Scottish and Southern tracking key to safety
1 Oct 2009
Energy company underline its rigorous safety practices with the installation of new electronic key cabinets.
London - Scottish and Southern is the UK’s second largest energy supplier has installed a new key management system at its Fiddlers Ferry power station. The company has added two Traka L Series cabinets at the site, each capable of holding up to 180 keys, with a third ordered for the station’s coal plant and another being considered for the maintenance building. The company is also looking to install the system to manage access to switch rooms, where dual authorisation is required.
Previously, the various teams at the power station were unable to track key usage and there was little accountability for individual key users – resulting in lost or missing keys. The Traka system now stores keys for a range of high value or restricted access machinery and equipment such as forklift and electric trucks; lathes, mills and grinders; lifts, cranes and hoists, as well as other specialist tools and equipment. The system enables keys to be issued at any time with full audit control, tracking against user licence validity and competence.
Access to the cabinets has been integrated with the station’s existing identity swipe cards and access limits are set on the database, based on individual requirements, competence and ability. The site’s stores team also uses Traka to manage the issue of loan tools and portable appliances. All equipment is fully tested on a six-monthly cycle and the Traka system’s lock-out facility prevents access to equipment when testing is due.
“Safety is paramount in an operation like this,” says Steve Cash, outage co-ordinator and station safety rep. “You can have as many awards and certificates on the wall as you like, but unless you can back them up in practice, it means nothing. The Traka system enables our safety processes to be rigorously put into practice.
“With two teams – our full time staff and a contractor team – it is vital that we ensure full compliance,” adds Steve Cash. “Before, we relied on an honesty system which was not totally controlled. It is amazing how quickly keys get returned now when users know they are both accountable and traceable.”
