Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment And Risk Control In a 250 MW Solar Power Plant Project: A Cas

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 09 Issue: 09 | Sep 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment And Risk Control In a 250 MW Solar Power Plant Project: A Case Study

1M Tech Scholar, Bhilai Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

2Assistant Professor, Bhilai Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

3 Assistant Professor, Bhilai Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India ***

Abstract - Renewable powerplantsareboomingthesedays.

Constructions of renewable power plants pose serious risks to workers safety and health. To ensure its success we need to make sure that it remains safe, reliable and sustainable throughout its construction and operation phase. This can be achieved by effectively evaluating a power plant’s health and safety, associated hazards and risks and implementing necessary control measures. In this study, we have used a HIRARC (Hazard Identification, Risk assessment & Risk control) model to identify all the hazards and associated risk to the worker’s safety and health on a 250MW Solar Power plant. Hazard identification is carried out by critically analysing existing risk assessments, interviewing personnel and conducting walkthroughs. Risk assessment is carried out using qualitative analysis of hazard’s likelihood and its consequence severity. Quantitative analysis is used to divide the risk in high, medium and low categories using simple 5X5 risk matrix. The findings were then used to identify and recommend necessary control measures to deal with high risk activities and bring down its risk level to an acceptable range. The aim of this study is to make solar power projects much safer and accident free by identifying significant hazards, evaluating the associated risks and determiningthe necessary control measures based on the basic risk control hierarchy. These measures will help in making solar power projects a safer project sites, reducing accident rates at site, reducing staff turnover rates, improving safety culture and increasing worker’s satisfaction in terms of safety.

Key Words: Solar Power Plants, HIRRAC, Risk Assessment, Hazard Identification.

1. INTRODUCTION

Renewable energy has started playing an increasingly important role for augmentation of grid power, providing energy access, reducing consumption of fossil fuels and helping India pursue its low carbon development path. Ahead of COP 21, India submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC), outlining the country’s post-2020 climate actions. India’s INDCbuildsonitsgoalofinstalling175gigawatts(GW)of renewablepowercapacityby2022.Indiahassetatargetto increase the country’s share of non-fossil-based installed

electric capacity to 40 percent by 2030. The INDC also commitstoreduceIndia’sGHGemissionsintensityperunit GDPby33to35percentbelow2005levelsby2030,andto createanadditionalcarbonsinkof2.5to3billiontonnesof carbondioxidethroughadditionaltreecover.

Inthispaper,thehazardidentification,riskassessmentand risk control techniques are discussed in a 250 MW solar power plant project, the various sub Divisions are being taken into consideration and found many hazards in all Departments which should be considered deeply for the reduction of the risks by implementing various Risk AssessmentTechniquessuchasHIRA,RiskMatrix,Hierarchy ofControletc.

The general conference of the International Labour OrganizationhasbeenconvenedatGenevabythegoverning bodyoftheInternationalLabourOfficeonits90thsession on 3rd June 2002 (R 194, List of occupational Diseases Recommendation).Inthisconferenceithasbeendiscussed abouttostrengthenrecording,identificationandnotification proceduresforoccupationaldiseasesandaccidentswiththe aimofestablishingthepreventivemeasures,identifyingthe root causes for any accident/incident. They have also discussed about several occupational diseases caused by exposuretoagentsarisingfromworkactivities.Theyhave discussedaboutdiseasescausedbychemicalagents,physical agents, biological agents. They have also discussed about infectiousandparasiticdiseases,Respiratorydiseases,Skin diseases,Musculoskeletaldisorders,Mental&behavioural disordersetc.[1]

PaulSolvic[2]Studiedaboutriskperceptiontoexaminethe judgements of people when they are asked to evaluate hazardousactivities.Throughthisresearchriskanalysisand policy-making on the basis of understanding and people responsestohazardsandbyimprovingthecommunication of risk information technical experts, people and decision makers.

Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky[3]studied about the culturaltheoryofrisk.Theyhavecharacterizedtheriskand culturementioningthat,whenanyoneistakingtherisk,the cultural role is ignored and the second prominent theory whichisrelatedtosocialpsychology.

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 09 Issue: 09 | Sep 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Lingard.HandRawlinson,[5]studiedabout“Occupational Health and Safety in project management”. They have studiedaboutvariousriskmanagementmethodologiesand risk communication. They have mentioned a step by step procedure for health & safety risk assessment, control & communication.

PhilHughes,EdFerrett[6]studiedandmentionedtherisk matrixtechniquewithcolourcodetoknowthelevelofthe risk. The risk has been categorized in to minimal, low, medium, high. They have also explained the process of finding the root cause of an accident/incident through effective investigation process. They have also explained about health and safety training, manual handling needs, access/egress, machine guarding and explained about processofhazardidentification.

1.1 Problem Identification

By going throughliteratureandsite visita preliminary problem identification can be drawn with three objective whichwillbethebasicaimofthispapertobefulfilled.As250 MW solar power plant project is quite big it has major operationalchallengesduringentireprojectimplementation phase.Thethreeobjectiveswhichareframedareasfollows:

1. To identify major activities under a solar power plant project.

2. Toanalyzeandassessriskanditscontrolforeachactivity.

3. Togivecontrolmeasureforeachactivityindividually.

2. METHOODOLGY

Thisprocedureisestablished,documented,implementedand maintainedtohelpanorganizationforongoingidentification ofOHandShazards,assessmentofrisk anddeterminationof necessary controls. This shall focus its resources on those areasthatismostimportanttoachievementofitsgoals.

An effective OH&S Management System begins with identificationofhazardsintheprocess&understandinghow an organization cancontrol the hazards byassessing risks involved. The source, situation, or act with a potential for harmintermsofhumanillhealthorinjuryorbothcanbea hazard.

Identification process shall take into consideration as follows:-

o Routineandnon-routineactivities,

o Activitiesofallpersonnelhavingaccesstotheworkplace (includingsubcontractorsandvisitors),

o Infrastructure, equipment and materials at the work place,whetherprovidedbytheorganizationorothers,

o Humanbehaviorcapabilitiesandotherhumanfactors,

o Identified hazards originating outside the workplace capableofadverselyaffectingthehealthandsafetyof persons under the control of organization within the workplace,

o Hazardscreatedinthevicinityoftheworkplacebywork relatedactivitiesunderthecontroloforganization,

o Changes or proposed changes in the organization both plants,itsactivitiesormaterial,

o ModificationtotheEOHSManagementSystemincluding temporary changes, and there impacts on operations, processesandactivities,

o Any applicable legal obligations relating to risk assessmentandimplementationofnecessarycontrols,

o The design of work areas, processes, installations, machinery/equipment operating procedures and work organization, including their adoption to human capabilities.

Methodologyforhazardidentificationandriskassessment is:-

a) Definedwithrespecttoitsscope,natureandtimings toensurethatitis proactiveratherthanreactive.

b) Provide for the identification, prioritization and documentation of risks and application of control as appropriate.

Classifytheworkactivitiesasperfollowingguidelines:-

Tasksbeingcarriedout,theirdurationandfrequency,

Locationwheretheworkiscarriedout,

Who normally/occasionally carries out the tasks? Who elsemaybeeffectedbythe work (forexamplevisitors, subcontractors,publicetc.),

Trainingthatpersonnelhavereceivedaboutthetasks,

Written systems of work and/or permit-to-work procedurespreparedforthetasks,

Plantandmachinery,PoweredHandToolsthatmaybe used. Manufacturers and Suppliers instructions for operationandmaintenancearereferred,

Size,shape,surfacecharacterandweightofmaterialsthat mightbehandled,

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 09 Issue: 09 | Sep 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Distanceandheightsoftheplacewherematerialshaveto be moved by Hand Services used (for example compressedair), 

Substances used or encountered during the work. Physicalformofsubstancesusedorencountered(fume, gas,vapors,liquid,dust/powder,solidetc.), 

Content and recommendations of safety data sheets relatingtosubstancesusedorencountered, 

Relevantacts,regulationsandstandardsrelatingtothe workbeingdone,theplantandmachineryused,andthe materialsusedorencountered,



Available monitoring data gained as a result of information from within and outside the organization, incident, accident and ill-health experience associated with the work being done, equipmentandsubstancesusedand

Fallinginto theboreholes

Conceivable 3

DTHVehicle Remote 2 Drillbitsof DTH Conceivable 3 Cement mixers Conceivable 3 Shifting columnpost Possible 4 Handlingof cementbags Mostlikely 5 Handlingof templates Conceivable 3 Handling bolts,other tools

Conceivable 3 Dehydration Possible 4



Findingofanyexistingassessmentsrelatingtothe work activity Control measures believed to be in place.

3 RESULT & DISCUSSION

During the inspection of the Solar power plant, several hazardswerefoundonthesite,andthedetailsofthehazards hasbeenkeptintherecordsandwillbeinformedtotheplant EOHSDepartment.

Thehazardsidentificationandriskassessmentanditscontrol arecarriedoutforallhazardsintheconcerneddivisionand willbereportedtothecompanyandalsorecommendations willbegiventothecompanyforeliminationofthehazards andreductionoftherisk.

Duringthesitevisit&siteinspection,manyhazardsfoundon the site which may harm and may cause any incident/accidentincomingfuturearementionedbelowin theirrespectiveheadalongwithcontrolmeasure:

Table 1 Likelihood of identified hazards

HAZARD LIKELIHOOD LEVEL

Extreme temperature Mostlikely 5

Dust Possible 4

Mentalstress Remote 2 Vibration Remote 2 Ergonomics Conceivable 3

Table 2 Severity of identified hazards

HAZARD SEVERITY LEVEL

Extreme temperature Minor 2

Dust Minor 2

Mentalstress Negligible 1 Vibration Negligible 1 Ergonomics Negligible 1

Fallingintothe boreholes Minor 2

DTHVehicle Fatal 4 Drillbitsof DTH Serious 3 Cementmixers Fatal 4 Shiftingcolumn post Negligible 1

Handlingof cementbags Serious 3

Handlingof templates Minor 2

Handlingbolts, othertools Negligible 1 Dehydration Serious 3

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 09 Issue: 09 | Sep 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Table 5.3 Risk level as per Risk Matrix of the identified hazards

HAZARD RISK(S*L) RISKLEVEL

Extreme temperature 10 Medium Dust 8 Medium Mentalstress 2 Low Vibration 2 Low Ergonomics 3 Low Fallingintothe boreholes 6 Medium DTHVehicle 8 Medium DrillbitsofDTH 9 Medium Cementmixers 12 Medium Shiftingcolumn post 4 Low Handlingofcement bags 15 HIGH Handlingof templates 6 Medium Handlingbolts, othertools 3 Low Dehydration 12 Medium

RiskControl,eliminationandreduction:

1. Extreme temperature: Risk can be controlled by providing training to the workers on how to be protected from heat strokes, providing glucose water, Suggesting increase water consumption by thebody,wearlightcolorclothes.

2. Dust:Riskcanbecontrolledbysprinklingwaterand byusingrespiratormasks

3. MentalStress:suggestingworkinshiftsortakerest whilelunchinrestingshelters.

4. Vibration:Riskistolerable.

5. Ergonomics: Risk is tolerable and could carry out workinshifts.

6. Falling into bore holes: Risk can be controlled by Barricadingtheareaandassigningworkpermit.

7. DTHvehicle:Riskcanbecontrolbyensuringthatthe vehiclehascompetentdriverandhavingbackhorn alllightsandsignalsareworkingappropriatelyorby usingredflagwheninoperationandbyproviding vehiclepermit.

8. Drill bits of DTH: Risk could be control by not allowinganyotherworkbyprovidingworkpermit andbyprovidingspecifictraining.

9. Cementmixers: Riskcanbecontrolbyensuringthat the vehicle has competent driver and having back hornalllightsandsignalsareworkingappropriately or by using red flag when in operation and by providingvehiclepermitandcouldusesirensalso whilemobile.

10. Shifting column post: Risk can be controlled by providingtrainingtotheworkersforsafematerial handlingandusingproperPPE’s.

11. Handlingcementbags:Riskseverityisveryhighand only solution is to train the workers for safe handlingofcementandusingproperPPE’sspecially Masks.

12. Handling of templates: Risk can be controlled by providingtrainingtotheworkersforsafematerial handlingandusingproperPPE’s.

13. Handling of bolts, tools: Risk can be reduced by providingtrainingtotheworkersforsafematerial handlingandusingproperPPE’s.

14. Dehydration: Risk can be reduced by training the workersforconsumingmoreandmorewater,taking restinshelterswhenthetemperatureismorethan 42degree.

4. CONCLUSIONS

Now a days solar power will play a crucial role in nation building and therefore it becomes very necessary to complete each and every project of solar power quite efficientlyandsafely.HazardsinSolarpowerplantproject canbeeliminatedifwefollowpropertechniquestoidentify the hazards and also the risk of accident/incident can be reduced. Hazards are the agents which are having the potentialtocauseharmthosewhoareexposedtoit.There weresomanyactivitiesfoundduringprojectphaseofsolar powerplantduringthesiteinspection.Thehazardsfoundon the site has been recorded and informed to the company. Due to the activity which are coming under risk (person/property/business) has been reported to the company and risk matrix and hierarchy of control

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 09 Issue: 09 | Sep 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

techniques are being studied to eliminate the hazard and controltherisksassociatedwiththehazards.

Somemainpointsofconclusionsaresummarizedasfollows: 

Maximum employees are young which indicate that physical manpower of the industry is very strong resultingmoreproductivity. 

Maximumemployeesareundermatric. 

Maximum workers are skilled. So quality of the work willbegood. 

Maximumemployeesaregettinglesseremoluments.So thecostofthemanpowerwillbeless. 

Maximum employees are married .So psychologically theystablewhichisgoodforthefactory. 

Management is more aware with hazards, which indicatetheconcernofthemanagementforsafetyofits employees. 

Maximum hazards are identified by the management whichsavesthetimeofemployees. 

Managementismoresafetyconscious.Soprovidesthe safetyoftheappliances. 

Maximum employees require light fitting clothing for workingduetotemperature. 

A major concern during the project is handling of cement bags since due to dry air the particulate can spreadveryrapidly. 

Mobilecrane,concretemixturesandmanymoreheavy construction vehicles are operating at project site for whichpropermovementpathshouldbeidentified. 

For providing electrical supply from the solar power plant heavy cables will be installed which comes wrappedinheavydrums,duringshiftingofthesedrums amajorconcernisrequired.

REFERENCES

[1] ILO Code of practice for safety & health at work, conviction no: 194 (List of occupational diseases recommendation),2002

[2] P.Solvic, “ Perception of risk,” Journal of Science, Vol236,Page-280-285,1987

[3] MaryDouglasandAaronWildavsky,Risk&Culture,Vol2, Page-309, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management,1982.

[4] Lingard, H and Rowlinson, Occupational Health and Safety in project management, Vol-3, Page- 182-192, 2005.

[5] TarujyotiBuragohain(2012)“ImpactofSolarEnergyin Rural Development in India.” International Journal of EnvironmentalScienceandDevelopment3(4).

[6]

[7] Phil Hughes, Ed Ferrett, Introduction to Health and SafetyatWork,Ch2,page-57-92,20