Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd's Incident Resolution - Assignment Example

FV2102ASSIGNMENT Student Course Date Question 1 Explain with reference to relevant case law the statutory responsibility placed on Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd and the Contractor Flow Systems Ltd with respect to ‘Item 1’ of the HSE Letter (Document 2) Answer Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd as stated in the document is a chemical manufacturer that is multinationally owned in which 150 personell work. Since it is a manufacturer, a number of contractors are involved so as to meet the company’s demands. Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd as well as the Contractor Flow systems Ltd have got a number of statutory responsibility so as to meet the targeted demand of the companies. Some of the key responsibilities limited to “item 1” of the HSE Letter (Document 2) include: Risk assessment of the occurrence of disease brought about by legionnaire’s from the towers involved in cooling. Setting up as well as managing an appropriate program aimed at minimizing the risk associated with the legionnaire’s disease outbreak bearing in mind the program’s effectiveness. Record keeping of all the implemented activities. Ensuring the operation as well as the maintenance personnel safety and training. Ensuring competence, adequacy as well as expertise of the personnel that are designated to carry out specific responsibilities is up to the required standard. Ensuring that every system involved in cooling is appropriately registered with the appropriated bodies. With regard to document 2, it can be seen very clearly that a number of responsibilities associated with Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd as well as Contractor Flow systems Ltd have not been adhered to properly. This is because, the cooling system used had not received sufficient risk assesment with respect to biological agents exposure. Record keeping as well as informing the authority on the working mechanism of the cooling towers and condensers. The responsibilities that have been discussed have to be adhered to so as to obtain an effective as well as functional system. Question 2 Critically analyse the data provided in ‘Document 3’ and with reference to other information provided and researched, draw conclusions to the current risk of exposure to legonnela bacteria. Answer Legonnela bacteria cause Legionnaire’s disease that can be very fatal to persons who are elderly who have a weakened body resistance as a result of concurrent illlness. It is a bacteria infection that affects the lower tract of the respiratory system. Cooling towers that are poorly maintained contain tiny droplets of water that have the Legonnela bacteria. When the droplets of water are inhaled, the disease is caused. It is therefore imperative to maintain the towers used for cooling properly so as to reduce the occurrence of this disease. Going by the data provided in ‘Document 3’, the reservoir has a capacity of 10 million litres. As can be seen in figure 1, the water from the reservoir is used for cooling purposes. A cooling tower is necessary for cooling purposes in the system. This device is designed and intended to get rid of the excess heat towards the atmosphere through the eveparation process. The cooling towers’ sizes vary ranging from small units in the rooftop to the structures that are up to 200 metres tall and 100 metres in diameter referred to us hyperboloid. To ensure effeciency in the system, circulation rate of the water is very important. Water is very vital in most of the exsting cooling system resulting to most of the cooling towers situated near water sources such as rivers, lakes and in our case, reservoirs. Circulation rate which essentially refers to the amount of water fed into the system over a given period of time. The higher the circulation rate the better the efficiency whereas the lower the circulation rate the lower the efficiency. Every system therefore has the optimum allowed circulation rate below which the system is regarded as obsolete. The allowed circulation rate is 48,000 litres per day to achieve the recommended efficiency. Feed water refers to that water that is supplied to a tower known as the boiler from a tank or reservoir as well as the condenser so as to be converted into steam. On the other hand, return water essetially refers to the water that has already been condensed that is obtained from the pipes in the system. In most systems, the temperature of the return water as well as the feed water is specified so as to ensure proper efficiency of the system. The temperature for the feed water in the given data should range between 4 oC to 10 oC while that of the return water should range between 15 oC to 18 oC. water softening refers to the a proces in which metal cations including magnessium and calcium are removed from water so as to reduce the water hardness that deters soap efficiency in washing. Soft water is economical in most instances since it is easily compatible with soap as well as extending plumbing lifetime since it effectively reduces clogging in the pipes. To achieve water softening, lime as well as ion-exchange resins are usually used. So as to achieve the required functionality of the system, the required water softener must be specified with the proper dosage also provided accordingly. The recommended water softener as provided in ‘Document 3’ should be 10 parts per million each week. Biocide dose should be 4 parts per million each fortnight. It is also imperative for the water samples to be taken to the laboratory for testing each month. Which will ensure that the efficiency as well as the relevance of the system is checked constantly. It can be seen that the ciruclation rate is well within the recommended limit of 48,000 litres per day. Since the recorded circulation rate is 1,680 litres per day. It is evident however, that the circulation rate differs from one date to another. The highest recorded circulation rate is 1685 litres per day on 20/1/11 while the lowest recorded rate is 1490 litres per day on 26/5/11. Therefore, on average the recorded circulation rate is approximately 1618 litres per day that is well within the allowed circulation rate of 48,000 litres per day. However, the return water tempeture for some days is beyond the recommded limit of between 15-18 0C. Some of the days in which this limit had been exceeded are; 7/4/11 with a return water temperature of 190C, 21/4/11 with a return water temperature of 210C, 5/5/11 with a return water temperature of 200C, 19/5/11 with a return water temperature of 210C and 26/5/11 with a return water temperature of 220C. It can be seen very clearly in ‘Document 3’ that the return water temperature was exceeded majorly in the months of April and May. This can be attributed to the either the weather changes or the lack of proper maintenance to the system at hand. This shows an error in the operation of the system and necessary remedy has to be considered. According to my analysis, the amount of softener as well as Biocide is considerably satisfactory and within the limits. It is important that in some days such as 5/5/11 the Biocide was not available which therefore meant that the water was not properly treated. However, a number of maintainance challenges are experienced that include but not limited to; damage of the drift eliminator, presence of green algae in the reservoir and many others. ‘Document 3’ essentially provides the major parameters that are considered in the water plant. Such parameters should be within the recommended limits so as not to interfere with the environment as well as the livelihood of the people existing in the vicinity. The major parameters considered in this case include but not limited to the disease causing microorganisms such as Legonnela bacteria , water circulation rate ensuring proper cooling systems, feed water as well as return water temperatures that ensure efficent cooling system, water softening ensuring all minerals as well as cations that cause water hardness are get rid off as well as biocid that ensures all the biological microorganisms that may have significant impact in the society. This document shows very clearly as discussed that some of the major perimeters are not met in the system and proper adjustment should be carried out so as the required standards are met. From my analysis I have made a number of observations that lead to the proper understanding of the working mechanism of the system and what that needs to be improved. The water plant therefore, is not satisfactory and needs more improvement. Water samples should also be taken frequently and proper testing and recommendation should be carried out. This will ensure that proper monitoring of the system is achieved hence leading to the highest levels to intergrity of the system. Question 3 Draft a reply to the HSE Inspectors letter (including an outline plan of actions the company intends to take) that is likely to convince the Inspector that no further enforcement is necessary. Answer Dear HSE Inspector Re: Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd resolution plan Referring to the inspection carried out on the 28th May 2011. A number of challenges facing the company were outlined. Some of the key challenges you identified unsuitable and insufficient risk assessment as a result of the exposure to biological agents and lack of local authority notification. Bearing in mind the implication of such challenges to the Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd it is therefore, imperative to come up with a resolution plan that will ensure that no further enforcement is necessary. Risk assessment shall be held paramount. It will be carried out comprehensively once every week to ensure that the biological agents such as Legonnela bacteria have no room to thrive in the system. Proper mechanisms that will ensure adequate efficiency will be employed to achieve this. Local authorities should be informed on all the mechanisms involved in the cooling towers as well as the evaporative condensers. This will also help coming up with helpful and elaborate record keeping methods. I believe that all the challenges will be properly addressed and that there should be no further enforcement. References Department of Health 1989. Report of the Expert Advisory Committee on Biocides. Health and Safety Commission, UK 1994. Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations- Approved Codes of Practice. Industrial Water Society, UK 1994. Guide to Risk Assessment for Water Services, 1994. National Health Service Estates, UK. Health Technical Memorandum 2040.The Control of Legionellae in Healthcare Premises- a Code of Practice, 1993. The Industrial Water Society, UK 1994. Cooling Water Treatment- a Code of Practice, 1994. Read More