The Moral high ground or the $$$$$$

kmjt1021

kmjt1021

Member
I have been cleaning an exhaust system at a nuclear power plant and my problem is this, because of recent policy changes at the plant, they require more security now (gee I wonder why). They don't have the manpower to follow us around after 5:00pm (they don't want to pay overtime). My window to clean the system is 1:00pm to 4:15 4:30ish , we have to be completely out of the inner security area by 5:00pm.
This system has taken 5 to 6 hours every time excluding the first cleaning which took almost 10. To do this under there new rules means not cleaning parts of the duct every time (the horizontal part), I have tried to get around the rules but they won't bend them, even after I told them I could not do a complete job in 4 hours. The system gets very dirty between cleanings, should probably be cleaned more often.
I thought about doing it in two days, but it is an old system (they completely ignored code when this was built) that leaks everywhere. Most of our time is spent removing and replacing ceiling tiles and access panels, panels with lots of screws and rigging plastic to contain the water that comes out all over the place, the hood gets cleaned while we are putting the ceiling back together. It would be hard if not impossible to split the duct cleaning in half.
Would you keep cleaning it this way and have them sign off on the parts not cleaned, or should I try to make point and not clean unless given the time to do it complete.
 
If it were me I would look at the job as two events and get the basic charge for both events PLUS. I have several account that I must break up, but the systems are designed so that it makes dollar since.

David;)
 
As I said, The horizontal run is the time consuming part, The fan is cleaned and the hood set up while the prep is done for the horizontal, the hood and clean up is done while the access panels and and ceiling are put back together, this job does not lend itself to breaking up that way
 
It is jobs just like this that really annoy me. People who know nothing about the complexities of trying to maintain something, make rule for others.
Then those rules end up restricting safety.
One suggestion might be to install enough access panels to, at least, scrape out the worst of the horizontal grease. Not perfect but better than being force to leave it.
Also, and I assume you are doing this, but for the benefit of others, be sure to write down and submit to them what the problem is.
I have never defended someone who burned down a nuclear power plant. Probably some interesting "side effects."

PS -- Did I date your sister iin high school???
 
Point out in your service report that FIRE at the nuclear plant will be the inevitable result of their lack of prudence in allowing you to clean the ducts properly. Due to the age and condition of the system you are required to hand scrape clean the ductwork to remove the fuel the fire would feed on. That is the most time consuming part of your process and you are not being given sufficient time to complete the task. Therefore, you, your company, antecedents, forebears or illegitimate heirs shall henceforth and forthwith take no responsibility for the resulting cataclysmic inferno at the nuclear plant. UNLESS (YOUR COMPANY) IS GIVEN SUFFICIENT TIME TO CLEAN THE SYSTEM THE PLACE IS GOING TO BURN DOWN AND PEOPLE MAY DIE! I think once you put "fire" in the same sentence as "nuclear" and "die" it gets their attention. It also removes your company name from the list of janitorial services and puts it into the fire prevention category.

We walked away from a few government jobs because the low bidder was not cleaning the duct work. In 5 years the cleanouts had never been opened until we inspected a few of them. They wanted the insulation that was strapped over many of the cleanout doors left intact. The low bidder was "doing" this 8 story building for $200.00.

Have a nice day
 
Phil I don't know about my sister, she uses more lipstick though

I have said and showed it all to them. The problem is I can't get to or even find out who is actually making these decisions. Probably the nuclear regulatory commission, I don't know (bureaucracy I guess) I would bet it is the same person who insists that we take all of our waste water with us even though they use some of the same chemicals and have no problem dumping them down the drain. Not fun, I have to haul a trailer just to deal with the water, don't tell anyone but some of the water we miss and it gets to the drain before we get to it DARN! I hate when that happens.

I am thinking I should step back from it and let them look for someone else who will only do half of it on purpose. Experience tells me that these things usually come back after the other company cleans them a few times.
 
We have several systems that we do that take several nights to complete. Some of the systems (leaking) over office's, bowling alleys, etc. They pay us well and we clean the system to bare metal.

You may want to consider decreaseing the the interval between cleanings. After you have done the system a few times (taking 2 days rather than one) you may like it better. :) Of course your customer will need to pay you more and that is always nice!

Dave Olson
 
OK Matt you got a deal, the duct is 16" x 24" and the way it is built will probably fall out of the ceiling while you are in it.
 
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