News

With immediate effect, the operations of the biogas plant manufacturer AD AGRO have continued under the umbrella of the WELTEC Group in Germany. "Through the merger of the business fields of AD AGRO and WELTEC, we establish promising synergies in the entire value chain of biogas and biomethane", explains Jens Albartus, Director of the biogas specialist WELTEC BIOPOWER.

"AD AGRO was faced with the decision of implementing a suitable succession strategy. The goal was to perpetuate the successful use of the expertise and experience gained in almost 200 biogas projects. The profile of AD AGRO fitted snugly in WELTEC BIOPOWER's spectrum of products and services", explains Uwe Heider, Managing Partner of AD AGRO.

ASAP Innovations will feature its X-TRA Thick Black glove at the world’s biggest Health and Safety Event 

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

 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. 

Valmet has developed an Industrial Internet solution for collecting critical measurement data related to gas transportation containers. Accurate data collection with no traditional physical measurements improves the safety of explosive containers transporting, for example, methane or hydrogen. Additionally, it saves costs and provides information about container contents for logistics.

The new container management solution complements the Valmet DNA Integrated Operations data collection application. The patent-pending solution has been developed in cooperation with Yepzon, a technology company that provides location devices and services.

By Rob Messenger

With falls from height still one of the leading causes of fatal accidents at work, the industry welcomes two new guidance documents on working safely on portable ladders, released by the Ladder Association and Health & Safety Executive (HSE).  Rob Messenger, Work and Rescue at Height Instructor, at Arco Professional Safety Services, looks at the issues of fixed, safety cage ladders and how to mitigate the risks associated with using this type of equipment.

With falls from height the leading cause of fatalities at work – the updated guidance from the HSE and the Ladder Association will be welcomed by safety professionals, site managers, company directors and ladder users alike.

Joblogic and Refcom have collaborated to launch a software module in the UK that ensures F-Gas compliance.  It also makes it simpler and faster for HVAC engineers to comply since they can now input the data directly into a compliant logbook via a mobile app.

Legislation demands that an engineer must track and record any movement of refrigerant gas in an official logbook.  There also needs to be a back-office system that shows all the work completed on equipment.

Says Greg Hill, Principal Consultant at Joblogic: “While it is possible to record work completed on paper-based systems this can be time consuming and lead to errors when a second person inputs the data into the back-office system. With each piece of equipment and all the cylinders having their own logbooks, it can take time to find all the necessary paperwork, discover what needs completing on an asset, do the work and then fill in each of the logbooks with all the correct information.

Enerpac introduces the Safe T Torque Checker, the company’s first mobile torque wrench testing unit. The new portable tool offers a simple and accurate measurement of torque output wherever and whenever operators need it.

A correctly calibrated torque system will deliver the right output to fasten bolts accurately first time. But with continued use, even the best products can go out of calibration. Operators who ignore this risk damaging the application, or even worse—potentially compromising a joint’s integrity through either under tightening or over tightening.

After a bumper 2021, when nearly 2,000 entries from 49 countries were received, the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2022 are now open for registrations.

As well as offering non-competitive achievement awards – in which Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merits are awarded – entrants can bid to be crowned the winner across a range of industry sectors.

Awards entrants also gain access to a growing, worldwide community of likeminded professionals through the Awards Excellence Forum, sponsored by HSE Recruitment, a place to share and learn from best practice, enabling the improvement of health and safety systems globally, through regular events and seminars. In addition, those looking to gain the highest possible accolade can partner with high-performing entrants as part of the mentorship programme.

In the shadow of COVID, global Printed Circuit Board (PCB) supply shortages and ongoing steel supply problems, forklift OEMs are pushing lead times further than Pyroban has ever seen. For those businesses that need an ATEX forklift truck fast, Darren Boiling, Materials Handling Sales Manager for Pyroban® says there are five options.

I’ve been in the materials handling industry for more than 30 years and I have never known forklift OEM (original equipment manufacturer) lead times like this. We have recently seen year long lead times to build a forklift and some deliveries stretched so far (after the original order has been placed) that orders have been cancelled.

Of course, some businesses just can’t wait a year, particularly when the trucks are needed in ATEX hazardous areas, perhaps due to site expansion, new site build or replacement of an aging fleet that keeps breaking down. So what options are available?

Benzene is regularly ranked as one of the top 20 most commonly used chemicals in industrial manufacturing, particularly in the USA and China. While this hydrocarbon has a range of practical applications and uses, including in plastics, resins, rubbers and synthetic fibres, the risks associated with benzene are not to be underestimated. Benzene must be carefully monitored to mitigate the risk of exposure, but with correct management benzene can be applied in a variety of useful ways.

ION Science, the UK’s leading OEM for PID (photoionisation detection) technology, VOC (volatile organic compound) gas analysis, and monitoring, is an expert in protecting against benzene exposure. Working with a variety of industries that use benzene in their applications, ION Science has developed an experienced team who are able to advise, protect and manage benzene exposure in a range of situations.

The UK leader in powered access hire for working at height, Nationwide Platforms, has chosen Elis to supply, maintain and launder protective workwear for its engineers, as well as to provide washroom and mats services.

Nationwide Platforms was already being supplied by Berendsen when it was bought by Elis. Now the company has renewed its contract with Elis after being impressed by the business benefits that the new company structure, procedures and technology can deliver.