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Engineering students help to improve onsite safety

28 June 2017

 

Two final year engineering students have lent their expertise to a large oil and gas operations company – helping to shore up safety procedures and save on resources.

Darren Bethal, Ethan Hill and Phil Manley.
Darren Bethal, Ethan Hill and Phil Manley.

Ethan Hill and Phil Manley, who are both set to graduate from Teesside University in BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, completed work for the Wood Group Operated CATS Terminal in Seal Sands as part of their final year project.

The pair spent six months carrying out two in-depth, systematic reviews of the company’s electrical equipment and power supplies.

Ethan and Phil worked with Neville Winter, Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Teesside University, to carry out the work and have made recommendations to Wood Group Operated CATS Terminal.

Darren Bethall, Responsible Electrical Person at the CATS Terminal, completed his BEng (Hons) Instrumentation & Control Engineering at Teesside University part-time and was keen to provide students with an opportunity to work on a live project.

He said: 'Operation of industrial electrical switchgear by personnel exposes them to potential injury from electrical system faults, such incidents are known as arc flash. In order to understand arc flash risks a power system study was required. Phil and Ethan completed this engineering study, identified arc flash hazards and appropriate controls to minimise risk and improve safety.

'Phil and Ethan have been fantastic – working to an extremely high standard and carrying out work that we would ordinarily commission an external company to do.

'They are both extremely talented and conscientious and the recommendations they have made will be incorporated into our safety procedures and to validate our arc flash PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).'

The degree course and this project in particular have really built my confidence and given me the experience I need to progress in my career.

Phil Manley.

Phil, 31, has secured a job as an assistant electrical engineer at JBA Engineering in Wynyard and was thankful for the opportunity to gain vital experience at the CATS Terminal.

He said: 'It has been a positive project, working on a real life, complex case study. We were able to use the skills learnt during the degree course and put them into practice in a real world setting.

'The degree course and this project in particular have really built my confidence and given me the experience I need to progress in my career.” Ethan, 25, is set to continue studying at Teesside and progress onto the master’s degree.

He added: 'The University has been fantastic and has an open door policy so you can discuss issues with your lecturers on a one to one basis. I have really enjoyed the project with the CATS Terminal and feel it has enhanced my skills as an engineer.'

Neville Winter said: 'The University works with employers from a wide range of engineering sectors to ensure the course content meets the requirements of industry.

'It is vital that our students are given opportunities like this and both Phil and Ethan have excelled, providing a first class service to Wood Group Operated CATS Terminal and helping to improve its safety procedures.'


 
 
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