As a thermographer, your physical condition can become apparent when performing inspections, especially at older and larger plants. For example, climbing some grain handling facilities have proven to be a good workout to get me ready for Elk hunting season above the timber line in the mountains. Many similar facilities do not have any mechanical means for the thermographer to get to the top where the larger motors are located so that means a long climb up steep stairs or ladders with you equipment.
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A coal "washer" located in in Eastern Kentucky. Image Credit: Wikipedia: 2007-10-30 by Jfacew 1280x960. A coal washer in Eastern KY |
Another example is a coal preparation plant located near a coal mine. Some of these locations have conveyor belts that are miles in length running up the side of mountains with multiple transitions as one belt drops onto another belt. Each of the transitions has a motor, bearings, take up rolls, and could also have an electrical disconnect and starter. The only means of access to get from one transition to the next is a narrow catwalk running along one side the conveyor. These catwalks can get very steep with up to 40 degree inclines.
I thought I was in pretty good shape until I got into coal country and started walking these “trails to heaven” and inspecting the rollers and drives on these long conveyors. Stopping every 100 yards to rest can be embarrassing, so you could always take the easy way out and make it look like you may have found a problem with the conveyor in that spot and take a little break. Towards the end of the inspection cycle, perhaps with as many as eleven preparation plants, one is tempted to just say “There is no real reason to inspect those conveyors, let’s just skip ‘em.” But, we are infrared professionals and that would just not be right. After my second coal plant trip, three months later, the experience wasn’t quite as bad. After that, the third trip was much easier and by the fifth trip the conveyors seemed shorter and the walk was enjoyable. I got to see some very nice scenery and even spotted a few bear, many deer, and even an elk on one trip!
These tricky locations, either coal handling plants or grain, have silos. The material must get to the top of the silo one way or another. The material path is also the personnel path at a few places. Some silos have what I refer to as the “vertical coffin” a small one person elevator. The term elevator is generous, these things are just a cage with a button or lever for UP or DOWN that must be held in position or the cage stops, connected to a winch. Conventional safeties, such as emergency brakes, lights, interlocks, and positive stops are luxuries that most of these don’t have. The alternative is either a long ladder or winding steep staircase (that may or may not be very sturdy). Some choice!
You, as the thermographer, are paid to endure some of these less favorable inspection environments. You must be willing, ready, and prepared to go where the equipment is, by whatever means it takes to get there. A thermographer must be in good physical shape in order to climb steep inclines, walk long distances, and fit into tight, narrow walkways and elevators. If that means a few extra trips to the gym, so be it! Just be ready for any physical challenge you may encounter in the workplace.