On the morning of Friday 19th January 2024, FGS Industrial Facilities Management received an urgent call from a local AD facility concerning a blockage in the inlet/outlet pipes of one of their digestate tanks. The culprit? A build-up of AD Grit, comprising materials like bones, seeds, and eggshells that resist decomposition during anaerobic digestion.
By 2:00 pm the same day, the FGS Industrial team convened with the site and business operations managers to devise a plan of action. Following a comprehensive discussion of the site’s requirements, the green light was given for the team to proceed.
FGS Industrial swiftly mobilised a three-man team of industrial cleaners, accompanied by a safety supervisor and a jet vac unit, poised to commence operations at 6:00 am the following Monday.
Upon arrival at the site, our team conducted a thorough safety briefing and site inductions. Assistant Contract Manager Dean Bradshaw then guided the team through the Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) for the task at hand.
Initial attempts to access the tank revealed an additional challenge – the tank’s door was obstructed by digestate. Clearing this waste was imperative to enable entry, and all of it had to be accomplished from outside the tank.
As the team drained the tank, they encountered an unexpected hurdle. High gas readings within the tank rendered it unsafe for our team to enter. Collaborating with on-site engineers, we devised a plan to vent the tanks. However, adverse weather conditions, marked by high winds, thwarted this initial attempt.
Finally, the on-site engineers removed a sheet, facilitating airflow and expelling harmful gases. This allowed our industrial cleaning team to enter the tank, conducting a final round of checks before commencing the cleaning process.
Once inside, it became evident that the task was more substantial than initially anticipated. FGS demonstrated flexibility and commitment, dedicating the next two days to completing the clean-up and restoring the site to operational status.
In the face of unexpected challenges, the FGS Industrial Facilities Management showcased their adaptability, ensuring a successful resolution to the grit build-up issue at the facility.
