Authors: T. Cesta, W.J. Thoburn, B.O. Wasmund
Association of Iron and Steel Engineers (AISE), 1994 Spring Convention, Memphis, Tennessee, April 1994
Abstract
One of the main objectives for owners and engineers planning a new industrial plant, or a retrofit of an existing plant, is to design a workplace environment which will meet stringent occupational health and safety requirements well into the next century. To meet this objective it is necessary to implement an approach called clean plant design.
The application of clean plant design principles involves a comprehensive and integrated approach for the engineering of an exemplary workplace environment. The designing of a process that is inherently clean, equipment that maximizes source containment, and a plant layout which addresses access, housekeeping, ventilation, lighting and noise, are key to the construction of a clean plant. The main thrust of the effort is to achieve total containment of process materials, even during maintenance and process upsets.
Case studies of metallurgical plants indicate that an exemplary workplace can be achieved by applying the principles of clean plant design. It is also possible to successfully apply clean plant design to retrofit situations. Other benefits of this approach are: higher productivity, improved employee morale, lower worker's compensation costs and improved environmental management.
