high risk activities and permit to work, job method statement and risk assessment and isolation

How Were the Actions Presented?

The actions needed to be presented within the context of the strategy review. As such they were put in to four strategically aligned groups and assigned a recommended priority rating from 1 to 3.

...and what the client said...

"In early 2016 we engaged with CR Plus to undertake a technical health and safety (H&S) review of the EBRI Pilot Plant. We selected CR Plus because of their honest approach, clearly evident high level of practical extensive experience of technical health and safety aspects of industrial processes and their ability to think outside the box – in this case I valued the importance they placed on considering the strategy for the future of the EBRI Pilot Plant to set the context for the review. 
At all times we found the CR Plus personnel to be professional, knowledgeable and trustworthy. Furthermore their willingness to help outside of the scope of works was of real benefit to us and appreciated. Based on the relationships developed with the CR Plus personnel and the professional quality of their work I would have no hesitation in recommending CR Plus for work in the strategic, process or health, safety & environmental areas". Clara Serrano - EBRI Plant Manager


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