Out-of-service equipment poses invisible hazards if not handled properly
Retiring equipment in the chemical processing industry may pose more danger than meets the eye as residual hazardous chemicals, live electrical connections or connections to in-service process machinery complicates how to safely remove these items from a plant, according to the July issue of the American Society of Safety Engineer’s (ASSE) monthly journal, Professional Safety.
“In the worst cases, the equipment has essentially been abandoned,” writes author Robert Wasileski, whose article is titled, “Retired & Dangerous, Out-of-Service Equipment Hazards.” “Hazards associated with these situations can present imminent risks, or facilitate the gradual development of unforeseen risks over time.”