Hi, We have double skinned (hot water jacket) vats on site with top access hatch. Internal of the vessel is a rotating structure fitted with various blades that provides a significant obstruction hazard on access/egress and most challenging potential emergency rescue situations. At present the problem of retreiving anyone would be using a winch and harness but removing someone is extremely difficult as there are obstructions within the vat from the rotating structure which prevent ability to extract from directly above. Has anyone come across this issue before? I have emailed HSE to request some advice on this matter but I thought it may be possible to retro fit man access hatch at ground level. This has been met with negative response by mgt at site as they feel it is not possible. I think this will take a few weeks to get any real feedback from HSE so thought i would post on here for any further advice.

The contents of the vats are food based (dairy). LOTO controls energization hazards and chemical (CIP) hazards. Main requirements for entry are wash/clean out or maintenance/inspection.

Thanks,

If the use of the harness and retrieval line will cause more hazard then it should not be used. I had an entry situation a few years ago where the entrant had to go down a hatch and weave in and out of stationary baffles. Pulling someone through the baffles would have shredded them and likely the line first, created more of a hazard. Rescue service had to devise rescue plan without retrieval line, but required an additional rescue person, thus increasing the cost. Non entry rescue is best, and we focus on it, but will not work in some cases.

Another thought is that the bottom hatch may not be feasible for product safety reasons, but it is likely that management would have jumped on that first!

Always a tough call.

Many years ago while in the fire brigade I experienced a rescue from inside a similar vessel, but this one was full of toxic fumes.

The rescue involved sending in two firemen, each with a BA set, and a line (rope) was attached to each fireman and another line to their BA sets, too tight a space for entry wearing the sets. There was a fifth line taken in for the casualty who has slid down to the very bottom and was wedged in an upright position as the inside of the tank ended at a point at the bottom.

This was an extremely difficult situation and at some stages both firemen were suspended like string puppets as were their BA sets.

It took a great deal of communication skills to get the men to the bottom, and then back up again with the casualty.

The casualty was eventually rescued but died later in hospital.

I do not recommend entry into such a vessel through the hatch and would suggest a re-design for these vessels in future.

Safety for all is paramount and includes maintenance workers. Do not rely on the emergency services - they will help but do not write them into your rescue plans.

David H
I completely agree with you. The HSE seem to spout about helplines, advice, blah, blah, blah...But when it all comes down they do not tell you the best way to do a particular task, they expect you to tell them what you plan to do and will then approve or disapprove.
I can't give any practical advice on the matter as it is out with my expertise but the advice to go to other organisations such as Mines Rescue is very sound indeed. This isn't an anti HSE rant by the way, I'm just calling it as I see it based on any dealings we have had with them in our industry.