Alert - May 14, 2016

Ice Arena Registered Refrigeration Plant Inspection
Off-Season

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Background

The ORFA reminds all owners and operators of a registered refrigeration plant room of the importance to conduct plant inspections after shutting down the plant for the summer months. Incidents of “pressure build-up” within the system have previously caused safety devices to release refrigerant during shut down periods. Acts of vandalism and other issues that may impact plant safety must be recorded and addressed. Such events place workers and the general public at risk.

The Operating Engineer Regulations states the following requirements: Log, registered plants

37. (1) Every user of a plant shall keep in the plant a log in the form of a book or electronic log. O. Reg. 219/01, s. 37 (1).
(8) Shift entries to the log shall include,
(a) the date, the shift and the times at which the shift begins and ends;
(d) any change from normal operating procedure and the time of such change;
(e) any unusual or abnormal conditions observed in the plant and the time they were observed;
(h) any malfunction of any item or equipment, the time of the occurrence and any remedial action taken to correct the malfunction.

It is important to note that there is no stated exception for not conducting regular inspections in the Operating Engineers Regulation by a responsible person.

The ORFA recommends the following minimum inspection timetable for plant inspections for indirect refrigeration plants after shutdown:

  1. First week of shut down – no less than the regular full operation plant inspection schedule; if no detected issues.
  2. Second week – no less than once per-day; if no detected issues.
  3. Third week forward – no less than every 3- days; if no detected issues.
  4. If any issue is detected the plant should then be inspected starting at: no less than the regular full operation plant inspection schedule; if no detected issues move forward.

The ORFA recommends the following inspection timetable for plant inspections for direct refrigeration plants after shutdown:

  1. First week of shut down – no less than the regular full operation plant inspection schedule; if no detected issues.
  2. Second week forward – no less than once per day.

The Technical Standards Safety Authority has requested that ORFA remind our members that storing of any equipment, chemical or other matter that is not related to the plants safe operation is unacceptable at anytime. Grass cutting equipment and other grounds maintenance tools, supplies or barbeques are NOT to be stored in the plant room.

See Operating Engineers Regulation

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