HEALTH SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT FOR POWER INDUSTRY -MBPG 931

Max Marks 100

All Questions are compulsory Q1. 1 Explain the following terms. Each carries 3 marks (15 Marks) a. EIA

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an assessment or a study of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects. The study also includes suggesting mitigation measures in the form of an environmental plan (EMP) to alleviate adverse environmental impacts. The study inter alia includes carrying out Risk Analysis (RA) and preparation of on-site disaster management plan (DMP). EIA is used as one of the decision-making tools by the regulatory authorities to accord environmental clearance for a proposed project. As said before under the legislation, in India, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and rules made thereunder, EIA study is required to be carried out mandatory for new projects and expansion/moderation of existing plants. There are various methods available to carry out EIAs, some are industry specific and some general methods: Industrial products - Product environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) is used for identifying and measuring the impact on the environment of industrial products. These EIAs consider technological activities used for various stages of the product: extraction of raw material for the product and for ancillary materials and equipment, through the production and use of the product, right up to the disposal of the product, the ancillary equipment and material.

Genetically modified plants - There are specific methods available to perform EIAs of genetically modified plants. Some of the methods are GMP-RAM, INOVA etc.

Fuzzy Arithmetic - EIA methods need specific parameters and variables to be measured to estimate values of impact indicators. However many of the environment impact properties cannot be measured on a scale eg landscape quality, lifestyle quality, social acceptance etc. and moreover these indicators are very subjective. Thus to assess the impacts we may need to take the help of information from similar EIAs, expert criteria, sensitivity of affected population etc. To treat this information, which is generally inaccurate, systematically, fuzzy arithmetic and approximate reasoning methods can be utilised. This is called as a fuzzy logic approach.

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b. BACT

Best available control technology (BACT) is a pollution control standard mandated by the United States Clean Air Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determines what air pollution control technology will be used to control a specific pollutant to a specified limit. When a BACT is determined, factors such as energy consumption, total source emission, regional environmental impact, and economic costs are taken into account. It is the current EPA standard for all polluting sources that fall under the New Source Review guidelines and is determined on a case-by-case basis. The BACT standard is significantly more stringent than the reasonably available control technology standard but much less stringent than the lowest achievable control technology standard.

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c. DMP

Disaster management is a process or strategy that is implemented when any type of catastrophic event takes place. Sometimes referred to as disaster recovery management, the process may be initiated when anything threatens to disrupt normal operations or puts the lives of human beings at risk. Governments on all levels as well as many businesses create some sort of disaster plan that make it possible to overcome the catastrophe and return to normal function as quickly as possible. One of the essential elements of disaster management involves defining the types of catastrophes that could possibly disrupt the day to day operation of a city, town, business, or country. Identifying those potential disasters makes it possible to create contingency plans, assemble supplies, and create procedures that can be initiated when and if a given disaster does come to pass. A truly comprehensive disaster management plan will encompass a wide range of possibilities that can easily be adapted in the event one disaster sets off a chain reaction of other types of disasters in its wake.
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d. HAZID

HAZID (Hazard Identification Study) is a tool for hazard identification, used early in a project as soon as process flow diagrams, draft heat and mass balances, and plot layouts are available. Existing site infrastructure, weather, and geotechnical data are also required, these being a source of external hazards. The method is a design-enabling tool, acting to help organize the HSE deliverables in a project. The structured brainstorming technique typically involves designer and client personnel engineering disciplines, project management, commissioning and operations. Major findings and hazard ratings help to deliver HSE compliance, and form part of the project Risk Register required by

many licensing authorities. A well-organized HAZID study activity will deliver a good identification of hazards and safeguards at an early stage in the design of a facility. Team output helps to ensure that: HSE hazards are revealed at an early stage in the project, before significant costs have been incurred. Hazards are recorded so that they can be avoided, mitigated or highlighted during design. Action responses are auditable by Management and Legislative Inspectors. Design or Construction delays and budget over-runs are avoided. Fewer hazards remain un-revealed during the commissioning & operation of plant.
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e. HAZOP

A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) is a structured and systematic examination of a planned or existing process or operation in order to identify and evaluate problems that may represent risks to personnel or equipment, or prevent efficient operation. The HAZOP technique was initially developed to analyze chemical process systems, but has later been extended to other types of systems and also to complex operations and to software systems. A HAZOP is a qualitative technique based on guide-words and is carried out by a multidisciplinary team (HAZOP team) during a set of meetings. The HAZOP process is based on the principle that a team approach to hazard analysis will identify more problems than when individuals working separately combine results. The HAZOP team is made up of individuals with varying backgrounds and expertise. The expertise is brought together during HAZOP sessions and through a collective brainstorming effort that stimulates creativity and new ideas, a thorough review of the process under consideration is made.

HAZOP is normally carried out by a team of people, with roles as follows, (with alternative names from other sources): Name Alternative Role

Study leader Chairman

someone experienced in HAZOP but not directly involved in the design, to ensure that the method is followed carefully

Recorder

Secretary or scribe

to ensure that problems are documented and recommendations passed on

Designer

(or representative of the team which has To explain any design details or provide further information designed the process)

User

(or representative of To consider it in use and question its operability, and the effect of deviations those who will use it)

Specialist

(or specialists)

someone with relevant technical knowledge

Maintainer

(if appropriate)

Someone concerned with maintenance of the process.

Q2.

Explain the causes of Air pollution. (5 marks)

Air pollution is a major problem faced by people across the globe. A number of causes are related to the contamination of atmosphere. Polluted air leads to numerous health problems, ranging from the mild to the chronic ones. As far as human health is concerned, poor quality of air seriously affects the body's respiratory and cardiovascular system. The severity in diseases may depend upon the degree of exposure to polluted air. Given below is the complete information about the causes and effects of air pollution. One of the main causes of air pollution is manufacturing. This source of pollution spews particulate matter and chemicals into the atmosphere. The exhaust from a factory includes, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide, as well as volatile organic compounds and particulates. There is not an area of the Earths atmosphere or an ecosystem that has not been altered by the long term effects of the pollution created by manufacturing. Strides have been made to filter the material coming from manufacturing plants, but it may take the Earth millenia to completely recover from the damage already done. Causes

Combustion of fuel is one of the major causes of air pollution in urban areas. Burning of fossil fuels such as natural gas and gasoline leads to the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases, which deteriorate the quality of air, making it polluted. Although carbon dioxide plays an important role in various other processes like photosynthesis, breathing an excess of the same also causes harmful effects towards ones health.

Increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the prime causes of air pollution. Power plants exhaust fumes of automobiles, airplanes and other human activities involving the burning of gasoline and natural gas are related to the emission of this greenhouse gas.

The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a class of synthetic chemicals used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants, have caused hole in Earth's ozone layer. The use of these banned chemicals is related with the increasing levels of air pollution.

Sulfur dioxide is one of the components of smog, which is related with contamination of the Earth's atmosphere. This synthetic chemical is the prime cause of acid rain. Air pollution is partially caused by the particulates formed by a variety of substances, such as dust, pollen and other organic materials. Increased road and air traffic is another reason related to the high level of air pollution.

The various causes of air pollution that releases harmful gases into the atmosphere are caused due to the increasing number of power plants and manufacturing units or industries that mostly have activities related to the burning of fuels. Besides, as mentioned earlier, most automobiles, marine vessels, activities that involve the burning of wood, fumes that are released from aerosol sprays, military activities that involve the use of nuclear weapons, all are the numerous causes of air pollution. Carbon monoxide is another such gas which, although was present in the atmosphere

earlier, is now considered to be a major pollutant. An excess of the same has a harmful effect on our system. There are many reasons why carbon monoxide can be released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities. This is also produced due to any fuel burning appliance and appliances such as gas water heaters, fireplaces, woodstoves, gas stoves, gas dryers, yard equipments as well as automobiles, which add to the increased proportion of this gas into the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide is yet another harmful pollutant that causes air pollution. Sulfur dioxide is emitted largely to the excessive burning of fossil fuels, petroleum refineries, chemical and coal burning power plants etc. Nitrogen dioxide when combined with sulfur dioxide can even cause a harmful reaction in the atmosphere that can cause acid rain. Nitrogen dioxide is one more gas that is emitted into the atmosphere as a result of various human activities. An excess of nitrogen dioxide mainly happens due to most power plants seen in major cities, the burning of fuels due to various motor vehicles and other such sources, whether industrial or commercial that cause the increase in the levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Q3.

What are the HSE challenges pertaining to a Power Plant? (10 marks)

Q4.

Explain particulate matter. Differentiate between RSPM & SPM. What are the common diseases that are caused by these pollutants and control options available for their treatment? (10Marks)

Particulate Matter is recognized as solids or liquids that are distributed in ambient air. The term particulate refers to the particles, dust, mist, fumes and smoke that become airborne in surrounding air. Based on the generation mechanism, the air borne particles can be categorized into two broad categories a) Dispersion Originated & b) Condensation Originate. The solubility of particulate matter in aqueous media or in lipids is of great biological significance because it influences the rate of depositing in the body. The chemical composition of particulate matter has direct bearing on the resulting health effect and is generally related with the process from which it is derived. Particulate matter may be classified according to their size as detailed ahead: Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) SPM are the particulate having particle diameter less than 100 m that tend to remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long period of time. Sea salt, soil dust, volcanic particles and smoke from forest fires are the natural sources of total suspended particulate. Anthropogenic emissions of the total suspended particulates are from fossil fuel burning and industrial processes. Secondary sources of total suspended particulates include conversion of various gaseous substances like H2S, SO2, NOx, NH3 and hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons react to form products that condense to form particles at atmospheric temperatures. The atmospheric suspended particulate affects the environment by lowering the visibility, producing hazy condition, participating in secondary reactions in atmosphere and affecting biotic population directly or indirectly. Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM-PM10) Respirable Suspended Particulate matter or PM10 are the particulates having diameter less than 10 m and they are small enough to be inhaled and may enter deep into respiratory tract and pulmonary system of human beings. These particles are responsible for most of the airborne particle threat to human health because of their small size range and pose health hazard due to their inhalation and deep penetration in respiratory system during breathing. The fine particulates generally arise due to agglomeration of aerosols, gas particles, conversion from gas to particles and these are mostly combustion originated. The sources of PM10 include road dust, wind blown dust, agriculture, construction and fireplaces. PM10 may also be formed from incomplete combustion of any fuel and from other pollutants viz. SOx, NOx , Organic etc. The Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter is an air-borne particle, which is bigger than 4 to 5 microns are generally attentive in the nasal membrane so that it will stop from entering into the Lungs. But incase air borne particles smaller than these, it cannot be stopped

in the nasal tract as a result it will enter into the lungs and can causes various diseases like discomfort and sneezing to Asthma, migraine, Cancer, Heart Attacks. Normally new borne baby is more effective from the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter.

Q5. Discuss the consequences of Bhopal Gas Tragedy. What is your learning from the accident as a safety officer? (10Marks)

Q6. Safety policy is very important for most of the industries. Give safety related procedures & basic safety rules for a refinery operations. (20Marks)

Q7. What is disaster management plan? Discuss the role of different personnel involved in the disaster management in 1100/400 sub stations (20Marks)

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Write short notes on: (10 Marks) a. Noise Pollution & its Health Effects

Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. This unwanted sound can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. Furthermore, stress and hypertension are the leading causes to health problems, whereas tinnitus can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and at times panic attacks The sources of noise pollution increased or probably originated with the invention of machines. Let us mention some various noise pollution causes in detail; Traffic: It is the biggest source of noise pollution in today's times, especially in urban areas. In the past few years the number of automobile vehicles has increased manifold. Thus, traffic problem created by these vehicles is an important source of noise pollution. The sound produced by the exhaust systems of trucks, autos, buses, motorcycles, and etc. cause a lot of noise. Railway Stations: Locomotive engines of trains are an important source of noise pollution. Besides, the shunting and switching operations in rail yards too cause noise pollution to a great extent. The whistles and horns being used by the railway employees add to the effect and increase noise pollution. Aircrafts: The national parks and wastelands were earlier considered to be the pollution free zones and people traveled to these places for relaxation. Nowadays, however, the sound created by low flying military aircrafts causes noise pollution in these areas too. Industrial Noise: The various machines used in industries are also a major cause of noise pollution. The different machines which are responsible for creating noise include the compressors, motors and other machinery. It is therefore recommended to grow trees in the premises of industries, which act as absorbents of noise. The trees grown in the premises of 'Tata Motors' an automobile company based in India is a perfect example of how to reduce noise pollution in the industrial belts. Read more on effects of industrial noise pollution. Construction Equipment: The different types of machines and equipments used in construction of roads and buildings are also an important cause behind noise pollution. The machinery used for the purpose of construction includes pneumatic hammers, bulldozers, air compressors, dump trucks, loaders, pavement breakers, etc. is also responsible for noise pollution to a great extent. Household Equipment: The household equipments are amongst the minor contributors to noise pollution. These machines include mixers, vacuum cleaners and other noise creating equipments. The effects of noise pollution caused by these machines shouldn't be neglected. This is because one has to work in close contact with the equipments and the magnitude of sound that one need to bear is high. There are many other causes for noise pollution like; the boilers, plumbing equipment, air conditioners, generators and fans contribute to noise pollution to some extent. Noise created by people in public places too is a major contributor amongst different sources. Loudspeakers used in public places are responsible for creating noise of a high degree/amplitude.

In this part of study we would like to mention some effects of noise pollution on human which is a matter of great concern. Noise pollution can affect us in several ways, some of which are listed below: Hearing Problems: Exposure to noise can damage one of the most vital organs of the body, the ear. Hearing impairment due to noise pollution can either be temporary or permanent. When the sound level crosses the 70dB mark, it becomes noise for the ear. Noise levels above 80 decibels produce damaging effects to the ear. When ear is exposed to extreme loud noise (above 100 decibels) for a considerable period of time, it can cause irreparable damage and lead to permanent hearing loss. Cardiovascular Issues: A noisy environment can be a source of heart related problems. Studies have shown that high intensity sound cause a dramatic rise in blood pressure as noise levels constrict the arteries, disrupting the blood flow. The heart rate (the number of heartbeats per minute) also increases. These sudden abnormal changes in the blood increase the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases in the long run. Read more on cardiovascular diseases. Sleep Disturbances: This is one of the noise pollution effects that can deter your overall well being. Noise can interrupt a good night's sleep, and when this occurs, the person feels extremely annoyed and uncomfortable. People deprived of uninterrupted sleep show a sharp dip in their energy levels which often results into extreme fatigue. This can considerably decrease a person's ability to work efficiently. Mental Health Problems: Exposure to loud sound can lead to elevated stress levels as well as stimulate violent behavior. A constant noise in the vicinity can also trigger headaches, make people tense and anxious, and disturb emotional balance. Unlike other types of environmental issues such as air and water pollution, noise or sound is transient or short-lived. Thus, once you stop generating sound, the noise pollution problem is solved. The main objective behind noise pollution solutions is to absorb, contain and cancel the source of noise. In this study we intend to suggest some effective noise pollution solutions or remedies that will help in combating the various health effects of noise pollution. Automobile Servicing: As we mentioned already, automobiles account to the highest production of noise. Regular servicing of the vehicles is an effectual measure to lower the intensity of sound produced by them. If all the automobile owners take up this step, then there will be significant reduction in noise pollution. Machine Quality: Similar to vehicles, the quality of machines should be optimized, so as to reduce sound production. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 30 million Americans are exposed to noise pollution in the workplaces. Lubrication of the machinery and servicing should be done to minimize noise generation. Soundproof Homes: Soundproof doors and windows can be installed to block unwanted noise from outside. You can also opt for walls with sound control material. These soundproofing options are of utmost importance for complete relaxation, especially if you are staying in a crowded city area. Tree Plantation: Planting bushes and trees in and around sound generating sources is another effective solution for noise pollution. Dense shrubs and trees block sound passage, thus avoiding disturbance to the surrounding areas. You can also plant trees around your residential area to live peacefully.

Loudspeaker Prohibition: Using loudspeaker in public areas is another major cause of noise pollution. This should be banned at any cost for the welfare of the people. Strict laws should be imposed against those who violate and play loudspeakers in crowded areas and public places. Factory Location: Industrial noise pollution is no less different in causing health hazards on humans and animals. Thus, factories and industries should be located in far off places from the residential areas. Installation of sound detectors will help in analyzing the sound frequencies on a regular basis. Read more on effects of industrial noise pollution. White Noise Machine: The latest technology for overcoming the effects of noise pollution is using white noise machine. It is a device meant for converting unbearable noise into pleasant sound. A white noise machine is placed between the source of noise and the receptor. It produces soft sound like that of a waterfall, fan and soft music.
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b. Cost of Accidents