Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1356397
48 | March - April 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com 48 | March - April 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com ENERGY CONSERVATION, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT as an oil top-up. Leaks may be tempo- rarily stopped externally (such as with a sealant) or internally (such as with leak- stop agents, although these should be used carefully as previously mentioned or they can exacerbate the leak). is may buy maintenance and operations some time before the proper corrective action can be made. Of course, leaks should be cleaned up promptly to avoid any further hazards. As the leak is sched- uled for full repair, every effort should be made during this process to preserve the evidence and further investigate the root cause (step 5). If necessary, this may alter the corrective action during repair. 5. Verify the root cause (follow up from step 3). As evidence is collected during repair, a root cause analysis (RCA) should be performed. In addition to the examination of failed parts for defects and causes of failure, the analysis should include results from oil samples and filter debris. is evidence should then support a conclusion about the root cause and point to possible adjustments that will prevent a leak from returning. As we recall the common causes of leaks, this may include machine selec- tion decisions, maintenance activities or operational factors. Conclusion If you work at a facility where oil leaks are commonplace, then it may be time to devote the effort needed to accomplish proper leak management. Once they are justified by the identified risks, the practical steps can be approached for each individual occurrence. Although precise and frequent inspection practices are a must for identifying leaks, don't ignore their significance once they are found. e risks can be greater than just a financial concern. Ultimately, when leaks are minimized equipment will become more reliable and working in a cleaner workplace can allow for more necessary improvements in the plant to take place. ML Reference: Fitch, E. C. (1992). Proactive maintenance for mechanical systems. Oxford, England: Elsevier Advanced Technology. About the Author Bennett Fitch is the director of product development and lubrication program develop- ment (LPD) services for Noria Corporation. He is a mechanical engineer who holds a Machinery Lubrication Engineer (MLE) certification, a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level III certification and a Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level II certi- fication through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Bennett at bfitch@noria.com.