Chemical, Petrochemical, and Refinery Towers and Silos
Silos and towers used in the chemical, petrochemical and refinery industries present a number of fall protection and confined space hazards to personnel charged with their maintenance, inspection, and repair. Workers climbing from the ground level to access monitoring instrumentation and loading equipment located at the top of the silo or tower and personnel charged with performing maintenance inside the storage area require comprehensive fall protection and confined space and rescue systems. Partnering with a fall protection company that understands the fall hazards and confined space issues presented by silos and towers used by your industry is vital to keeping your employees safe and your facility in compliance with all OSHA safety regulations.
Fall Protection Solutions
Guardrail
Horizontal Lifeline
Rescue and Descent Systems
Tip-Over Single Point Anchors
Design Considerations
The vertical storage characteristics of industrial silos and bulk storage towers can lead to the build-up of pressure and heat, which left unchecked, may result in an explosion. Silos and towers utilize fans and related equipment designed to keep the stored material from settling. Maintenance personnel use ladder systems to monitor the moisture, heat, gas, and pressure levels from the top of the silo. In addition to the fall hazards presented by the ladder system, service personnel may fall from the top of the silo, or through the access panel into the storage area itself. Although most silos have internal escape hatches at their base, workers can suffocate attempting their own rescue. Explosion risks, fall hazards, and confined space issues combine to make silos and storage towers extremely dangerous work areas.