Tailored Oxy-Fuel Gas Training for a Seafaring Charity

Background to the Oxy-Fuel Training Requirements

Gas Safe recently conducted a series of practical oxy-fuel gas workshops for a prominent UK-based charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers. This charity also provides education, support, and welfare to the seafaring community and holds a statutory duty to deliver reliable, efficient, and cost-effective aids to navigation, crucial for the safety of all mariners. One of their key operational tasks involves the repair and replacement of buoys at sea, which includes cutting and removing badly corroded thick steel chain links and shackles using oxy-propane gas cutting equipment.

Training Objectives

The primary objectives of the workshops were to address the specific challenges faced by the charity’s operators when using oxy-fuel cutting equipment and to enhance their safety knowledge and practical skills, in handling such tools under challenging conditions at sea.

Practical Challenges of Oxy-Fuel Addressed

1. Molten Oxide Stream Management: A significant challenge highlighted by the charity’s operators was managing the molten oxide stream when cutting into round steel sections, which risked flowing back up the nozzle. This issue, if not handled properly, can pose serious safety risks and affect the efficiency of the cutting process.
2. Heavy Oxide Scale: Another issue faced by the operators was the presence of a heavy oxide scale on the steel links, which made initiating the cut particularly difficult. This is a common problem when working with heavily corroded materials, and effective techniques are required to overcome this barrier.

Our Training Approach

The workshops were designed to be highly practical, providing hands-on experience with the equipment and demonstrating techniques to mitigate the above challenges. Our experienced trainer provided tailored guidance on:

• Proper nozzle positioning and cutting techniques to prevent molten oxide from reversing direction.
• Methods for effectively initiating cuts through thick oxide scales, ensuring clean and safe operations.

Audience Engagement and Oxy-Fuel Safety Discussions

The attendees ranged from novices to experienced operators, all of whom showed a keen interest in the safety aspects of the training. A particularly engaging topic of discussion was the choice of fuel gas (propane versus acetylene) on board ships. These discussions were enhanced by references to the latest revision of Technical Information Sheet 32, issued by the British Compressed Gases Association, which outlines best practices and considerations for fuel gas selection in marine environments.

Addressing Oxy-Fuel Equipment Safety Concerns

During the initial workshop, a safety issue arose when the provided equipment and cylinders were found to be contaminated with oil due to a hydraulic leak onboard. This contamination highlighted the critical risks associated with oil and oxygen, which can lead to severe hazards if not properly managed. Following discussions with the client, the contaminated equipment was condemned, and new, clean cylinders were sourced from their gas storage area.

Our trainers always ensure that they bring in-date, serviceable equipment to practical workshops, allowing the session to proceed safely with Gas Safe’s own gas control equipment. Additionally, a significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to the correct pre-use inspection of gas control equipment, which is essential for maintaining safe operational standards.

Client Feedback

The feedback from the charity’s Learning and Development team was highly positive:

The staff did indeed find it very interesting and informative. Fantastic and engaging delivery with a huge amount of knowledge shown from the trainer. All positive from us.

This feedback underscores the value of tailored, hands-on training sessions that address the specific needs and challenges of the client, while also emphasising the importance of safety in every aspect of gas equipment operation.

Conclusion

Specialised training for seafaring operations involving oxy-fuel gas cutting is extremely important, as demonstrated by this training session. By addressing both technical challenges and safety concerns, our tailored workshop not only enhanced the practical skills of the operators, but also fostered a deeper understanding of best practices in gas safety. This holistic approach is essential for ensuring that critical maintenance tasks, such as buoy repairs at sea, are carried out safely and efficiently, ultimately supporting the charity’s mission to safeguard seafarers in UK waters.

We provide a tailored approach for all our instructor-led gas safety training and have a variety of standard workshops covering the use oxy-fuel in industrial environments, including:

Using Oxy-fuel Gases Safely Workshop
Oxy-fuel Gas Systems Set-up & Pre-use Check Practical Workshop
Oxy-fuel Gas Systems Inspection Practical Workshop (CP7)
Gas Equipment Inspectors Training, Oxy-fuel Gas Systems Workshop (CP7)

Contact us today to discuss your requirements, by phone on +44 (0)1270 758890 or send us an e-mail at admin@gassafeconsultants.co.uk.