Improved Training on Chlorine Cylinders at West Deptford
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The new equipment provides more practical and realistic training on changing chlorine cylinders and dealing with potential leaks.
Part of the manufacturing operations at our site at West Deptford, New Jersey, USA, involves the use of chlorine. This is provided in cylinders which, once empty, must be changed.
Operators have to be trained to carry out this skilled and potentially hazardous task. In the past, the operator being trained would simply use an empty chlorine cylinder, but the site has now obtained a chlorine cylinder trainer which provides a more practical and realistic approach. The training cylinder is used both for regular training for operators and to provide the site’s Emergency Response Team with better training in dealing with a potential chlorine leak.
The operator being trained on changing chlorine cylinders can practise on a dry simulated cylinder end. As the operator becomes confident of the changing procedure, the chlorine cylinder trainer can be charged with water to simulate liquid chlorine. Once the task is completed and the cylinder does not leak water, we can be sure that all the required connections were done properly.
Our Emergency Response Team also uses the chlorine cylinder trainer for practice in dealing with a leak. The cylinder is charged with water to simulate the leak and the emergency team then uses special equipment – known as the Chlorine B Kit – to seal the leak. Previously an empty cylinder was used to practice putting on the B Kit, but there was no real way of knowing that the leak was sealed properly.
The more practice that is gained through the chlorine cylinder trainer, the more efficient and confident the operators and emergency team members can be in dealing with chlorine. This will reduce the risk of operator error when changing cylinders and increase our proficiency in putting on the kit during an emergency – both minimising risk.