A plant explosion is one of the most dramatic and deadliest accidents that can occur when working on any kind of power plant. And the causes are often things that are done daily by employees without the knowledge of the potential danger that they can pose.
The best way to stop an accident is to know what causes it. The root cause of the problem should be identified first. Once the problem has been identified, then find the best and long-term solution to address the problem. Then monitor the results after the solution has been applied. This is to ensure that the problem will not reoccur anymore. Here is a good example of how a problem with the gas turbine’s wheelspace was identified and resolved.
Read on to find out some of the most common reasons why power plants explode so that you can do your part to prevent any future accidents.
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Equipment Malfunctions
Equipment malfunctions are one of the main causes of plant explosions as there are many different kinds of machinery used in power plants that can cause sparks if they malfunction.
Due to the flammable materials that are often mined and utilized in any kind of chemical or oil plant, sparking machinery has the potential to cause a major explosion and endanger the lives of many employees and civilians around the plant, depending on where it is situated.
To minimize the risk of these explosions, make sure that you are regularly checking equipment for any faults and that the faults are fixed as soon as possible as power plant explosions are some of the most deadly explosions that can happen due to the harsh chemicals that are often involved.
Reckless Smoking
Smoking is a very harmful habit due to the effects it can have on the smoker’s body and the bodies of second-hand smokers, but it can also be detrimental to the health and safety of everyone working in the power plant.
When you are working in a plant, it should be company standard and procedure to have an area that is allocated specifically for smoking to prevent the risk of hot ash reaching flammable and hazardous substances such as oil or harmful chemicals.
If some of these chemicals or flammable materials are lit, they can cause a major explosion that can endanger and cost lives. Make sure that your workplace has an allocated smoking area to limit the chances of these explosions.
Improper Training
Possibly the biggest cause of plant explosions is improper training. Although this may seem like an obvious procedure that should be standard for any company, many power plants are employing people without giving them proper training.
As these employees are not knowledgeable about what should and shouldn’t be done around the workplace as well as lacking in knowledge about how to correctly monitor and care for hazardous machines, human error is one of the most common causes of power plant explosions and is not to be taken likely.
A way that this risk can be minimized if you are an employer is to make sure that your employees are fully trained, and if you are an employee, you should ensure that you do not do anything that you are not completely informed about and comfortable with.
If you have been injured in a plant explosion, it is important that you hire a plant explosion attorney to represent you in the event of a court case ensuing. Whether it was your fault or not, you need to be well represented so that you get the justice you deserve and continue your life as normal following an accident.