INSIDE WELD AUSTRALIA
AN UPDATE FROM WELD AUSTRALIA’S INDUSTRY GROUPS Weld Australia’s Industry Groups provide a forum for technology transfer and research and development, linking members with industry and research organisations. Weld Australia works with Technology Network members to ensure they remain diverse and resilient in the ever-changing and increasingly challenging global markets. PROCESS SAFETY INDUSTRY GROUP The Process Safety Industry Group last met via Zoom on 27 October 2021 with 13 members in attendance. Baseline Audits Lara Kayess (Aurecon) recently facilitated a self-assessment safety audit process of member companies. This process has enabled members to compare their systems and processes to industry best practice. Entities that participated included Loy Yang, CS Energy, Delta Electricity, Energy Australia and Synergy. The resultant report included several recommendations for member companies. Delta Electricity and CS Energy gave an update of subsequent actions within their organisations.
Safety Alerts Several safety alerts were reported by members, including: • Emergency Shut Down (ESD) valve failed to close during annual check • Plant modifications performed on boiler components without management of change documentation • Forced Draft fan blade actuator failed when the unit was at load • Generator hydrogen leak The issue of Permit To Work (PTW) systems was raised, particularly in terms of positive identification of equipment and potential use of coloured tags. Members shared details of their systems: barcoded equipment with KKS codes to match the PTW; use of ePAS; and Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) systems
Good Practice Guide The Process Safety Industry Group is developing a Good Practice Guide to facilitate the management of safety processes and procedures. The document is undergoing final edits, and the current revision was discussed, focusing on: • Safety Critical Devices (SCDs) • Commonality of approach • Identification of SCDs and their management • The issue of non-critical work • The use of appropriate performance standards • Critical assets with no PMs • Maintenance systems, identification and flagging at the activity level, and coding on the actual work orders • Rationalising of PMs • Safety critical functions and plant, and safety procedures The next meeting of the Process Safety Industry Group will be a muchanticipated face-to-face meeting in June 2022 in Brisbane. BOILER INDUSTRY GROUP The Boiler Industry Group met on 3 November 2021 via Zoom. There were 43 members in attendance. Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia) provided an update on: • Online training during COVID-19 • International Institute of Welding (IIW) training • Certification of companies • JAS-ANZ approval which will enable certification to ISO 45001 and ISO 9001
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Australian Welding
