Using Drones to Reduce Plant Inspection Risks and Costs: Real-World Case Studies.

Factory accidents have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only the workers but also the reputation and financial stability of organizations, making management of safety risks crucial. When work-related hazards are effectively managed, the probability of accidents within that plant can be reduced to zero, which is the embedded philosophy of every organization's safety policy. Plant inspections include non-destructive methodologies like thermography and ultrasonic thickness inspections of stacks, tanks and piping as part of process safety management and energy efficiency assurance. Leveraging drone technology for inspecting plant areas that involve heights offers significant advantages. By eliminating the need for workers to physically engage in work at height activities without compromising on plantrelated data, organizations can ensure impeccable safety metrics, and reinforce a positive safety culture. This paper presents three practical case studies implemented in different process industries and provides a solid basis for feasibility proposals and studies. Safety risks were eliminated 100% with collateral benefits in the form of significant savings in time (up to 97%), improvement in quality of inspection (-80%) and substantial (up to -90%) overall costs savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]