Workers at the Homs Refinery are carrying out maintenance on the refinery’s flare, which reaches a height of 96 meters, in a task requiring physical effort, high concentration, and strict adherence to occupational safety procedures, with the aim of rehabilitating a vital component of the safety system and ensuring its operational readiness.
The flare plays a fundamental role in venting and burning gases according to operational requirements, especially during operational disturbances and emergency shutdowns, thereby contributing to the protection of production units and refinery workers.
Maintenance Details
Mahmoud Jenidi, head of the coking department and supervisor of the flare maintenance group at the Homs Refinery, told SANA on Monday that maintenance work began about two weeks ago to address burns and corrosion on the flare tip, steam and gas lines, and the flare drum separator, which has a diameter of one meter and a height of four meters, and was damaged due to steam shortages in previous years.
Jenidi noted that the maintenance work included flare devices, air and steam lines, separation vessels, and a steam ring equipped with nozzles that keep the flame away from the flare tip and protect it from damage. He stated that the work has reached its final stages and is expected to be completed within four to five days, adding that the last comprehensive maintenance of the flare was carried out in 2020.
Safety Procedures and Medical Follow-up
For his part, Abdullah Al-Hamawi, head of the distillation and flare department in the coking section, confirmed that the flare acts as a safety valve for operational units, allowing the venting and burning of gases to mitigate the risks of operational disturbances and emergency situations.
Al-Hamawi pointed out that working at heights exceeding 90 meters and the difficulty of accessing equipment require high precision and continuous concentration, in addition to adhering to occupational safety procedures, using protective equipment, and continuous coordination between technical teams. Furthermore, medical examinations are conducted for workers before they ascend to ensure their health and physical readiness.
For his part, Bahjat Hamdoush from the medical services department at the refinery clinic explained that the medical team continuously monitors the health status of workers and intervenes in case of injuries or emergencies to provide first aid and treatment, transferring cases requiring further care to the relevant authorities.
Hamdoush noted that some cases of hypoxia were treated with oxygen, along with minor bruises that were treated immediately, with no serious injuries recorded so far.
The Homs Refinery had announced yesterday the return of Atmospheric Distillation Unit No. 10 to service after carrying out comprehensive maintenance on its various basic equipment.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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