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b 7.2 Stephanie is discussing some of the hazards with Ben, one of Dorian’s engineering
managers. Read the conversation and note the hazards that they mention.
6 Access hazards:
7 Confined space hazards:

Stephanie: So in terms of access, theoretically, there’s a risk of someone falling, as they climb
up a silo, or down into one. But there's always an externa] staircase with a guardrail, leading to
the top, and there are permanent ladders, with protective hoops around them, fixed to the
insides, leading down to the bottom. So workers should be able to access these silos fairly safely.
The big problem will be getting the welding equipment, the gas bottles, down into the bottom.
Ben: They can be lowered down by rope. Stephanie: Won't they be too heavy?
Ben: Not if they use the smaller-sized bottles. Stephanie: We'll need to specify the bottle size in
the procedure, then.
Ben: Yeah. They'll have to take care that the bottles don’t fall onto someone, as well. That no
one's standing in the bottom of the silo, while they lower them down.
Stephanie: True. That's another point to mention. OK, so access isn’t really a problem, then.
The main danger is the fact that it's a confined space. Especially given that they're welding, with
an oxy-acetylene torch burning, which will produce a fair amount of CO2 Ben: So they’ll need a
C02 detector.
Stephanie: I mean, to be safe, they’ll need to test the air before they go down, anyway. But we
should probably specify that they need to keep the detector with them while they’re working, and
keep it switched on.
Ben: Yeah. Another hazard is there'll be metal fumes given off as they're actually welding, which
is a different problem to the C02 issue. Stephanie: Sure. So really, they'll need a ventilation
system down there, some kind of air extractor.
Ben: Probably, yeah. And there's the problem of dust, as well. They'll have to be very careful
about that. If they’re welding and there's grain dust in the air, there’s going to be an explosion
hazard.
Stephanie: Yeah. Would a ventilator clear the dust, or make it worse? I suppose if there's a lot
lying around, it’d keep blowing it up into the air, wouldn't it?
Ben: Mm. I’m not sure.

c 7.2 Listen again and answer the following questions.
4 What safety precautions are discussed?
5 Which precaution might make one of the hazards worse, and how?

4 In pairs, discuss suitable health and safety precautions and PPE for the following
operations on an existing steel petrol storage tank at a processing plant. Student A, you are
a safety officer; Student B, you are an engineering manager. Use the phrases in the box.
Swap roles and practise again.
• An opening needs to be cut through the wall.
• A new steel outlet pipe must then be welded onto the opening.
• The existing paint must then be removed from the external surface of the tank, by shot-
blasting.
• The tank must then be repainted.

The main danger/hazard is ...; They'll have to take care that...;
Another danger/hazard is ...; They'll have to be (very) careful...;
There's a risk of ... -ing; To be safe, they'll need to ...;

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