Republic of the Philippines

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering

Mary Grace D. Almirañez Safety Department

BS Mechanical Engineering

NARRATIVE REPORT

On the job training is one of the biggest challenge for every college student. In here, students are
able to determine their complexities, knowledge and the ability to cope with their environment, task and
practices. With this also, they can able to weigh if they are ready or not for what they call the outside world
or the “real world”. Every student have at least the courage to take a big step of getting out of their comfort
zone and face the real deal of professionalism.

Quezon Power (Philippines) Limited Co. take a big part of my journey. This company. owns and
operates the 460 MW net coal-fired electric generating facility and the 31 km transmission line in the
municipality of Mauban, Quezon. This company is considered a trailblazer in the Philippine Power Industry
and prides itself on being a world-class facility with first class amenities run by highly sklled workers.
Quezon Power boasts their ability of maintaining an excellent safety record since commercial operations
started.

June 6, 2018. The day I started my training. I was assigned in Safety Department. At first, it really
was a big challenge for me because I have to think of the ways of how I can relate the field of my profession
to the things they are teaching me. Yes. Safety is related to Mechanical Engineering. In order for mechanical
engineers to perform different operations and work on complex systems, they have to be knowledgeable on
different safety practices to be able to start and they must be informed on the safe procedures of handling
materials or chemicals they are using for the operation. However, safety is too general. They cover a wide
variety of courses. From mechanical work, safety also deals with constructions, chemicals as well as electric
and electronics engineering. At first, of course I’d strive for the information and theories that will
complement those that I’ve learned in school or those that in line with my profession. However, I realized
there are more important thingS that matters in stepping the way of professionalism.

For the past 7 weeks, I’ve gain a lot. From theories, hands-on work, operations, and even moral
values. The first thing they taught me is about safety implementation system. Since power plants are
characterized by their complex over-all systems made up of electrical and logic control system and different
operating machines, power plants are exposed to certain conditions such as malfunctions of machineries,
fire risks, and unexpected accidents. Therefore safety assurance for every employee is necessary.

In my first day of OJT, my supervisor discussed the essence of wearing the basic PPE and the
importance of following the rules and regulations of the company. Also, he taught us the risks we might
encounter and the safety precautions we must take to avoid it. Then they introduce some major systems and
equipment like the SDA (Spray Dryer Absorber), ESP (Electrostatic Precipitator), Pulverizers, and the
Desalination Plant. He explained that SDA and ESP are used for air pollution control. Desalination Plant
together with Chlorine Plant, however is used for water treatment process. The plant owns five pulverizers,
four of them are working while and the other one serve as back-up in case one of the four pulverizers fail
to work. Also, they led me to Coal Pier Loading Station and there they explained how the thousands of tons
of coal are being unloaded from ship unloader to series of conveyor belts. Then coal are being transferred
to coal yard to pile up before it proceeds for grinding operation.

Then Sir Albert taught me some basic details in reading P&ID or Process and Instrumentation
Diagram. P&ID is a detailed diagram which shows the piping system and vessels in the process flow,
together with their instrumentation and control devices. This diagram shows the interconnection between
processes and equipment. They usually contain pipes and controls together with their sizes and
identification numbers. Process and Instrumentation diagram is more complex than Process Flow Drawings
(PFD) because the mechanical operation is very detailed and the process control devices are presented with
their designations. P&ID cannot only be used for operation and process understanding, it also used for
testing and maintenance purposes as well as for safety and regulatory requirements. The first P&ID sir
Albert gave is all about Fire Protection System of the company.

Also, Sir Jimmy and I done some inspection of fire hydrant inside the plant and village. Inspection
of fire hydrant involves quality check for the water being stored for emergency purposes in case incident
of fire arises. In checking the performance of the water, we need to first look on its physical state. Is the
water corrosive? or is it clean enough to use for the process? We all know contaminated water or corrosive
water might cause for some equipment of fire protection to fail. So we must flushed water on regular basis
to wash out the corrosion content contained by the water. Also we must inspect the pressure of the water in
the hydrant. We test if it is pressurize enough to suppress a fire. Also we check the fire hose boxes located
near the hydrants. We count and record the numbers of spanners, hose, couplers, and female and male
couplings. Then we also make sure that the hydrant is accessible and still working.

And with mentor sir Jimmy again, we inspect the scaffolding located in the village and the plant
site. Scaffolding is a temporary assembly normally attached to a construction that allows us to gain better
access to the exterior or interior form of that construction in order to repair, improve or develop it in some
way. Scaffolding is made up of many different components. We have base plate, top rail, mid rail, access,
metal plank or running board, mud sill, etc. Fall protection must be provided to every workers assigned to
work on scaffolding or higher elevation buildings. Fall Protection System or Fall Arrest System will serve
as your second assurance in preventing incidences of fall. Sir Jimmy told me that Scaffolds should be
inspected before use for damage to structural components, damage to hooks on manufactured platforms and
for compatibility of the whole structure.

Our manager, Sir Johnas allowed me to participate on trainings they are conducting such as Driving
Improvement Course (DIC) Training and Forklifting. Here, I’ve learned some important details of a vehicle
like their preventive maintenance, components, parts, etc.

But beside from that, I’ve also acquired some moral values which I think helped me in becoming a
better version of myself. I become more disciplined, approachable, time-conscious and most of all
independent to others.