OK as some of you may know I work in a rather big steel work in South Wales, that is currently trying to reduce costs to see us through the current global economic down turn.
But at the moment it just seems that we can work our collective arses off to get the plant running at full tilt but we seem to be getting screwed over by either politicians that see us as a stuffed piggy bank or environmentalists slowing down a critical addition to the plant that will reduce costs significantly and create in excess of 500 jobs.
At moment we pay more carbon tax per tonne than any plant in Europe, which is placing us under extreme tension as we then have to charge more to create the profit margin needed to keep the plants running correctly (pay, maintenance and raw materials), we've informed both the welsh assembly and the government that the green tax is bringing the company to its knees, yet they seem to sprout this rubbish about green technology, where do they think they'll get the steel for there wind farms if we close down?
And now were trying to reduce the cost of raw materials by investing in a local drift mine that will provide us coking coal for in house prices which should keep the plant running for 20+ years... Now where being told that the opening is being delayed by a bunch of eco *****, that want the idea shut down because we would have to shut down a public footpath to a private beach???
The reason we are closing the path is because we cannot secure there safety but they seem to think its about the big greedy company (which injects a lot of cash into the local community).
The fact where they walk is across a dangerous area with multiple hazards, such as:
Massive moving machinery: stacker’s and reclaimers which are couple of hundred tonnes of metal with limited visibility and can easily crush a car without the driver noticing.
Moving plant: Big dumper trucks bombing down the road between the coal yards and metal reclamation yard. Also bobcats, which are driven around by wanna be Colin McRae's.
Dust, I know this doesn't sound like a big hazard but coke is conveyed around the path and its basically pure carbon, if it gets it your eyes it scratches the hell out of them.
Corroded structures, most of the tall structures around the paths have been condemned by our structural engineers and are being replaced, but bits drop off them at times hence the need to wear hard hats at all times.
Gas, the main path they like to use is right next to the COG main, which has similar properties in hydrogen content to natural gas the major difference is COG has a high percentage of carbon monoxide, the pipes have been known to leak due to corrosion hence the need to wear a gas monitor around gas mains.
COMAH: we are a COMAH upper tier site, i.e. we keep enough gas on site to cause a major issue to not only the plant but local communities, hence why we have a evacuation plan that is shared with the local authorities but members of the public on the site without permission are not taken into account so could be left behind in the case of a plant evacuation.
But instead of listening to the company and HSE, which requires us to protect everyone on site from harm whilst on site, even if there trespassing. The local council is entertaining theses muppets and putting 7000+ jobs across south Wales at risk...
Oh and before people say how can a steel works be green; we use 30%-40% recycled steel for every ton of steel produced, we capture and reuse nearly all gasses produced by the process. At the moment we are investing in projects that will allow us to gather off-gas from the BOS plant and heat loss from re heat furnaces so we can generate more electricity for the plant and the local area.
/rant
sorry bout that been in work since 6am and it just seems that its a up hill struggle, trying to keep the plant running on a shoe string because we can't afford to spend money on new plant because the markets down turned.
But at the moment it just seems that we can work our collective arses off to get the plant running at full tilt but we seem to be getting screwed over by either politicians that see us as a stuffed piggy bank or environmentalists slowing down a critical addition to the plant that will reduce costs significantly and create in excess of 500 jobs.
At moment we pay more carbon tax per tonne than any plant in Europe, which is placing us under extreme tension as we then have to charge more to create the profit margin needed to keep the plants running correctly (pay, maintenance and raw materials), we've informed both the welsh assembly and the government that the green tax is bringing the company to its knees, yet they seem to sprout this rubbish about green technology, where do they think they'll get the steel for there wind farms if we close down?
And now were trying to reduce the cost of raw materials by investing in a local drift mine that will provide us coking coal for in house prices which should keep the plant running for 20+ years... Now where being told that the opening is being delayed by a bunch of eco *****, that want the idea shut down because we would have to shut down a public footpath to a private beach???
The reason we are closing the path is because we cannot secure there safety but they seem to think its about the big greedy company (which injects a lot of cash into the local community).
The fact where they walk is across a dangerous area with multiple hazards, such as:
Massive moving machinery: stacker’s and reclaimers which are couple of hundred tonnes of metal with limited visibility and can easily crush a car without the driver noticing.
Moving plant: Big dumper trucks bombing down the road between the coal yards and metal reclamation yard. Also bobcats, which are driven around by wanna be Colin McRae's.
Dust, I know this doesn't sound like a big hazard but coke is conveyed around the path and its basically pure carbon, if it gets it your eyes it scratches the hell out of them.
Corroded structures, most of the tall structures around the paths have been condemned by our structural engineers and are being replaced, but bits drop off them at times hence the need to wear hard hats at all times.
Gas, the main path they like to use is right next to the COG main, which has similar properties in hydrogen content to natural gas the major difference is COG has a high percentage of carbon monoxide, the pipes have been known to leak due to corrosion hence the need to wear a gas monitor around gas mains.
COMAH: we are a COMAH upper tier site, i.e. we keep enough gas on site to cause a major issue to not only the plant but local communities, hence why we have a evacuation plan that is shared with the local authorities but members of the public on the site without permission are not taken into account so could be left behind in the case of a plant evacuation.
But instead of listening to the company and HSE, which requires us to protect everyone on site from harm whilst on site, even if there trespassing. The local council is entertaining theses muppets and putting 7000+ jobs across south Wales at risk...
Oh and before people say how can a steel works be green; we use 30%-40% recycled steel for every ton of steel produced, we capture and reuse nearly all gasses produced by the process. At the moment we are investing in projects that will allow us to gather off-gas from the BOS plant and heat loss from re heat furnaces so we can generate more electricity for the plant and the local area.
/rant
sorry bout that been in work since 6am and it just seems that its a up hill struggle, trying to keep the plant running on a shoe string because we can't afford to spend money on new plant because the markets down turned.