Confined space and LOTO mistake
I wanted to share an experience I had three years ago regarding confined space, and a lockout tagout error I made. I was working on a landfill with >600ppm hydrogen sulfide, and was doing maintenance changing out some coalescing filters in a moisture removal knockout tank (pre safety career change). The job was simple, isolate the tank, open the hatch, pull out the old filter and install the new filter. As long as the inlet and outlet of the tank were locked out and the unit depressurized we were good to go right? Wrong.
There was one 1.5" line at the base of the vessel we forgot to lock out which would normally be submerged, so it's an easy one to forget about. I was working with one other relatively new employee and as soon as we opened the lid of the vessel we got a face-full of raw landfill gas. Luckily neither one of us got hurt, but it was an extremely valuable lesson. Always take the time to lock something out properly - that includes double, and even triple checking your work!
Comments (7)
Thanks for sharing this story. It’s always hard to admit errors but they are usually really good learning experiences! I remember learning LO/TO in school and the concept always confused me until I actually saw it in practice.
We're you able to confirm ppm H2S before owning the vessel? I don't want to harp on a mistake, but based on what I have experienced as common practice the vessel should have been opened while using supplied air.
Here is an OSHA hazard info bulletin I recently read when reviewing some PSM stuff. I think it has valuable information applicable to this situation.
https://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19960514.html
WHOA!!! You were really, really lucky. I read mishaps daily, and think back about when I was younger and all the times either someone I worked with or myself have lucked out.
Cats have nothing on me with those 9 lives!