Page 30 - Gi flipbook April 2018

HISTORY

DOUBLE BILL

Two short stories from Barry Wilkinson, Gas Historian and
former Editor of The Historic Gas Times

A ‘SECURE’ WORKS

DURING MY CAREER in the industry,
I worked at several gas works in
a responsible position, along with
different works engineers and
superintendents. There was one
superintendent who stays in my
memory for being so suspicious of
being let down by his foremen that
he had every major item of plant
padlocked – only he had the keys.
I was on standby over one particular
Christmas when the district engineer
called me: Would I go out to the
works with all the padlocks and give
the shift foreman a hand? They were
running short of gas and he was
unable to open up the butane/air
plant to relieve the situation.
It was snowing and the temperature
was near freezing, hence the
desperate supply situation. When I
arrived, he was standing at the gate
and explained that the main valve to
the plant was secured with a large
padlock and chain.
The key for the lock could not be
found. We discussed the best thing to
do, and agreed to break the padlock
with a hammer and chisel. Soon
we had the butane/air flowing and
building up the supply to save the
situation.
The superintendent was waiting for
me when I arrived for work a couple
of days later. He was fuming – I had
no right to damage the lock, he said.
I had committed criminal damage! I
responded by asking him why it was
necessary to padlock key valves, could
he not trust his shift foremen?
I suggested that he should unlock
the valves which were vital to keeping
the works in operation, because I He was fuming – I had no right to damage
would not repeat my actions again the lock, he said. I had committed criminal
unless he did this and we might lose
the district. damage! I responded by asking him why
I saw him later, rather sheepishly it was necessary to padlock key valves,
going round to take off the padlocks
and we had no further problems. ■ could he not trust his shift foremen?

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History.indd 1 15/03/2018 13:39