POWER June 2017 - 34

WORKFORCE & SAFETY CONCERNS
Scaffold Safety in Coal-Fired
Power Plants
Courtesy: StructSure Scaffold & Insulation
Scaffolding typically ranks near the top of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration's most-frequently cited standards. However, developing a strong
safety culture and implementing an effective scaffold safety program could help
companies avoid costly fines, and more importantly, prevent deadly accidents.
Matt Skidmore
G
oing to work in a controlled and safe
environment is not an unreasonable
expectation for any power industry
worker. In a power plant, a level of danger
is expected because it is inherent to the job,
but this is only more reason for companies
to take employee safety seriously. The best
organizations are those that understand that
a safe workplace is not only right for their
employees, but also for their bottom line.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) releases a list of the 10
most frequently cited safety and health violations
each year. The list is developed from
nearly 32,000 inspections of workplaces by
federal OSHA staff. One surprising thing
about the data is that it rarely changes; fall
protection and scaffolding are usually near
the top of the list.
Dangers associated with scaffolding
should not be overlooked by the power industry.
It is safe to say that every power plant
in the world uses scaffolding in some way,
shape, or form. It is a critical component
for many maintenance activities where permanently
installed access is not possible or
practical. Often, plant maintenance personnel
34
are trained to install scaffolding, but it is not
uncommon for scaffolding contractors to be
brought in for large jobs too.
The scaffolding industry as a whole has
made great strides in improving employee
safety records. This positive trend can be attributed
to not only government regulations,
but also to more companies understanding
the importance of building a strong safety
culture. Top performers in the industry realize
that implementing a safety program that
becomes imbedded in the culture of the organization
not only benefits its workers, but
also helps the organization become more
competitive in the marketplace.
Hazards in the Workplace
Coal-fired power plants present several occupational
hazards to workers during routine
work activities. Occupational hazards include
extreme heat stress, toxic chemical exposure,
falls, and tight working conditions (Figure 1).
Working in a coal-fired power plant can even
prove deadly in some cases, due to the risk of
fires, explosions, and serious respiratory issues.
Because coal dust is combustible, it is
critically important to take safety precautions
www.powermag.com
POWER | June 2017
1. Tight spots. Scaffold erection in the
boiler pendant area can require unusual modifications
to account for blown tubes, slag, and
other obstructions. Courtesy: StructSure Scaffold
& Insulation
http://www.powermag.com
POWER June 2017

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