PLANT ENGINEERING

Roof Safety Program

Fume Hood & Roof Safety

Plant Engineering is completing the final stages of Plant Operations’ Fume Hood and Roof Safety Program, designed to facilitate safe roof access and working conditions. The program documents over 1600 fume hoods and associated systems that contain and remove hazardous chemical and biological laboratory fumes in 56 University buildings. Engineers surveyed conditions and existing plans, performed engineering assessments, created drawings and provided labeling and signage.

Steve Woldt and J. W. Krantz, the principal engineers in the program, have begun to roll out an instructional PowerPoint presentation, as well as making information available to Plant Operations shops and various Facilities & Operations user groups. Potential users are expected to include trades and maintenance personnel, architects, engineers, inspectors, contractors, construction management and OSEH.

The Safety Plans document and link each fume hood to an exhaust source in an easy-to- use building key-plan format. Labeling is coordinated with the FMS Planned Maintenance (PM) serial numbering system. Hazardous and non-hazardous roof fan outlets are identified, along with other building rooftop systems and air intakes. The plans have already been used for planning maintenance activities and coordinating system shut downs and other roof work. It is expected that the program will help reinforce associated safety policies and procedures, and aid in training personnel in proper access procedures.

In addition, the program provides signage for all buildings that contain fume hoods. Signage is placed on fume hoods, exhaust fans, and at all roof access locations. The roof access signs serve as reminders of the exhaust fan tagging nomenclature.

An important aspect of this program is that the Safety Plans will continue as living documents of building fume hood systems, which can be used not only for safety, but also as a tool for facility condition assess-ment and planning. The drawings will require frequent updating to integrate new construction and renovations. Plant Engin-eering tries to keep these documents up-to-date; however they request assistance by all users in identifying sys-tems changes, corrections or improvements.

A copy of the Roof Safety Plans is always available for viewing in the Plant Engineer-ing office. Access to the documents through the computer network is set up for designated users. And, as always, concerned parties with questions regarding safety or roof access policies and procedures are urged to contact OSEH.

~Eric Albert
Utilities & Plant Engineering