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Every industrial asset such as production facilities, refineries, petrochemical or power plants must be regularly inspected and tested in order to provide quality assurance and safety. However, this requires a shutdown and thus loss of profit for a certain period of time. Consequently, it is not surprising that companies look for an inspection method, which will minimize the shutdown time and reduce the costs.

That was the case in Malaysian Refinery, a palm oil player in the region. The company usually schedules eight days of downtime for inspecting the splitter towers, which are accessed by means of scaffolding. Nevertheless, this time there were no more than four days left for the current assessment of the Splitter Tower 1. As a result, the company decided to seek alternative testing methods and chose the Industrial Rope Access.

Industrial Rope Access is a proven method of achieving safe work position on hard-to-reach locations in the industrial sector such as offshore farms, industrial plants or buildings. This method was developed from techniques used in caving and is an internationally-recognized alternative to traditional means of access such as scaffoldings, ladders, gondolas, boson chairs, mechanical lifts and staging. Worldwide rope access companies have delivered an exemplary safety record based on a commitment to thorough training and diligent operational procedures. The rope access worker works from two ropes - a working rope and a back-up, safety rope - and is permanently attached to both. Each rope has a separate anchorage point. In the unlikely event of the working rope becoming damaged or unusable, the safety rope prevents a fall. The equipment used is regularly inspected and well maintained.

Safety, speed and cost effectiveness were decisive arguments in favor of Industrial Rope Access. The SGS’s team carried out a pre-job site visit in the Refinery, free of charge.

What is more, all necessary IRATA documentation including task-specific risk assessments, method statements and rescue plan were submitted in advance. To perform the Dye Penetrant Examination (PT) of all welded T-joints inside the splitter tower, a two-man SGS-IRATA certified Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) team was mobilized from Singapore.

The inspection services proved to be a great success. It took only two days to set up, carry out inspection, de-rig the ropes and prepare the inspection report -- a record downtime for the refinery.

The Rope Access department of SGS Industrial Services supports clients in the inspection and testing of structures, carries out structural surveys and conventional and advanced Non-Destructive Testing. SGS technicians receive extensive training and independent assessment and are required to undergo re-training every three years.

All SGS rope access training and operational work is conducted in line with International Guidelines. SGS is also a member of the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA).

Send us your inquiry on Industrial Rope Access Services now.