Safety, Emergencies and Accident Prevention
Hazard awareness
Understand the main hazards: overpressure, low water, furnace explosion, water hammer, steam leaks, burns, confined spaces and electrical equipment. Know the protective devices: safety valves, low-water cut-outs, flame failure devices, pressure switches and relief valves.
Emergency procedures
Know the actions for low water, high pressure, tube failure, furnace explosion, fire and steam leak. In general, cut fuel first, then isolate and make safe. Understand why a boiler must not be refilled when the level is lost and the boiler is hot. Know how to respond to a safety valve that fails to lift or fails to reseat.
Accident prevention
Understand permit-to-work systems, lock-out and tag-out, confined space entry procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment. Know why regular drills and clear communication matter.
Traps
Questions often present a plausible but dangerous action, such as adding water to a hot boiler with a lost level, or gagging a lifting safety valve. Another trap is treating a steam leak as harmless because it is invisible; approach with care and use a shield or probe.
Worked example
If a safety valve lifts below its set pressure, reason: the valve may be leaking or the spring may be weak. Do not simply raise the set pressure; investigate and reset under controlled conditions.
Rule of thumb
In any emergency, cut the fuel and make the plant safe before investigating.