DUKE ENERGY
The relationship between ESS, Inc. and Duke Energy began with staffing full time safety managers on Flue Gas Desulphurization System projects in the Midwest region. The first project ESS, Inc. completed for Duke Energy was at the Miami Fort Station located in North Bend, Ohio. Miami Fort Station is a 1,080 megawatt, coal-steam power station. During the course of the project, two new smoke stacks, two absorber towers, wastewater treatment building, variable frequency drive building, transfer towers, conveyor systems and crane system for lime delivery to the plant were constructed. At the height of the project, there were roughly 1,000 contractors on site.
The role of the full time safety managers was to implement Duke Energy’s Environmental Health and Safety policy, and to coordinate safety efforts of all of the contractors and subcontractors safety representatives on the site. To summarize, the following were highlights of the implementation process:
- Daily site safety audits
- Facilitation of weekly safety meetings with the Contractors Safety Managers
- Weekly site safety audits with the Contractors Safety Managers
- Safety Action Item lists containing time frames to complete corrective actions Weekly reports to the Duke project team on current status of safety on the project Monthly project wide safety meetings
- Regular contact with the Duke Engineers acting as liaisons with the contractors Communication with Duke corporate EHS Manager and Subject Matter Experts Employee training and new hire orientations
- Modification of site safety policy when necessary to prevent injury or property damage
- Incident Investigations
- Open lines of communications with the workers
- Creation of safety incentive programs to promote a safe working culture
GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL
Members of our core team visit the Solon Ohio facility regularly for a wide array of services. We have developed ECP’s on over 150 pieces of production and auxiliary mechanical equipment (boilers, chillers, etc.). We have also assisted in the development of GPI Solon’s written LOTO Safety Management Program, and provided training for plant employees to assure compliance with their written safety programs.
Vessels, tanks and other spaces within the facility that were under question regarding status as Confined Spaces were evaluated. Written safety programs for Confined Spaces and Procedures for entry for all Confined Spaces were developed by E & SS. Points of interest within the procedures include execution of ECP’s, air monitoring and rescue procedures. Once the programs and procedures were written, ESS, Inc. provided training to the employees in the facility that covered elements of the written programs and the role (if any) of each employee in an Entry process. ESS, Inc. developed Confined Space Hazard Forms for evaluation of all Confined Spaces.
ESS, Inc. has also conducted a Machine Guarding assessment on all of the plant equipment, created written programs such as HAZCOM and Employee Right to Know, and assisted the facility HSE Manager with Hazardous Waste Management. We are currently developing Job Safety Analysis for all job tasks in the plant.
CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS / Turner / DAG / DYS
The entire project was planned under (3) segments of construction. Prior to initiation of the third segment of construction, it was determined that each of the projects needed to have a full-time Construction Safety Coordinator on site. ESS, Inc. is included in all of the bid documents for Segment 3 as the company who will be providing these services. The role of the Construction Safety Coordinator is to implement the Site Specific Health and Safety Plans through management of the processes that are required to create and maintain a safe and productive work environment. Each site is staffed with one of our safety professionals who are dedicated to the site full-time. We are mirroring the work that we do successfully at Duke Energy projects. The following is a reiteration of the elements of our process in Construction Safety Management:
- Daily site safety audits
- Immediate correction of safety issues that pose imminent danger
- Weekly Safety Action Items lists of safety issues discovered that indicate which contractors are responsible for a particular safety or environmental issue, recommended corrective actions and dates the items must be completed
- Weekly reports to the superintendents and foremen on current status of safety on the project
- Monthly project safety meetings with Contractor Owners and Project Managers
- Regular contact with the CPS / Turner / DAG / DYS liaisons
- Accompany the Owner’s (CPS) Insurance Risk Manager on monthly site audits
- Modification of site safety policy when necessary to prevent injury or property damage
- Incident Investigations
- New hire orientations
- Open lines of communications with the workers
DUROBAG MANUFACTURING
ESS, Inc. entered contract with Durobag to perform a Hazard Assessment and Machine Guarding Analysis at the Walton facility. Each piece of equipment was examined to determine types of guarding that would protect employees from injury. The challenge on this project was to determine the types of guards that could be used in a process that is classified as “flexible.” The equipment is modified on a regular basis to suit the design of the product that is being manufactured. For example, Week 1 of the month small Starbucks bags may be produced, and Week 2 large Macy’s bags may be produced on the same machine. The order in which ink and handles are applied may be different due to the type of paper used for the different products. Due to the constant reconfiguration, ESS, Inc. had to resolve guarding issues by recommending installation of guards that would protect employees from hazards such as pinch and nip points, but one flexible in nature for ease in application during any machine reconfiguration.
In addition to this service, ESS, Inc. performed a soft audit on the Energy Control Procedures at the site. During the project, we also reported observed environmental and safety concerns to management on a daily and weekly basis. Entering contract with us for specific services does not limit our customers to the specific scope.