Safety handling asbestos!

Scott Safety enhances its Phantom Vision power assisted respirator using proven modern technology offering an improved user experience. Delivering clean filtered air in accordance with the latest European best practice for asbestos removal, Phantom Vision provides a virtually unrestricted field of view, simplified decontamination, cleaning and maintenance, and low through life costs.

Mark Andrews, Product Line Manager at Scott Safety, said: “Asbestos removal work environments can be hazardous and harsh. Our aim is to develop solutions that prioritise the user’s safety and protection with systems that workers can rely on. The Phantom Vision is just that, a system that provides improved user experience, during the challenging process of asbestos removal.

“We have updated the Scott Safety Phantom Vision powered air respirator with this in mind. It is a lightweight solution that will help make a very hard job, more manageable.”

Water exposure is an inherent risk in asbestos environments as water is used to damp down dust and fibres to reduce airborne concentrations and in the process of decontamination. Powered air respirators by nature need power, and as electronics and water don’t mix well, a water resistant product is needed: In addition to its potted motor to stop water ingress, Phantom Vision’s key electrical components are also coated with high quality metal, increasing the solutions robustness and further protecting the electronics. A further welcome enhancement is a waterproof switch at the mask for ease of operation.

Key features of the Phantom Vision include:

• -Designed in extensive consultation with Powered RPE users
• -Lightweight and provides great visibility
• -Water resistant components
• -Optimised electronics, motor and battery for increased durability and reliability
• -Simplified maintenance and intuitive re-assembly between uses
• -Available in three sizes to suit the widest range of users

Phantom Vision will provide greater comfort and ease of operation for users in applications requiring powered air respiratory protection EN12942 TM3 approval.

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Reusable single gas monitor.

The Protégé SG is a versatile new reusable single gas monitor from Scott Safety. The unit is configurable to detect 13 different gases.

It is an universal portable gas detector with advanced features, such as smart plug and play sensors and a replaceable lithium battery that provides unlimited life. The swappable sensors are equipped with a smart sensor board that automatically recognises sensor type and updates the gas label on the LCD display while automatically downloading the necessary calibration parameters.

With an IP66/67 rating, global regulatory approvals, multiple languages accessible on the LCD, and internal data logging for up to 5,000 events, the Protégé SG provides industrial workers and first responders maximum flexibility to focus on the task at hand and not on their equipment.

The Protégé SG is the first in a new line of cost-effective high performance portable gas monitors being introduced. All Protégé devices will have a similar look, feel and user interface as well as standard features, such as smart plug and play sensors and lithium/alkaline battery options that are interchangeable between monitors.

Completing the new range of monitors is the MasterDock II, an expandable docking station with up to 10 bays. The MasterDock II has Ethernet and USB connectivity and supports six gas bottles simultaneously with the ability to bump, calibrate, and charge each device. Advanced new software on the intuitive dashboard interface also allows users to print certificates, configure monitors and centralise data storage for improved fleet management capabilities.

The new Protégé gas detection line will provide customers with global mission critical protective solutions, continuing Scott’s Safety commitment to protect what matters most.

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Air respirator.

Duraflow is a lightweight and ergonomically designed Powered Air Respirator with sophisticated real-time air flow control technology from Scott Safety. The new solution gives complete wearer assurance of respiratory protection to focus on the job rather than the protective equipment itself, in a multitude of hazardous situations and industries.

Mark Andrews, Global Product Line Manager Powered Air, Halfmask & Airline at Scott Safety said: “Our design intent for Duraflow was to bring to the market a reliable, durable powered air product at an affordable price for those currently using respirators with filters fitted directly to the mask (negative pressure mode).”

Duraflow’s automatic monitoring features ensure the airflow rate is maintained at precisely the correct level to afford protection for the user. Visual and audible diagnostics alert the user of any drop in airflow below the required level or when the battery needs re-charging. 2 high energy density battery options are available –standard and extended duration which can be selected depending on shift coverage required- less downtime more working time.

Duraflow will help employers meet the needs of workers across all demographics- with its low respiratory burden. As highlighted in Scott Safety’s latest whitepaper, changes in lung function in older employees working in manual positions can reduce their ability to undertake certain active tasks. By providing workers with a cooling stream of purified air, Duraflow can for some workers make the difference between whether a job can be completed or not.

Highly versatile, Duraflow is compatible with a plethora of Scott Safety headtops, filters and accessories, protecting workers from a variety of environmental hazards.

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Beating the heat!

How providing the correct PPE equipment is essential in reducing the risk of heat stress.
Though not strictly instrumentation we thought that this is a safety topic which is relevant to control & automation professionals in many process industries.

The issue of heat stress is a real concern for employers and their workforce across the world and it is easy to understand why. According to The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), June 2016 was the hottest June ever recorded worldwide, and marked 14 consecutive months of record heat for the globe. High temperatures are a cause for concern for outdoor workers and increase the risk of heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion, heat stress and heat stroke. Exacerbating this issue is the increasing trend between rapid development in hot countries and the number of labour intensive industries such as construction, mining and oil and gas operations in these countries.

According to the British Health & Safety Executive (HSE), heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature, such as sweating, starts to fail. Symptoms of the condition can include: fainting, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, muscle cramps, heat rash and severe thirst.

In addition to climatic changes, heat stress can be induced by other factors such as work rate, worker’s clothing and PPE compatibility. Therefore it is imperative that manufacturers develop equipment that uses lightweight, breathable fabrics and materials where possible. There is a responsibility too on employers to choose the most appropriate equipment for the work and to ensure the correct training is given so that the worker wears the equipment properly.

“We invest a considerable amount of time in the development of our personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure we design lightweight products. We use the best performing materials that offer the correct level of protection,” explains Chris Ellerby, Senior Global Product Manager with Scott Safety.

Ensuring workers wear PPE is an on-going challenge, especially if the pieces are not designed to work together. PPE incompatibility makes the equipment uncomfortable and can lead to the worker getting unnecessarily hot; “Our range of PPE has been specifically developed so that it complements each other and can be worn comfortably, regardless of the heat. There is much research to show that good product compatibility will improve the overall comfort for the wearer, regardless of their working environment and therefore ensure that the products will continue to be worn without detriment to the wearer.”

Scott Safety’s range of PPE includes the multiple application bump cap FirstBase 3. This innovative bump cap is designed to provide protection to the wearer against the effects of head striking against hard, stationary objects. It is made from a breathable fabric that allows high levels of ventilation that will reduce heat stress and improve wearer comfort. Additional features of the FirstBase 3 which works to reduce the effects of heat stress include the wide moisture wicking sweatband.

Chris Ellerby who has worked on the designs of this product since its inception explained: “Reducing heat and humidity on the head is a key customer need when it comes to bump or head protection in general. Scott Safety has done a huge amount of work in terms of analysing relative humidity on the head and implemented several improvements to improve airflow and permit moisture to be expelled; making the FirstBase bump cap collectively one of, if not the lowest, relative humidity bump caps on the marketplace. ”

However compatibility does not just centre on weight and comfort. There is no governing body that dictates that all equipment must meet certain compatibility standards making it harder for manufacturers to develop product compatibility. Ultimately what this means is that unless equipment is purchased from the same manufacturer and therefore designed to work together, good fit and optimum comfort cannot necessarily be guaranteed. And equipment designed and supplied from one manufacturer will most likely have been approved to work together too.

Working in environments where more substantial personal protection is required such as confined spaces or contaminated air environments is a growing trend in many countries. In these situations increased respiratory protection may well be required and this will involve wearing more complex equipment that could, if not designed well, add to heat stress levels. However, Scott Safety, renowned worldwide for its respiratory protection range, recently launched a new powered respirator specifically designed to reduce weight burden. Wearing a respirator over a period of hours can create a great physiological burden on the wearer because the sheer weight of the kit could increase the effort required to breathe. However, this new design incorporates a curved backplate and lightweight battery ensuring user comfort for long periods of use.

Scott Safety has developed a range of solutions that allow users to work comfortably in intense climates, safe in the knowledge that they are properly protected at all times.

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