Machinery Lubrication July August 2008

detail,” Kubera said. “Before we issue any oil, we have to see
a work order that shows what system the requested lubricant
is for. Every component has an asset number; this process
requires the technician requesting any lubrication to have
documentation. The ELM database uses the asset number to
identify all approved lubrications for that component. We
then look up the asset number using the ELM, which tells us
exactly what type of oil is needed for that component. Using
the ELM ensures that the correct lubrication
matches the lubricant requested.”
Prior to leaving the issue point, a Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) label containing the
product name, grade (heavy, medium, light,
etc.), the manufacturer, chemical makeup and
combustibility rating is printed. In addition,
the MSDS information addresses any restrictions
(Figure 3).
55-gallon barrels. All oily waste by-products are disposed in
specially marked bags and then removed from the tool room.
Beaver Valley’s process for the storage and dispensing of
lubricants has made it a model plant that First Energy plans
to initiate in its other plants.
About the Author
Larry King is Midwest regional sales manager for The IFH Group, Inc. To
learn more, visit www.ifhgroup.com.
Peer Check
“During lubricant dispensing, we use a
two-person peer check process,” Kubera
said. “We check the name of the oil and the
label on the container and the dispensing
valve, then a second person performs the
same checks to ensure we have the right
spout. When the technician and the tool
room attendant leave the oil room, I know
we have the right oil, and that it’s clean and
not cross-contaminated with any other oil or
other potential contaminants. We never
reuse containers or funnels. We use new
containers for dispensing oil to ensure cleanliness
and eliminate cross-contamination.”
The 24-container system is used for everyday
oils, Kubera said. For less frequently used lubricants,
the plant installed a 10-container system
in 2006 that employs 15-gallon capacity
containers made of polyethylene (Figure 4).
For seldom-used oils not stored in the IFH
containers, Kubera devised a security tag
that is placed on the 55-gallon drums in
which they are stored. No one can help
themselves to the contents of any of these
drums without breaking the seal; therefore,
this process ensures positive control.
Waste oil is stored in flammable waste cabinets
located within the tool room outside the
oil room. Each waste container contains two
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