The global survey commissioned by Re-Gen Robotics asked engineers, managers and senior executives with responsibility for hazardous area operations their preferred option for cleaning oil terminal tanks.
It also asked those more generally involved in the safe installation and operation of plant and equipment within potentially explosive atmospheres to disclose their main industry concerns. An overwhelming 86 percent of survey respondents expressed a preference for 100 percent ‘no man entry’ tank cleaning at their terminal.
Their main concerns were risk of death or injury (76 percent), followed by an environmental incident (61 percent) leading to their tanks being out of commission for longer than scheduled.
Of those locations that had a predilection for ‘manned entry’ cleaning, the chief reason given for preferring this method was that labour options were cheap and therefore surpassed safety concerns.
Over 75 percent of those who took the survey were aware of ‘no man entry’ cleaning and confirmed that the launch of Re-Gen Robotics’ service in 2019 has provided impetus for them to review options for employing a robotic tank cleaning service that works best to meet the safety requirements of their tank terminal operators while also taking account of financial and environmental considerations.
Commenting on the results of the survey, Fintan Duffy, managing director of Re-Gen Robotics, said: “It comes as no surprise that this was the outcome of the survey and is the underlying reason why we started the company in the first place. It is also no surprise that sadly, some companies do not value the lives of their workers.
“The survey gives a very clear message on what the oil terminal sector wants to see. Safety should always be the first business driver and the health & safety of personnel engaged in tank cleaning, should always be paramount.”
He added that industry leaders are procuring his service to sit at the core of their safety strategy: “By sending our revolutionary robots into dangerous confined spaces, they are not only eliminating the dangers and liabilities associated with confined space entry but are also saving time, money and reducing operational downtime for their tanks.
“And if a tank needs to be cleaned within a difficult timeframe, we provide the option of sending two robots into the tank, in order to meet those demands.”
Re-Gen Robotics said it looks forward to rolling out its robotic cleaning service across Europe, with plans in place to complete their first tank clean in continental Europe this spring.
For more information visit www.regenrobotics.com
