Risk management during construction of electric power substations

Abstract

The construction of electric power substations poses a great number of risks due to its dangerous environment. The objective of this work was to evaluate the perception of construction workers on risks, methods they use for evaluation and managing risks to which they are exposed. This study carried out a qualitative and quantitative analysis during the expansion of one electric substation, adding an additional 100 MVA power transformer. The risks were identified and analysed by using the Preliminary Risk Analysis (PRA). Additionally, a questionnaire on construction safety was created and applied on all 27 workers which participated in the construction. The results showed which activities are present during the construction of a power substation, which risks are involved and how to manage them. It was found that among several, the PRA and Checklists were the most commonly used analysis tools. Further on, it was found a relation between training and risk perception. Among perceived risks were: noise, working at heights, electric shocks, traffic accidents, poisonous animals, dust, fire and explosions. The conclusion of this study was that the construction of electric power substations brings several safety risks and that the instruction of workers allows an effective risk management, and can reduce the number of accidents in this type of working activity.

Risk-Based Assessment of 132 kV Electric Distribution Substations and Proximal Residential Areas in the Mangaung Metropolitan Region

“…In cases of fire and explosion, the impact becomes significant if the ground is contaminated with oil, which further makes it difficult to control and extinguish the fire. Therefore, the fencing structures should ideally be made of premoulded concrete slabs covered with anti-thermal material that acts as a barrier to fire and explosion of electrical equipment [34]. In this study, nine substations that scored non-compliance (68%) on fencing had a chain-link fencing structure.…”

Effects of Inclination Angle and Height of Blast Load on the Dynamic Behavior of Floor Slabs with Stiffening Beams

“…The following procedures outline the process of establishing the blast load parameters: Determine the specific explosion scenario, the mass of the explosive material denoted as W, and the distance from the center of the explosion to the structure being analyzed represented by R in equation (3). Determine the specific region of the building that will be impacted by the explosion.…”

“…It is necessary for fire walls to be built in order to prevent fire from spreading to adjacent units in the event of an explosion or fire in any kind of electrical transformer. Pre-cast concrete in the shape of a slab covered in a heat-resistant substance makes up the structure, which has to be taller than the transformer and reach a height of at least ten meters [3]. A brief chemical reaction that releases pressure and heat energy in a matter of milliseconds is known as an explosion.…”

Estimation of trace elements in workers at electrical substations and communication towers in Baghdad City

“…Such environment can be found in industrial places of particular; factories [6][7][8]. People in industrial field are vulnerable to toxic effects such as gases [9], heavy metals [10], radiation [11], etc. depending on their fields.…”