04/29/2026
Foreign Material Exclusion (FME)
A single oversight is enough. A dropped bolt. A misplaced rag. A loose tool. A temporary cover left in place.
History has shown the consequences. In 1995 at Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, a forgotten cover was drawn into the system during restart, resulting in severe pump damage and significant financial loss.
At the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam, failures in maintenance control contributed to one of the most serious turbine incidents on record.
Most FME failures do not make headlines. They present as equipment damage, delayed startups, forced outages, and costly repairs. At Irwin’s Safety, FME has never been positioned as a standalone or optional service. It is embedded in how shutdown work is executed properly.
Each facility operates differently. Internal procedures, OEM requirements, and project-specific controls vary. Our role is to integrate into those systems while maintaining a consistent standard of ex*****on. Precision, accountability, and a clear understanding of operational risk. This approach has supported the protection of critical assets across projects nationwide.
If your next outage or maintenance project requires dependable FME support, connect with our Construction and Maintenance Division. https://hubs.ly/Q04dX9880