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Are you looking for smart, affordable solutions to ensure safe working in areas filled with hazardous gas or dust? There is only one answer to that question: Artidor Explosion Safety in Geldrop, the Netherlands. The specialist in the development and production of explosion-proof products for 35 years. As company director Marc Moolenaar says proudly, “With our extensive knowledge of explosion protection and years of experience in engineering and R&D, we are among the most innovative companies in the market.”

What motivates you?

“Flexibility, quality and unburdening our customers with customized solutions are our top priorities. In this way, we often arrive at more practical or less expensive explosion-proof solutions. These solutions are developed by our specialists in our own workshop, often based on existing products, while retaining the original features as much as possible. Furthermore, we can also arrange ATEX and IECEx certification. Our passion for technology and for beautiful, high-quality products results in durable products that meet expectations. A good example is our new series of explosion-proof signal lights.”

 Tampnet are the largest 4G network provider in the North Sea providing cellular coverage to many of the North Sea’s Energy Assets including Oil & Gas platforms, FPSOs and Offshore Windfarms.

AGL’s partnership will involve supplying Data SIM packages for the Tampnet network in a Connected Worker bundle including Smartphones, Tablets, Head Mounted Tablets and Software solutions. AGL will also provide Data SIM packages for Remote Monitoring Systems, ­­Cameras, IOT sensors and other 4G Cellular enabled devices.

Tampnet Sales Manager John Main, said ‘We realised there was a gap in the market where Offshore Services companies were unable to fully avail of the connected worker solutions as it was sometimes problematic to get a connection to the outside world on Offshore Assets. We wanted to find a partner who could supply the full connected worker solution including Hazardous Area (Atex) devices and software and add a Tampnet Data connection to complete the solution. AGL Automation are a young company (formed in April 2020) but the extensive experience within the business gives us the confidence that they are the right partner for us.

AGL Automation Director, Angus McCarter, said ‘We were providing a connected worker solution with devices and software however connection to the outside world was the last piece of the puzzle that we needed. Previously if you wanted to connect to the internet offshore you needed to connect to the local WiFi (if even available) and Cybersecurity concerns always made this an onerous task. With a Tampnet Data SIM you can simply connect to the internet completely independent of the local network. After finishing the job you can take that Smartphone or Tablet to the next Asset and continue seamlessly.

For more information on Tampnet SIM + device bundles or SIM only packages then get in touch.

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www.aglautomation.com

UK safety expert Arco urges businesses to review their safety signage

As businesses continue to reintroduce employees to the workplace, Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, is raising awareness of the importance of reviewing safety signage to keep businesses compliant and employees and members of the public safe.

New workplace layouts designed to adhere to social distancing measures may be obstructing the visibility of signs installed before COVID-19. In addition, temporary closures may have disrupted regular cleaning and maintenance procedures, increasing the likelihood that signs may be dirty, faded or damaged. Safety signs are designed to help identify hazards and provide information on safe routes and access around buildings. However, signage must be adequately cleaned, maintained and updated to work effectively.

Arco is urging employers to consider whether their signage needs replacing and ensure it is in line with current regulations. Signs must meet the BS EN IS07010 standard to ensure all graphical safety symbols are consistent and compliant. Signs with universal images and symbols are essential in overcoming language or literacy barriers.

Monitoring benzene exposure levels is critical for the health and wellbeing of staff and the public who may encounter this group one carcinogen. While benzene has many useful and practical applications in industries, the risk to health is undeniable and requires exact and precise monitoring to mitigate damage. Having accurate and dedicated monitoring instrumentation specifically for managing the risk of benzene is essential for any business that works with this chemical.

 As benzene is both widespread in industrial applications and poses a significant risk to health, there is pressure from public health and industrial safety perspectives on making sure it is managed and monitored properly. The most effective way of minimising exposure to benzene is through appropriate safety and monitoring practices. Using PID (photoionisation detection) instruments from ION Science is an excellent way of protecting against potential hazards.

ION Science has a dedicated range of instruments specifically designed for monitoring benzene. As a compound that poses a range of long- and short-term health risks associated with exposure, having instruments that can monitor wherever staff are working and in areas where there is potential for public or environmental exposure is key.

Croatia has selected Intersec’s GeoSafe technology as the basis for its new national public warning system (PWS). The decision sees Croatia adopting a best practice response to the European mandate that all EU member states must implement a modern digital public warning system by June 2022¹.

Ingolf Ruh, Chief Revenue Officer, for Intersec says:

“The Croatian government wanted the best technology possible in order to serve its population in a crisis. Simply complying with the European regulations regarding public warning systems was not enough: they wanted to innovate and prepare for the future. As part of an end-to-end solution that enables government and network operators to work seamlessly together from the outset, GeoSafe will deliver a public warning system for Croatia that will keep citizens informed and protected for many years to come.”

According to statistics from The Home Office, Fire and Rescue services in the UK attended 14,308 fires in non-dwelling buildings in 2020. The effects of fires in the workplace can be devastating, causing injury as well as significant damage to property and the surrounding environment. However, most fires are preventable when employers implement the correct preventative measures. Here Clive Jones, managing director of thermal fluid specialist Global Heat Transfer, outlines the three key steps to managing thermal fluids in accordance with regulations.

 Any facility that uses heat transfer systems containing thermal fluid must proactively maintain them to mitigate for potential risks associated with explosive atmospheres in the workplace. These atmospheres can be caused by dangerous substances like flammable gases, mists or vapours, or by combustible dust — if any of these mix with air under atmospheric conditions, they can ignite and cause significant damage.

Fires usually develop over a long period of time. Nevertheless, many systems detect too late. Temperature rises in the exhaust air can only be detected very late by means of temperature sensors and conventional smoke detectors are too sluggish and dust-prone for use under industrial conditions due to their functioning.

In contrast to other systems, the GSMX-P follows the approach of detecting the fire gases in the formation phase and thus does not have to wait for strong smoke concentrations or late temperature increases. If the gas concentrations deviate even slightly from the target state, the GSMX-P already gives a first alarm.

The GSMX-P fire gas detector monitors the entire cross-section of the clean gas / ventilation line. For this purpose, it is attached to the line in a separate housing. Two pipes protruding into the clean gas / ventilation line generate continuous air extraction over the entire cross-section using the Venturi principle. The design not only enables representative and reproducible monitoring, but also dispenses with further electrical aids such as pumps or fans.

Explosion proof safety company Pyroban® has announced the acquisition of specialist work platform manufacturer Euro Access® Ltd in Cork, Ireland. The purchase completed on 17th November 2021 and has allowed the original founders to retire knowing their legacy will live on in a company they have trusted for more 20 years.

Euro Access, founded in 1996, manufactures ground support equipment specifically used for the maintenance of military aircraft.  The specially designed access platforms enable maintenance engineers to reach the nose cone and other confined areas of the fighter jets.

“The area around each aircraft is formally classified as Zone 1, meaning a potentially explosive atmosphere is likely to occur during normal operations, so the access platform must be explosion proof and meet ATEX 2G compliance,” says Steve Noakes, Managing Director of Pyroban. “To support safety, Pyroban was involved in the equipment’s original design process and certification in the 1990s with Euro Access’ founders Paul and Michael.”

Personal protection against hydrogen sulfide exposure: New ARA H2S single gas detector from ION Science

Delivering superior protection against hazardous VOC (volatile organic compound) exposure for workers is one of ION Science’s leading aims as a business. As the only UK OEM for gas detection instrumentation, ION Science is always looking for new ways to support the end-user against dangerous gas exposures. The launch of the ARA H2S (hydrogen sulfide) single gas detector signals a new focus on protecting staff from the dangers of exposure, and aids in health and safety compliance for businesses.

Hydrogen sulfide is present in several industries, notably in anaerobic environments where organic material is in use, such as wastewater and sewage plants, paper and pulp processing, biogas, and fertiliser production. Many people are familiar with the rotten egg smell associated with hydrogen sulfide, although at high levels of concentration it can cause anosmia, rendering it undetectable. Hydrogen sulfide is classed as a hazardous VOC, and exposure to it can cause irritation to the respiratory system, eyes, and stomach even at low concentrations. Higher concentrations of the gas can lead to unconsciousness, coma, and even death. Between 2001 and 2010, hydrogen sulfide exposure was responsible for the deaths of 60 workers in the USA alone. Many workers who are exposed to fatal levels of hydrogen sulfide could have been protected and saved with units such as the ARA H2S.

Global PPE Leader ASAP Innovations featured its X-TRA Thick Black glove at the A + A Exhibition in Dusseldorf  

ASAP Innovations, a leading global PPE manufacturer, launched its X-TRA Thick Black glove at the A + A Exhibition in Dusseldorf in October; the glove has been approved for use throughout the EU and in the UK and offers the highest protection against exposure to many commonly – used chemotherapy drugs. 

 ASAP saw a constant stream of visitors to its Stand across the four days of the Exhibition, which attracted over 25,000 visitors in total. 

 The X-TRA Thick Black glove has been tested in accordance with ISO 16604:2004 (resistance to penetration by blood – borne pathogens) and has passed to meet the requirements of EN ISO 374-5:2016.