Abstract

SEPULVEDA M, Diego L  and  RAMIREZ G, Jairo. Safety conditions of steam boilers in companies associated with a professional risk administration company in Antioquia, 2009. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.2, pp.145-152. ISSN 0120-386X.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the safety conditions of steam boilers in companies associated with a professional risk administration company in Antioquia, Colombia. To this end, their operation conditions shall be characterized, the associated risks identified, and their safety level assessed. METHODOLOGY: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in twenty companies whose production processes involve boilers. A survey on the conditions for operation was applied on both the maintenance managers and the boilers operators in each company. A hazard risk assessment matrix was made as instructed in the GTC-45 Colombian technical guide, and an assessment instrument was applied to determine the safety level for each boiler. RESULTS: 70% of the assessed boilers obtained a low score (less than 65 points) according to the scale, which has been validated by experts; the remaining boilers obtained an acceptable score (66 to 81 points) . It was also found that 85% of the boilers had no operating instructions, and 60% of them did not have any kind of alarm. CONCLUSIONS: the studied boilers had poor security conditions, mainly related to the absence of operation protocols, boiler operator training, and poor supervision by competent authorities.

Keywords : caldera; condiciones de seguridad; riesgo; explosión; boiler; safety conditions; risk; explosion.

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