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PEM >>
Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) may have another regulatory fire to put out as it faces work stoppage while investigators probe the cause of an explosion Thursday, Jan. 6, that injured five workers at the company's Horizon oilsands site near Fort McKay First Nation in Northern Alberta.
Sorcha Thomas, an OHS spokesperson for the Alberta Ministry of Employment and Immigration told COS that health and safety investigation is still underway and that the probe "will take as long as necessary" to ensure the safety of the workers. As of Tuesday, Jan.11, however, the government has issued a "partial removal" of the stop-work order to allow CNR's own personnel access to certain parts of the mine that have been deemed safe to assess damage, Thomas said.
The incident occurred at 3:30 p.m. MT when an explosion occurred inside a coker, a facility that uses heat to convert bitumen into crude oil, sending the almost 150-metre high structure up in flames. The blaze was eventually contained to the coker area before finally being extinguished around 7:15 p.m, according to a CBC news report.
Two workers were injured directly by the blast, with one suffering second- and third-degree burns and the other first-degree burns. A third worker was treated for shock and two other workers were stricken with back and leg injuries, respectively. One of the workers is still being treated at an Edmonton Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
Provincial health and safety officers are currently investigating the cause of the blast to determine if any safety infractions were committed. In a press statement, CNR indicated that it is also continuing its own investigation of the cause of the explosion.
While CNR is hopeful the stop-work order will be lifted sooner rather than later, it is
Sorcha Thomas, an OHS spokesperson for the Alberta Ministry of Employment and Immigration told COS that health and safety investigation is still underway and that the probe "will take as long as necessary" to ensure the safety of the workers. As of Tuesday, Jan.11, however, the government has issued a "partial removal" of the stop-work order to allow CNR's own personnel access to certain parts of the mine that have been deemed safe to assess damage, Thomas said.
The incident occurred at 3:30 p.m. MT when an explosion occurred inside a coker, a facility that uses heat to convert bitumen into crude oil, sending the almost 150-metre high structure up in flames. The blaze was eventually contained to the coker area before finally being extinguished around 7:15 p.m, according to a CBC news report.
Two workers were injured directly by the blast, with one suffering second- and third-degree burns and the other first-degree burns. A third worker was treated for shock and two other workers were stricken with back and leg injuries, respectively. One of the workers is still being treated at an Edmonton Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
Provincial health and safety officers are currently investigating the cause of the blast to determine if any safety infractions were committed. In a press statement, CNR indicated that it is also continuing its own investigation of the cause of the explosion.
While CNR is hopeful the stop-work order will be lifted sooner rather than later, it is
PEM >>
A driller was killed last month in Northern Alberta conducting maintenance on a seismic track drill that was in the drive mode and not properly locked out in the park mode, according to an Enform Safety Alert.
On Dec. 16, 2010, the driller was conducting maintenance on a seismic track drill and had an engine side cover removed to access the motor. The engine side cover was placed outside the machine while repairs were completed. The driller finished repairs and had started the seismic track drill's engine. The driller climbed outside and placed the engine side cover back inside the cab. The engine side cover came to rest against the two hydrostatic drive levers used to engage the left and right movement of the tracks.
The unmanned seismic track drill moved forward rapidly pinning the driller between a parked pick-up truck and the seismic track drill. The driller was fatally injured.
Through the investigation, it was discovered that the seismic track drill was in the drive mode and not properly locked out in the park mode. The engine side cover had the two hydrostatic drive levers forced in the forward position.
As for recommended corrective actions, all equipment must be locked out from unintentional movement when not in care and control of the operator.
Additional corrective actions:
On Dec. 16, 2010, the driller was conducting maintenance on a seismic track drill and had an engine side cover removed to access the motor. The engine side cover was placed outside the machine while repairs were completed. The driller finished repairs and had started the seismic track drill's engine. The driller climbed outside and placed the engine side cover back inside the cab. The engine side cover came to rest against the two hydrostatic drive levers used to engage the left and right movement of the tracks.
The unmanned seismic track drill moved forward rapidly pinning the driller between a parked pick-up truck and the seismic track drill. The driller was fatally injured.
Through the investigation, it was discovered that the seismic track drill was in the drive mode and not properly locked out in the park mode. The engine side cover had the two hydrostatic drive levers forced in the forward position.
As for recommended corrective actions, all equipment must be locked out from unintentional movement when not in care and control of the operator.
Additional corrective actions:
- Equipment or vehicles unit must be in park and shut off when completing any fuelling and/or maintenance operations.
- During maintenance procedures for pre-start up, equipment and vehicles should be parked with extra clearance.
- Consider installation of secondary safety features to lockout hydrostatic drive levers when the operator is not in the driver's seat. This safety feature would provide an extra control to the park
PEM >>
Benchmark has launched its new Easy-Laser E285 Vibrometer Probe, which is used in conjunction with the E710 laser shaft alignment system. The company says it is perfect for measuring thermal expansion changers, foot resonance or taking a running softfoot test.
A user can take and store baseline readings that can be used in a condition monitoring program. The E710 aligns the machines and you can now qualify the results by taking a simple overhaul vibration reading plus a bearing condition reading with the E285. Every point can be checked against the tolerance table in the display and a manual is provided with guidelines for overall vibration and bearing condition
For more information, call 905-509-6522 or 1-800-598-1117, or visit www.benchmarkpdm.com/e710.asp.
Benchmark has launched its new Easy-Laser E285 Vibrometer Probe, which is used in conjunction with the E710 laser shaft alignment system. The company says it is perfect for measuring thermal expansion changers, foot resonance or taking a running softfoot test.A user can take and store baseline readings that can be used in a condition monitoring program. The E710 aligns the machines and you can now qualify the results by taking a simple overhaul vibration reading plus a bearing condition reading with the E285. Every point can be checked against the tolerance table in the display and a manual is provided with guidelines for overall vibration and bearing condition
For more information, call 905-509-6522 or 1-800-598-1117, or visit www.benchmarkpdm.com/e710.asp.
