cell phone usage in a refinery plant
cell phone usage in a refinery plant
(OP)
Is it safe to use a cell phone in a refinery plant? If yes what's the explanation behind?
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cell phone usage in a refinery plant
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RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
The reason there are few intrinsically safe cell phones (I've seen them advertised) is that there is no money in it. It takes a lot of time and effort to have a devise certified that most cell phone makers don't need to cell phones. By the time a cell phone gets certified, it will be two generations out of date and the public won't buy it.
The same goes for non flash cameras, pda's, it's a silly as those devices on an airplane. In europe, cell phones are allowed during flight.
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
Not at all! No cell phones allowed at any time during flights in Europe, even though Myth Busters recently demonstrated (as far as they were allowed) that they most probably do no harm.
Cell phones are also not allowed in refineries, first of all because they can cause sparks, secondly (certain refineries only) because of concerns of interference with plant instrumentation. However some refineries do allow use of explo proof cell phones. Note by the way that cell phones with built in cameras may not be allowed because of the camera.
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
As for instruments, none that I've seen work with microwaves. I've had to turn off my pipeline SCADA system when the big 100 ton cranes come around them because the crane transmitts load data via 900 MHz (close to microwave) transmitters. We pass some SCADA signals in the 900 to 2600 MHz areas all over town and not one cell phone bothers them.
Its all urban myths, like blowing up cars with cell phones.
Now, cameras are a no-no because of propritory data and companies don't want the lastest fad of having pictures of things that could be "bad" posted on the internet. This has been true forever.
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
Old DCS systems with poor shielding are affected by VHF/UHF radios below one watt.
Many urban myths exist. However, at least one incident in a plant is blamed on a cell phone when it rang while a technician had a rich enclosure open. I don't recall whether this was the MMS related to offshore. If so it would be easy to find. Other OSHA incidents are more difficult.
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
During my time in refining I remember we often got emails from the safety dept with pictures of blown up cars (probably suspect material from the internet and possibly urban myths as you wrote) to reinforce the idea, not the right atmosphere to challenge the whole idea. Challenging ideas is not easy anyway if it's corporate strategy to behave like a dinosaur
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
One time the state DOT inspector wanted to take pictures of the DOT pipeline inside a chemical and they said no, he called home and a state hiway patrol came out and he got his pictures.
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
http://www.mms.gov/safetyalerts/6.htm
RE: cell phone usage in a refinery plant
Also, how could you here anything on a cell phone while in a unit? You should have ear plugs in over 85 decibels. This much noise makes it pretty hard to carry on an intelligent conversation.
I can never recall talking on the phone while in any of the units except for maybe WWTP or the Tank Farm.