Ageing assets in the power sector are said to be presenting heightened safety risks as many power systems are being operated both beyond their original design life and scope, thereby increasing the risk of a process equipment safety accident.
Chiedu Ugbo, Managing Director/CEO of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, said this at a recent Safety Summit organised for operators in the power sector. He opined that the huge level of investment in the power business can only warrant that a well-articulated loss prevention programme is put in place to assure maximum benefits for investors and Nigerians in general.
“Safety and loss prevention in power plants is a critical chain in the value systems of the assets for sustained operations and security of investments”, he said.
He said there should be regular and mandatory system checks put in place, adding that passage of time without a failure event does not mean that all is well.
“This scenario could portend low frequency but high consequence events with catastrophic outcomes.”
The NDPHC boss urged operators to design for multiple layer of protection so that in an event of failure the redundant protection will be activated.
“Failure mode protection should be an interlocked system: a failure on one level and not detected on that level should be detected by the next level”
He stated that a documented loss prevention programme is a key requirement to enhance safe thinking and practice at his company NDPHC.
Some of the key ingredients include: well-articulated safety statement and objective, work rules and standard operating & maintenance procedures (SOP&M), and clearly enforceable procedure with corrective & disciplinary actions for defaults.
Others include: A well designed and frequently executed employee training programme, frequent work site safety reviews and inspections and clear accident-reporting process, investigations and documentation.
In his contribution, Peter O. Ewesor, managing director/CEO, NEMSA & Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, stated that revamping/calibrating their protection schemes and equipment; ensuring stricter adherence to safety procedures/processes; use of safety equipment and appropriate tools and property, plant and equipment, are all required to have a safe operating environment in the power sector.
He urged the operators not to fail to disconnect buildings/structures/premises under or within right- of-way of power lines from public power supply and also to rectify defective networks to prevent electrical accidents and reduce technical losses
Joy Ogaji executive secretary Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) who spoke on HSE in Local content stated that in the light of increasing high rate of electrocutions and other related accidents in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory commission has put in place some codes as legal frameworks to monitor Safety and Health practices in the Power Sector.
“With the Health Safety Code in place, it is expected that the industry operators will step-up the health and safety activities in their respective companies otherwise they will be faced with stringent penalties.”
Some of these Codes which are presently in force are:
Nigerian Electricity Health and Safety Code
• Grid Code
• Health and Safety Manuel Code
• Amongst a host of other
Nigerian Electricity Health and Safety Code • Grid Code• Health and Safety Manuel Code, amongst a host of others.
The purpose of this code she said is for the practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation or maintenance of electricity supply and associated equipment. “The code has sets of rules that contain the basic provisions that are considered necessary for the safety of employees and the public under the specified conditions. This Code is not intended as a design specification or as an instruction manual,” she said.
Olusola Bello
