Capital Projects and Long Term Safety



By Jim Thompson

Sad to say, some companies in our industry follow the practice of abandoning obsolete equipment in place. I have mentioned this before, but since it is Safety Month here at Paperitalo Publications, I thought I would mention it again.

Abandoning equipment, cabling, piping and so forth just means that someday it is going to turn into a hazard.

Abandoned items do not continue to be static, they deteriorate. Eventually they cause problems, sometimes small problems, sometimes large problems.

I like old cars and have managed to have one around most of the time in my adult life. I currently have a 1964 Corvair Monza 4-speed convertable. We live in a climate that can be cool, indeed cold, in the winter. I don't like to put the top up on this car. I do have a rule, however, which is this: with an antique automobile, drive it 20 miles every two weeks, year around, even if it is cold outside. So my neightbors see me in a coat and hat on winter Sunday afternoons, out driving my convertable.

It keeps me from garaging it with repairs all summer.

Remember, if it is not used, it is deteriorating. That goes for all mechanical and electrical machinery.

By the way, do you listen to Capital Arguments Again? Available twice a month at Pulp & Paper Radio International or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

What is your opinion? Drop me a line at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com. I would like to hear from you.

And further by the way, I come to mills and talk to various departments about many subjects. To arrange my custom visit to your mill, just email me at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com or call me at 678-206-6010.