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Ferdinand A  
#1 Posted : 27 August 2020 11:08:25(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Ferdinand A

Hi guys,

I need your opinion.

One portable electrcial generator was left unattended and running at the worksite 'til the next morning. Can it be considered as Near Miss? The work location is inside the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) without any possibility of fire and explosion. 

Kate  
#2 Posted : 27 August 2020 11:11:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Not sure how this would be a risk to safety.  But it is a waste and I would treat it as an environmental incident on that basis.

thanks 1 user thanked Kate for this useful post.
Kim Hedges on 28/08/2020(UTC)
peter gotch  
#3 Posted : 27 August 2020 12:10:08(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Is it attached to something running? Might be doing e.g. overnight pumping.

Roundtuit  
#4 Posted : 27 August 2020 12:26:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Why would that be a near miss?

There are plenty of examples of equipment portable or not left to do their task without human presence.

A bit more explanation would be helpful e.g. it was there for contractor tools who had left the site

Roundtuit  
#5 Posted : 27 August 2020 12:26:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Why would that be a near miss?

There are plenty of examples of equipment portable or not left to do their task without human presence.

A bit more explanation would be helpful e.g. it was there for contractor tools who had left the site

Hsquared14  
#6 Posted : 27 August 2020 12:52:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hsquared14

I would agree that it could be classed as an environmental incident due to unnecessary use of fuel but have you checked that it wasn't providing power for some continuing process.  I wouldn't class it as a near miss otherwise everytime someone left a light one could be a near miss!

Ferdinand A  
#7 Posted : 27 August 2020 13:12:45(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Ferdinand A

@Kate - i agree with you. It is more on environmental issue rather than safety. And cost and energy saving impact. 

@Peter - no, the genset was not being used for dewatering. It was intended to give power to power tools during their work activity.

Gerry Knowles  
#8 Posted : 27 August 2020 14:02:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Gerry Knowles

I don't see it being a near miss, what was the worst that could happen, given that most electrical generators are designed to run for extended periods of time.  The worst that could happen is that it would run out of fuel and stop.

I would agree that it may be an environmental incident as fuel was consumed when it may not have been needed.  Unless it was left on for a reason, the powering of pumping equipment or the powering of security or other site based lighting. 

Perhaps the best course of action would be a reminder to everyone concerned to switch off all equipment when it is not required. 

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