Safe Secure Magazine (November 2022)

Safety’s identity crisis: It’s time to focus on principles, not programs

Our profession has lost its identity and, perhaps, even our credibility From COVID-19, which has caused us (and our employers) to question our expertise on using respirators and masks, to years before when psychologists and psychiatrists pushed a single-focused behavior-changing program that miserablyfailed,wearefloundering.Peopleweweretotrustplayedusforprofitandpolitics.

Vendor “off-the-shelf” programs purport they will simplify our lives if we buy them. Have you purchased a “customizable” program and told, “yeah, it can do that,” to find you just doubled your priceanditstilldoesn’tworklikeitwasexplained?And–didyoubuyanotherone?Ourprofessionhas lost its identity and, perhaps, even our credibility From COVID-19, which has caused us (and our employers) to question our expertise on using respirators and masks, to years before when psychologists and psychiatrists pushed a single-focused behavior-changing program that miserably failed, we are floundering. People we were to trust played us for profit and politics. Vendor “off-theshelf” programs purport they will simplify our lives if we buy them Have you purchased a “customizable” program and told, “yeah,itcandothat,” to find you just doubled your price and it still doesn’t work like it was explained? And – did you buy another one? You cannot “do” things to “be” something. If you whinny, neigh, and eat oats, you are still not a horse because you do things like a horse. You can never become the horse. What you “do” in your programs must connect to the principles (character traits) of your company The established values that you and your company believe in create the base for your actions and activities. Your employees will not blindly follow prescribedactionswithoutthatconnection.

Programsaregoodandnecessary Forasafetyprogramtowork,though,youhaveto“be”whoyouare (principles/values) so you can “do” (programs) what is important to energize your culture (process). Programsdonotliveforever.Don’twastetimekeepingaprogramthatnolongerisservingitspurpose. Breathing “new life” into a dead program wastes our limited resources. It may work in a Frankenstein movie,butnothere.

What’s more, safety professionals know programs run their course. Yet, we still see position descriptions requiring safety roles to run behavior-type programs. Really? So, what principles help shapeourownprogramsandstrengthenourculture?

Let’sgetouridentityandcredibilityback;trustourtrainingandexpertise;employprinciplestodevelop programsthatwillenergizeyoursafetyculture.

Dear Readers, Greetings...!!!

A Plug-n-Play LPG/PNG Leak Detector for Residential Kitchens

You make sure that your kitchen has all the necessary appliances, but have you considered your kitchen's safety?

Having an LPG cylinder or a PNG pipeline at home is unavoidable and its usually safe. However, a gas leak from cylinder or pipeline can be extremely dangerous. Many accidents happen due to gas leakage which causes great loss to lives and assets.

No doubt we are aware of what necessary actions should be taken once a gas leak is suspected. But, incase the gas leak goes unnoticed or unsuspected then we know what risk is involved.

Hence, to ensure safety Ambetronics Engineers

Pvt Ltd has introduced Gas Leak Alert GLA-222, a plug-n-play gas leak detector that will alert the members of the house much before the explosive

limit is reached. This signal or alarm will prompt them to take quick remedial actions that is switching off the gas valve and opening windows and doors for ventilation. After the necessary actions are taken, it is recommended to call the gas agency or emergency support to check and fix the gas leak in order to avoid any untoward accident from happening.

Key Features of this device are:

• Provides fast and reliable response by using semiconductor technology for detecting leak of LPG/PNG/Natural Gas/Flammable Gas.

• Optimized for detection of smallest gas leak with integrated buzzer and LED indication.

• Provides visual and audio signals when the gas concentration crosses the Pre-set alarm level.

• Easy installation, simple plug-in design for home use, 230VAC or 24VDC ed.

Since we have long been catering to B2B market only, we have now ventured into the B2C market with our newly designed residential LPG/PNG leak detector that is a plug and play leak detector which can be installed in every home kitchen.

Know why you should install Gas Leak Alert GLA-222 in your kitchen:

Ashish Shah, Managing Director at Ambetronics says,

A LEGACY OF ENSURING HAND SAFETY FOR OVER FIVE DECADES

Diamond Protech, was founded by a visionary, Kalyanji Virji Shah, the first generation entrepreneur, with the dream of becoming one of India's leading manufacturers of hand gloves. The dream fructified with the starting of its production of household and surgical hand gloves from Dahanu way back in 1968, when there were very few players in the industry. Since then, Diamond Protech grew from strength to strength, up-scaling its operations with a manufacturing facility admeasuring 82,000 sq. ft. and a warehouse space of 27,000 sq. ft. The company forayed into manufacturing, trading and supply of premium rubber hand gloves across a wide spectrum of industries. Its range of offerings today includes household gloves, industrial rubber gloves, acid and alkali proof gloves, and finger coats. For the electrical and sector, the company has come up with a variety of rd electrical shock-proof gloves. The company, now being managed by the 3 generation Shah family, has grown like a phoenix, spreading its wings in the world of PPE and safety. Excerpts from an interview with Safe Secure Magazine.

We are on the threshold of our Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Starting our business in 1968, we have come a long way establishing our brand share and creating a brand loyalty with our customers who vouch for our quality and reliability. Our reputation is built on trust emanating from our unwavering and uncompromising quality, commitment and reliability We have a proven track record of delivering quality products at economical price. So it is our quality and performance which have helped in building our strong brand image over five decades.

capacity, we have been able to cater to the bulk demands of the offered products in the most effective and efficient manner We follow the best manufacturing methods. Before the final dispatch of these products, the hand gloves are packed with tamper-proof packaging to avoid damage during transportation. In addition, the gloves are made out of quality approved production material in strict adherence to the industry approved parameters. Under the eminent stewardship of our mentor, Kalyanji Virji Shah, we have been able to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers. For smooth conduct of our business related operations, we have divided our facility into various functional departments. This has enhanced our operational efficacy and efficiency

Known for manufacturing, trading, and supplying a broad array of premium quality Hand Gloves, Dahanu Rubber Gloves Mfg. Co. started its operations in 1968. We offered a range of products including Rubber Hand Gloves and Jyot Shock-proof Hand Gloves. These hand gloves are well-known in the market for their smooth texture, exceptional finish and resistance to moisture. These are used in various industries for hand safety, and are acknowledged for their resistance to extreme temperature, oils and chemicals. Offered by us at pocket-friendly prices, these products are highly appreciated and demanded by our customers at large. In order to meet the exacting requirements of our customers, we are offering these products in a number of specifications.

Q. Your offerings also include imported gloves. What are the different types of gloves you import, and for what applications?

In the year 2010, with a view to expanding our business, we established a separate division (Victor Imports) for importing a large variety of rubber hand gloves. Within a year, the company became one of the largest importers of household examination and surgical gloves in India, while also being an OEM for more than 50 brands. Being the only company in its segment to deal in medical and industrial hand gloves in large volumes, the division today has a per day packing capacity of more than 30,000 pairs of gloves. The company brings to India, cutting edge protective hand gloves from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

We have our factories in Dahanu and headquarters in Mumbai. Banking on our huge production

Over 50 years, three generations of the Shah family have turned Diamond Protech into India's largest and most reliable manufacturers and importers of premium quality protective hand gloves. Adhering to strict quality standards, Diamond Protech enables thousands to work with safety hand-in-hand.

Q. The name Diamond Protech is synonymous with Hand Gloves. How could you achieve this brand image and recall?

Q. Please throw some light on your beginnings and steady growth?

Q. Could you tell us more about your production facilities and manufacturing excellence?

Indeed we have a plethora of gloves for hospital and healthcare work. Our exclusive range of Examination Hand Gloves consists of powdered and powder-free Latex gloves - mainly powder-free Nitrile and Vinyl examination hand gloves - available in a variety of lengths and palm sizes. These disposable gloves offer great dexterity, tactile sensitivity and puncture resistance as well as liquid and gas resistance. While the powdered Latex variants are designed for the economy segment and may contain proteins that cause allergic reactions, our powder-free protein-free Latex and Nitrile variants are non allergic ambidexterous and offers an incredible grip for dealing with medical instruments. Our powder-free Vinyl Examination Hand Gloves are food grade and perfect for any work related to food industry

being chemical-resistant, our Industrial Nitrile Hand Gloves offer great dexterity, puncture resistance and exceptional protection against harmful liquids and gases These gloves are preferred in the oil and petroleum industry, chemical processing units and in the battery manufacturing industry. They provide holistic protection against abrasions, cuts and snags, and can be used for printing, plating, plant maintenance and for manufacturing electronic components.

Q. You have also come up with gloves that are shock-proof for the electrical and sector. Please elaborate.

Yes, we have recently introduced our Electrical Shock Proof Seamless Rubber Gloves for the electrical and sector. They come in different classes such as Class 00 to Class 4 depending on the test voltage. These are mainly used in voltage test tables where the voltage varies from 2500 Volts to 40,000 Volts.

An essential piece of safety equipment for industrial, construction and even agricultural work, our Industrial Rubber Hand Gloves come in soft quality variants, providing exceptional palm grips for better handling. These are especially flock lined for sweat resistance. From being tear, shrink or puncture resistant, to being skin friendly, chemical resistant and providing high elasticity, our Industrial Rubber Hand Gloves are tested on several quality parameters to ensure one can work safelywith ourgloves in hand.

These gloves find applications in light industrial, construction, mechanical, and agricultural work.

For use in chemical industry, we have Industrial Chemical-Resistant Nitrile Hand Gloves. Apart from

Manufactured using advanced machinery and specially compounded Latex that offers excellent dielectric properties, our Electrical Shockproof Seamless Rubber Gloves offer the best protection from domestic and work related electrical hazards. Designed to be flexible, strong and durable, they provide multiple levels of electrical shock protection and ensure professionals across industries that deal with any electric wiring or equipment, and work with safety hand in hand These gloves coming in lengths 385 mm and 410 mm, are a boon to electricians, utility workers, linemen, power generation plants, construction work, electrical contractors, etc.

Our products are of impeccable quality and workmanship. They are manufactured in controlled atmosphere in accordance with the relevant standards and specifications, and certified by SGS.

Q. Tell us something about your benchmark for quality.

Q. Besides surgical gloves, you also have gloves for a number of applications in healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industryRight?

Q. What are the different kinds of gloves you offer for industrial applications?

The key aim of our enterprise is to provide high quality, defect free products to our clients. In order to accomplish this, we are very careful while choosing our vendors. Our group of procuring executives ensures that the range is sourced only from trusted manufacturers

Subsequently our quality inspectors scrutinize the products for parameters like Reliability, Design, Wear and Tear Resistance, Durability and Skin friendliness. They also critically examine the product to ensure that they meet the quality standards set by the industry

If you take our Electrical Shock Proof Seamless Rubber Gloves for instance, each and every glove is tested in our laboratory and we provide test certificates. These gloves are also tested and certified by Electrical Research And Development Association (ERDA), Vadodara, which is a Govt. Recognized Laboratory.

Q. What's your vision and mission?

All our operations have a bearing on our core values such as Customer Safety, Comfort & Convenience, Social Responsibility and Trust, Reliability & Quality.

Our Vision is to be one of India's best and most trusted PPE providers, helping to create safer and accident-free work environment all over.

Our Mission is to provide consistently high quality protective gloves at the best prices; To work towards providing products with '0' defect; To provide timely delivery to our customers; To create an automated system for inventory management and to make optimum use of available resources and technology.

Q. HowdoyoulookatthefutureofDiamondProtech?

Personal protection is of paramount importance in a work environment especially in today's context. Safety industry, which is a priority sector today, is on a growth trajectory Naturally, the demand for PPE will increase in leaps and bounds. All this is goodnews for ourbusiness andwe doenvisage abrightfuture.

For more information visit: www.victorimports.in

Manufacturing facility in Dahanu

Occupational Exposure Limits Increase Worker Safety

OELs are regulatory values set at EU and national level that establish safe concentration levels for chemical substances in the air of a workplace. Recently assessed substances include asbestos, cadmium and lead.

OELs help employers to protect their workers from possible risks when using chemicals at work and ensure that workers are not exposed to unsafe levels of hazardous chemicals.

ECHA and its Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) give advice when priority chemicals are assessed. This supports the work of the European Commission to adopt new or revised OELs and improves the way the chemicals regulation REACH and occupational health and safety legislation are applied.

The Agency has finalised scientific opinions on asbestos, cadmium and its inorganic compounds, diisocyanates, and lead and its compounds.

These have been sent to the European Commission to be elaborated further and for a final decision.

ECHA is currently assessing 1,4-dioxane, isoprene, cobalt, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and welding fumes. Stakeholders are invited to

submit data and comments in calls for evidence that are launched at the start of the assessment process. This input will be taken into account when the scientific opinion is developed.

Knowing which EU chemicals laws apply to your chemicals

The EU Chemicals Legislation Finder (EUCLEF) is an easy-to-use, online service where you can search for information on how your chemicals are regulated across the EU. It gives you access to an up-to date overview of EU chemicals legislation in one place, and is free for anyone to use.

You can search for a chemical to find out how it is regulated under different pieces of legislation and what obligations you may have. EUCLEF also provides an overview of different aspects related to the pieces of legislation including their scope, exemptions, lists of impacted substances, and links to full legal texts in all EU languages.

EUCLEF currently covers 56 pieces of EU legislation, encompassing a wide range of areas such as occupational exposure limits, pesticides, water standards, industrial emissions and waste, EU ecolabel, food contact materials, worker safety, toys, and cosmetics.

Dry ice and liquid nitrogen pose potentially deadly health risks to workers in food, beverage and other businesses that use, transport or store these cooling agents, Department of Labor & Industries warns in a new hazard alert.

When dry ice and liquid nitrogen are exposed to air, they become a gas carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, respectively and displace oxygen, which then can lead to suffocation, the alert states.

Other hazards presented by dry ice solid carbon dioxide and liquid nitrogen include ice burns and permanent frostbite damage to unprotected skin and eyes, as well as explosions when pressure builds up in non-venting, airtight containers holding either product.

DRY ICE AND LIQUID NITROGEN: ALERT WARNS OF SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS TO WORKERS

Precautions should include:

• Examining the workplace to determine if and how storage, transportation and use of dry ice or liquid nitrogen might harm workers.

• Ensuring adequate ventilation in vehicles, rooms and other spaces where these products are used or stored.

• Establishing written safety procedures for working with these products. This should include protocols for foreseeable emergency situations, such as major and minor spills and/or leaks of liquid nitrogen.

• Installing and maintaining alarms that signal low oxygen levels, and/or providing workers with oxygen level monitors.

• Avoiding dry ice or liquid nitrogen storage in sealed containers, vehicles or poorly ventilated spaces.

What is Blue and Green Hydrogen?

The benefits of using blue hydrogen include:

• Saves Renewable Energy: Because blue hydrogen is not produced with renewable energy, it reduces the amount of renewable energy that needs to be produced, or it can be saved for a more beneficial purpose.

• Uses Fewer Scarce

Resources: As renewable energy production requires more land, it takes up more space However, blue hydrogen production does not require such vast amounts of land.

• Cost-Effective: For the time being, green hydrogen is more expensive than blue, thus making blue hydrogen more cost effective.

Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis by using a renewable energy source, such as water or wind, as the electrical current.

Hydrogen is a clear, odourless and colourless gas. It is the simplest and abundant element in the world and can be used as a pure gas (H2) or combined with numerous other substances to form compounds- many of which we heavily rely on today.

Hydrogen can be produced by transporting electricity through water and breaking the water into oxygen and hydrogen compounds, but it can also be created directly from biomass or fossil fuels. Hydrogen can also be produced by steam reforming or via electrolysis with the help of nuclear energy.

There are so many processes and labels for hydrogen, so it can be confusing what they refer to. Hydrogen labelled by colour refers to the hydrogen production methods used. In this blog post, we will focus on blue and green hydrogen as these are the most renowned methods of producing hydrogen. However, hearing of grey, brown, yellow, turquoise, or even pink hydrogen is not uncommon.

Blue Hydrogen

Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gasses via Steam Methane Reforming (SMR). During the steam methane reforming process, natural gas and very hot steam are mixed with a catalyst. As a result of this mixing, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are formed. To have pure hydrogen, the CO is removed and stored somewhere else. 2

If hydrogen is produced with natural gas and the process incorporates Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), it can be considered low carbon hydrogen.

As carbon dioxide is not emitted into the atmosphere during this process, it is the most efficient and clean energy available.

There are numerous benefits to using green hydrogen and we will list some of them below:

• 100% Sustainable: As polluting gasses are not released into the atmosphere due to green hydrogen production, this makes it 100% sustainable.

• Storable: Hydrogen can be stored easily. This makes it suitable to be used in various amounts and at different times instead of as soon as it is produced.

• Versatile: Green hydrogen can be used for a variety of purposes as it can be transformed into electricity or synthetic gas.

The Role of Climate Control in PPE

the upper body Even if the air is not temperaturecontrolled, air flowing over their bodies provides cooling.

Coveralls, used in conjunction with an air-supplied respirator (supplied air or powered air) that connects to the coveralls or has a tuck-in collar, provide cooling similar to a blast jacket, as they direct air down over the body.

What is climate control in Personal Protective Equipment,and Why isit important?

“Wearing PPE increases your risk for heat-related illnesses. Although this is true in a general sense, it’s somewhat of a paradox because incorporating climate control into your employees’ PPE could be the most effective way of preventing heat-related illness.

Climate Control in PPE includes items that allow your employees to maintain their body temperature and work comfortably Here are some examples:

Climate Control Device. This is a flow control device used with supplied-air respirators to cool or heat incoming air It’s effective and includes temperature control, which the wearer can adjust as required.

Air Conditioning Devices. These provide heating or cooling, and sometimes both. They also are flow control devices, but increase or decrease the temperature by a fixed amount instead of providing temperature control.

Cool Vest. These typically are filled with a coolant that remains at around 59° F to help keep workers’ torsos cool. The coolant is effective, but adds extra weight to PPE.

For blasting and heavy industry, the blast jacket is available. This attaches to your respirator and directs air down workers’ torsos and arms to cool

When the combined temperature of your body and your environment reaches levels at which your body can’t regulate heat gain though sweating, you can develop heat cramps. If promptly treated by drinking water and resting in a cool place, further illness can be prevented. If ignored, this can develop into heat exhaustion and include symptoms such as heat cramps, confusion, nausea, headache, dizziness and fainting.

The worst form of heat stress is heat stroke (a type of hyperthermia), in which your body may stop sweating, collapse and go into seizure. This is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. The purpose of climate control in PPE is to assist your body in maintaining a safe and comfortable temperature to prevent the mildest forms of heat stress.

Also important is protection from the cold. Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can develop into hypothermia, which also is life-threatening

Whether it be an increase or decrease in temperature required, it’s important that your employees are comfortable. Uncomfortable employees are a lot more likely to lose focus and not pay enough attention to their job and surroundings, make unsafe decisions, or subconsciously violate safety measures and risk harming themselves. Some of the aforementioned symptoms of heat stress, such as fatigue, confusion and dizziness, are examples of how employees are at risk by not being comfortable.

It is in the best interest of employers to ensure their employeesarecomfortablesotheycanoperateatmaximum productivity Climate control in PPE assists the body in maintaining a safe and comfortable temperature to prevent heat- and cold-related illnesses, which can be life-changing or life-threatening It also is imperative for maximized safety and productivity. Research your options and do product trials, when possible, to find your ultimate climate control solution.

Flame-Resistant and Flame-Retardant

Functional Differences and Wearing Precautions

Have you ever wondered what FR coveralls stand for? Although both flame-resistant and flame-retardant coveralls are abbreviated as FR coveralls, they offer varying levels of protection. Flame-resistant garment functions normally at high temperatures but may not function normally in the event of a fire. In high temperatures or fire conditions, the flameretardant garment will not function normally, but will actively prevent the heat source from spreading.

After understanding the functions of flame-resistant and retardant, we will further look into their levels of protection, which are classified as Primary and Secondary. The difference between these levels is the intended use of the FR coveralls and the workplace hazards that the wearers will face. The two levels of protection are briefly described below

1. Primary FR Protection (Flame-Resistant)

Primary FR protection refers to flame resistant coveralls designed to be worn during activities in which the wearer is constantly exposed to hazards such as flames, radiant heat, arc flash or flash fire. Its purpose is to minimize burn harm by preventing or slowing the transmission of heat energy from the source to the wearer's skin.

2. Secondary FR Protection (Flame-Retardant)

Secondary FR protection is intended for the wearer

who may be short-term exposed to intermittent hazards and already has Primary FR protection underneath It provides little or no heat source protection because it is worn to protect against additional risks, such as chemicals or particulates, while also having the critical flame-retardant quality to prevent it from igniting and burning

How Flame-Retardant Coveralls Work to Protect Wearers?

Many fabrics will ignite and continue to burn if exposed to heat source, some will also melt onto the wearer's body. This can result in significant injuries because textile fires often burn longer and cause more damage than the initial incident. Flame-retardant coveralls are specially designed to self-extinguish, reducing the likelihood of it catching fire when exposed to combustion and high temperatures. This

gives the wearer valuable escape time and helps to reduce injuries.

There are also situations where both chemical and FR protection are required, a common solution is to wear a standard disposable chemical coverall over the FR coverall. However, this creates harm to wearers because standard chemical coveralls are made of plastic like materials, thus in contact with flames, they will ignite, burn, and drip molten debris onto the FR garments beneath, transferring additional heat energy to the skin of the wearer below. As a result, flame-retardant coveralls which provide both chemical and FR protection are applied to solve the situation. They are specifically intended to be worn on top of flame-resistant coveralls to give chemical protection without compromising heat source protection

EN ISO 14116:2015 Limited Flame Spread Protection

EN ISO 14116 can be used to determine whether a garment does not ignite, burn or drip molten when exposed to a flame. Most flame-retardant coveralls meet the requirements of Index 1, which allows for

holing but requires no blazing or melting debris, and that the flame does not burn to the sample's edge. It essentially confirms that the fabric will not catch fire and burn.

EN ISO 14116:2015 Limited Flame Spread Protection

Clip the fabric vertically so that the flame burns in the middle and the outcomes of the sample fabric can be seen. It is divided into three indexes based on the state of the fire and the spread of the flame.

The Benefits of Wearing FlameRetardant Coveralls

Hence, if you are working in a condition where additional risks and FR protection are needed at the same time, wearing flame-retardant coveralls on top of flame resistant coveralls has several advantages:

1. The flame-resistant coverall is more expensive and reusable. Wearers who wear flame-retardant coverall on top might extend the life of the flame resistant garment.

2. The cost of laundering is not cheap. To save money on laundry, using a flame-retardant coverall outside is a smart alternative for daily protective application.

3. When working in chemicals or particulates environment, flame-retardant coveralls of Type 5 and 6 certifications can protect you from these hazards.

4. The flame-retardant coverall is usually antistatic for flame-retardant purpose, which reduces the risk of electrostatic sparking in flammable gas environments.

Conclusion

First and foremost, determine whether your workplace requires Primary or Secondary FR protection. A risk assessment completed on-site by qualified safety managers can help with this. If there are scenarios when both additional risks (chemicals or particles) and FR protection are required, make sure the flame retardant coveralls you choose pass the EN ISO 14116 test. Remember that flame-retardant coveralls must be worn over flame resistant coveralls; a flame-retardant garment should never come into direct contact with the skin to avoid any possible occupational injuries.

All drivers are judged to the standard of a “competent and careful driver” (s3ZA of the Road Traffic Act 1988), regardless of their age, experience or any additional driving qualifications that they may have. If their driving falls below this standard they will have committed an offence. The offence they will have committed will be determined by how far below the standard they have fallen.

Driving which falls below the required standard is careless driving Momentary inattention, lack of concentration or avoidable distraction can amount to a driver being guilty of careless driving.

The offence of dangerous driving is made out when the driving in question falls far below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver and it would be obvious that driving in that way would be dangerous. Examples of dangerous driving would include driving whilst overly fatigued or deprived of sleep or being grossly distracted (for example driving while using a handheld mobile phone).

A driver who drove dangerously and caused serious injury to another person would be guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving This offence carries a maximum of 5 years' imprisonment at the Crown Court and a minimum 2 years' disqualification from driving, An extended retest is mandatory following conviction for this offence.

 The New Offence

There was a perception held by some, including many road safety organisations, that a lacuna in the

Causing Serious Injury by Careless DrivingA Significant Development in Road Traffic Prosecutions

law existed when it came to punishing drivers who caused serious injury to others when their driving was careless as opposed to dangerous. This has now been addressed through the introduction of the offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, which formed part of the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022 that received royal assent in April 2022.

Prior to the introduction of this offence, a driver who drove carelessly and caused serious injury to someone could have expected to be prosecuted for an offence of careless driving. When it came to sentence for that offence, while the Magistrates would have been entitled to treat any injuries caused as an aggravating feature, if they concluded that serious injury had been caused but the driver's culpability was relatively low then the driver could expect to receive 5-6 points on their licence and a fine.

The new offence will mean that the consequences of a driver's actions will determine their sentence to a far greater extent than their culpability. The new offence can be dealt with in either the Magistrates' Court or the Crown Court and carries a maximum sentence of 2 years' imprisonment in the Crown Court (12 months in the Magistrates' Court) as well as a mandatory disqualification from driving Now, in cases where a driver may be guilty of nothing more than a brief lapse in concentration they will be at risk of a custodial sentence if that lapse has led to serious injury being caused

It is to be noted that “serious injury” means “really serious bodily harm” and this includes a wide range of injuries, from life changing injuries to broken bones where a full recovery can be expected.

 What will be the outcome?

It is anticipated that changes to the Highway Code which introduced a hierarchy of road users will increase the number of prosecutions for careless driving and as a consequence of this new offence, prosecutions for causing serious injury by careless driving

It has long been the case that a breach of the Highway Code can be used as evidence of a driver's careless driving and these hierarchal changes are likely to mean a greater number of prosecutions in cases where a driver maybe consideredtobe in breach of the Code.

There will not be any statutory time limit to bring a prosecution for an offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, unlike careless driving which has a six month time limit. Police investigations are therefore likely to be increasingly protracted, which will be distressing for drivers and victims alike.

It is also anticipated that far more defendants will be electing trial at the Crown Court for this offence, rather than consenting to be tried by the Magistrates'

Court, due to the widely held perception that sentencing in the Magistrates' Court can be erratic and overly punitive A greater number of defendants electing trial at the Crown Court will add to what is already an overworked and creaking system.



What can you do?

It is important for an employer to consider all aspects of their employees driving to mitigate the risk of them driving either carelessly or dangerously. This can include considering mobile phone policy because even using a phone on a hands free kit could be considered to be an avoidable distraction, and journey planning to ensure that employees are taking adequate breaks

The importance of ensuring drivers receive timely legal representation cannot be overstated. A driver's legal interests need to be protected from the very moment that they are involved in a road traffic collision and this is not only relevant to the criminal investigation, but also in assisting motor insurers and their advisers in respect of any civil claim that is likely to follow.

Overcoming Challenges in Trace Analysis of Toxic Gases in The Air Around us

Concerns about exposure to trace toxins and the effects of that exposure on workers and the general population are growing globally, with many countries passing new regulations intended to limit the impact on long term health risks such as cancer and birth defects. In the United States, trace air toxins also known as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Association (EPA) through the Clean Air Act The act identifies 187 substances such as benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, mercury, and chromium as HAPs. Major sources of these hazardous air pollutants include emissions from chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and power plants. The need for HAPs control also exists wherever toxic compounds are commonly used, such as in semiconductor fabrication, medical equipment sterilization, orin pharmaceutical facilities.

Generally, airborne HAP emissions are measured in the form of source emissions directly at the output stack, or via ambient air monitoring in and around the worker environment or at the fence line of the facility. Both methods rely on Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM) to ensure the cumulative exposure is measured over time. While similar, the requirements of source emission monitoring and ambient air monitoring can be very different in both minimum detection limits and measurement conditions. Thus, the need exists for specialized systems to address the demands of each.

Employees of facilities where HAPs are used can have

a higher risk of exposure than the surrounding community due to source proximity. This is understandable since levels of HAPs can accumulate more quickly in confined spaces if abatement systems are not working at optimum efficiency. While laws exist to protect the health and safety of workers, managing indoor air quality continues to be a major concern and therefore requires a robust solution.

There are several challenges associated with monitoring for trace toxins in ambient air:

1. The analytical technology used for monitoring must be capable of measuring many different HAPs that can be present in the same area.

2. The detection limits must be low enough to measure compounds at levels below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), with concentrations typically in Parts-Per Million (ppm), Parts-Per-Billion (ppb) or even Parts Per-Trillion (ppt), depending on the compound.

3. The technology must not be affected by cross interferences from other compounds or naturally occurring atmospheric gases (CO , H O, CH ) that 2 2 4 dominate ambient air at ranges from ppm to percent and often obscure the detection of trace HAPs.

4. Fast measurement speed is required such that multiple input locations can be measured in a timely fashion. This reduces the risk of missing transient trace emissions which are common in ambient air conditions, and it minimizes workers' exposure time to such emissions.

The traditional technologies for measuring HAPs have

been Gas Chromatography (GC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Both technologies have their pluses and minuses, with FTIRbeingasignificantly betteroptionforsimultaneous measurement of multiple compounds, resilience to cross interferences, and speed. GCs, on the other hand, are superior in terms of sensitivity yet are slower and costlier to operate in a factory environment.

A new technology called optically enhanced FTIR (OE-FTIR) has been introduced for industrial gas analysis. OE-FTIR provides all the traditional benefits of FTIR as well as a significant increase in sensitivity for HAP detection that not only meets the capability of GCs but also exceeds them in many cases. Even newer laser-based technologies such as Cavity Ring Down Systems (CRDS) have a difficult time competing with OE-FTIR, as the CRDS signal tends to degrade over time when exposed to air particulates such as dust. In addition, CDRS systems are only capable of measuring one compound per laser; this rapidly becomes cost prohibitive when measuring for multiple compounds.

While no technology is perfect, OE-FTIR has changed the paradigm in obtaining fast and robust HAP measurements down to the lowest levels needed to ensure worker safety The result is a sensor technology that, when integrated into a well-designed CEM system, provides environmental health and safety managers with the ability to increase worker protection without incurring higher operational costs.

OE-FTIR enables the following benefits when integrated into a properly designed CEM:

• Wide area monitoring can be configured for up to 20 sample points and still provide rapid full-cycle time.

• As an optical technology, the OE-FTIR system software can be fully automated to run the analyser without human intervention and without the need for calibration.

• Realtime control room monitoring allows for rapid response to emission events.

• There is no need for carrier gasses and expensive data interpretation when interferents are present, thus reducing the cost of ownership.

Adapting to Digital Tools Can Improve Process Quality, Culture for All

about them in job manuals empowering them with more important experience and reducing new employee risk.

The skilled work of the trades builds the world around us, but this work wouldn't be possible without high-quality safety programs. With a job that is so integral to the success of the organization, safety professionals carry a lot of responsibility to understand and employ the latest technologies for their enterprise. Eliminating inefficient and costly processes like filing paper reports or managing projects analog in lieu of new digital tools is one way safety professionals can strengthen their company's safety culture, providing higher quality processes and outcomes for both themselves and their organization.

This article covers ways to enhance safety programs with the emerging digital tools and technologies that are changing the way we work.

Utilizing Virtual Environments

Augmented Reality (AR) is one critical digital tool being utilized for jobsite training in a number of fields. Using a virtual environment combined with real-world visuals, AR can easily simulate processes used in training with more affordable overhead and a shorter time commitment than traditional training methods. For example, safety professionals are using AR to overlay digital content onto real camera views of the various physical environments on a jobsite, creating an interactive experience via smartphones or AR headsets that enables users to learn safety procedures in real-life situations with far less danger than real-time on-the-job learning. By interacting with a virtual problem before encountering it in real life, employees have the opportunity to troubleshoot in real-time and prepare themselves for any dangerous situations that may arise. AR also allows employees to virtually experience hazardous situations rather than just reading

AR can also be used for emergency management and facility navigation. According to the World Economic Forum, workplace facilities have traditionally employed workplace safety and emergency exit plans using 2D maps displayed in common and hightraffic areas, but this continues to change thanks to government mandates that require the use of 3D models for public projects. With AR, companies can layer traditional inspection forms over the AR generated floor maps to help safety inspectors and professionals better navigate a physical facility while saving the time and money involved in the traditional mapping process. This kind of technology fosters a safer, more secure work environment that puts employee wellness first while also improving workflow for safety professionals.

Safety Behind the Scenes

Modernizing technologies on job sites is a crucial step in improving performance, but continuing and building on that success requires a digital mindset behind the scenes.

Today, companies are moving from manual, error prone administrative processes to digital records that provide accurate, real-time data. For example, there are digital project management solutions that allow increased, real-time visibility These solutions provide safety professionals with a hub for incident reporting, ensuring that no records are misplaced and allowing for the ability to

see incident trends over time. Digital tools are empowering safety professionals to provide better training, better hazard evaluations and more.

Additionally, employee PPE programs have gone digital, enabling online project management, selection and customization of safety gear. Digital programs can outfit employees with jobsite appropriate PPE through an online portal and digital voucher systems allow employees to redeem the PPE as they would like – online or in stores. Digital voucher management solutions ensure compliance across large numbers of employees and locations, while also putting program data at your fingertips, including real time visibility and control over employee eligibility and purchase tracking. Look for a PPE partner that will be a guide through the outfitting process, working with you to determine your

company's needs and help build customized programs to provide PPE that is purpose-built for the environments your workers face in today's ever changing digital world.

Connecting Workers for Safety

Today's safety professional is more connected than ever, relying on digital tools to help their employees stay as safe and productive as possible Safety professionals can empower their employees by utilizing technologies that bring data and insights to life, making their companies even more desirable to prospective and current workers due to a higher quality of work for employees. An efficient and effective workplace safety program is the best way to ensure well being, and emerging and interactive digital solutions are increasingly integral to success.

Sensors and Other Equipment Help Improve Safety and Productivity in the Plant

Sensors, smart connected equipment, and software are changing the way we operate in our homes, cars, offices and even industrial facilities. Forward-thinking industrial equipment manufacturers have been developing ways to make their products smart and inter connected in recent years. From the loading dock to the plant interior, equipment that can harness the power of data can help maintenance, safety and facility managers do their jobs better and make more effective long-term improvements. With the increased focus on productivity along with the always important need for safety, industrial facilities have a growing number of options at their disposal.

Sensors add Safety

One option that offers an immediate positive impact to facility safety is integrating sensors into existing equipment. Solutions that were originally developed for one specific job like a vehicle restraint to help secure a trailer or a loading dock leveler to bridge the gap from facility floor to trailer bed can now be optimized with sensors that offer proactive warnings in potentially unsafe situations. From out on the drive approach to the busy loading dock, these sensors activate audible and visual warnings while also integrating with controls to provide a safer sequence of operations.

For example, industry-leading vehicle restraints can now incorporate sensors that actively detect motion on the drive approach. Activated by a trailer backing into

that dock position, an audible and visual alarm that is either embedded in the restraint or mounted as a standalone unit notifies personnel to vacate that position. This sensor enhancement directly addresses the fact that semi-tractor trailers are the second leading cause of back over fatalities in the United States. Similarly, inside at the dock, motion-activated sensors help prevent pedestrianforklift accidents which account for 80% of all reported forklift accidents. Enhancing a facility's blue light policy, the system shines a blue light onto the leveler when activity is detected inside the trailer. In addition to extending a dock worker's reaction time, the system can also be interlocked with vehicle restraint controls to prevent premature trailer disengagement while also audibly alerting an unsuspecting worker if they've entered an unsecure trailer. If a facility has a drive-thru application, sensors placed in the vertical storing leveler's pit, disable operation if motion is detected there, to help prevent personnel injury when servicing the equipment or cleaning the pit, among other things. The leveler cannot be operated until the pit is cleared and the dock worker engages the controls.

Most recently, visual management tools at the dock help facility's increase productivity. Monitoring the total duration of loading activities, dock timers either count up or down and automatically begin when the vehicle restraint safely secures a trailer to the facility. When integrated with an optional trailer presence sensor, which helps confirm trailer presence without the need to step outside on the dangerous drive approach, the timer begins counting once a trailer is detected at the dock position. The dock timer stops counting when the vehicle restraint disengages the trailer, signifying the load is complete.

In the most forward thinking operations, these safety features are incorporated into an advanced dock control system which integrates multiple pieces of equipment (including the vehicle restraint, leveler, dock barrier and dock door) programmed

to work only in a safe sequence of operation. However, they can also be added to existing equipment as standalone products, regardless of restraint type or if the facility just chocks tires.

Loading Dock Equipment

Just as many cars and household appliances now collect data, interact with users, and alert people to potential problems (like an open garage door or an overdue oil change), industrial equipment is adding similar functionality At the loading dock a critical point of access for most companies the need for insights into safety and efficiency is a growing trend.

Customers want their equipment to give them real-time alerts about problems they are trying to address so they can take more immediate action. Freezer and cooler doors are a good example. If a smart connected freezer door indicates the door was left opened or did not close properly (and is thus causing the product inside to melt or spoil) it will do more than just log that data for future use it will also send an alert, so the problem can be fixed right away. Similarly, smart connected dock equipment can notify safety managers to a dock door left open without a trailer presentaclear fall hazard.

Software Enters the Industrial Facility

In its most limited application, the data captured by a piece of equipment can help managers uncover problems at each individual location. Data is much more impactful when it is aggregated across a facility, which is where dock management software and dashboards come in. These tools help the shipping and receiving office personnel see what is happening at each dock, analyze usage of each dock, and even get safety alerts when a dangerous situation arises. They can also track which pieces of equipment are due for maintenance. Other recent logistics management innovations include systems that track when carriers arrive at a facility, manage those drivers in a queue, establish priorities, and facilitate direct communication between drivers and the shipping/receiving office.

The expectations of facility managers to run an efficient and safe operation are rising dramatically among both employees and company stakeholders. The addition of new employees into a facility is also driving up the need for improving operations. The implementation of dock

management software and dashboards can help meet those expectations. When employees start using a software program to handle what were previously manual tasks, or when they can monitor multiple pieces of equipment through a dashboard, real value is gained. Data from smart connected equipment can easily be collected and displayed in meaningful, real-time screens, reports customized and distributed, and so on. Over time, all decision makers will better understand how each piece of equipment is performing and more.

Dock Management

With a tight labor market, ever changing supply chain challenges and all kinds of economic issues, industrial managers and executives are looking for more effective ways to run an operation Solving issues like driver wait times, miscommunication, and how to handle increased daily logistics volume are top-of mind. Thanks to new software solutions, companies can streamline the conversation between shippers, carriers, and dock management staff. They can assign carriers to docks without the hassle of manual dock checks and withoutadrivereverleavingtheircab.Andwhat'smore, being able to view real time dock or door utilization across the entire facility, allows for better decision makingandcanhelpreduceexpenses.

Many of the people are interested in making their facilities or warehouses more effective. Once we've had a conversation about ways to use technology and data from our equipment, they start to get really excited about the possibilities. This is definitely a shift we see in the industry

The Next Level

Facilities focused on improved safety and productivity at the loading dock and within the plant now have more options available to them. The time is now to learn how sensors, upgraded, or new smart connected equipment and software can help take a company to the next level. The benefits will range from identifying safety improvement opportunities to analyzing trends and utilization to safety alerts that can be acted on immediately. It is a critical and exciting time for material handling, logistics, and industrial companies wanting to be the best they can be.

Interview

Mr. Dhavall Thakkerr

Director

M/S. Ketty Apparels India Pvt. Ltd.

1. Ketty Apparels is the manufacturer in work wear and fabric since 1978 nearly four decades by the brand name INDIFORM. Kindly brief us about the same.

Started in Mumbai, over 4 decades ago in 1978, Ketty Apparels India Pvt. Ltd., is a leading workwear manufacturer, that has combined its own vast experience with the latest technology to give you unmatched quality and value for money Our brand - INDIFORM is synonymous with comfortable, efficient and stylish fabric and garments that top industries and pharma companies trust. We are now expanding our product portfolio with Never Out of Stock Concept Come Explore, Select and Experience our Products! Coveralls for Industries, T Shirts for Corporates & QSRs, Chef wear for Hospitality, Scrubs for Hospitals, and many more to come. We have a beautiful online D2C platform where you can experience all the varieties of workwear You Choose, You Select and We Deliver

INDIFORM NEVER OUT OF STOCK CONCEPTUALISING WORKWEAR!

2. How do you ensure quality across all phases of production? What are the challenges and the difficulties faced by you during the time of emergencies?

Right systems and processes are made to ensure customers get their desired product with right quality and timeline.

As of now there are no challenges.

3. With initiatives like Make in India, as encouragement to manufactures, how far do you see the manufacturing abilities of India will take us on the Export -Import map?

As Indians we should first take the entire world as a market. Give right product and solution to their problems. Govt. has given good incentive based schemes towards exports where we have to concentrate and develop skill for high volume manufacturing with quality and cost. With right team and right product we can definitely be worlds biggest workwear manufacturer.

4. Are there any futuristic products ready for launch in near future?

We are bringing coveralls, in technical textiles that can resist hazardous chemicals and fumes, High Cal Rated Fabric and Cut resistance Packing suits, which can helpindustries toachieve better PPStandards.

5. How would you like to encourage and support women's empowerment?

Our factory has 95% Women empowerment, where we have dedicated lines to train rural women, enhance their skills and make them financially independent.

6. In your opinion, any suggestion/message you would like to convey to the people to select right products or wearable uniforms, related to the safety measures as life is very precious gift?

At INDIFORM we believe business only comes if you're able to give right solutions to the problems of mankind. Our all range of workwears are made with special fabric and finish which provide potential resistance to the safety norms.

For more information visit: www.indiform.in

Method Statement for Sprinkler Piping System

by Arindam Bhadra

1. Scope:

The scope of this method statement is to describe the method of installation of sprinkler piping system. It applicable for Towers, East and West Podiums and Villas. According to NFPA 13, Pipe Schedule System is defined as sprinkler system in which the pipe sizing is selected from a schedule that is determined by the

occupancy classification and in which a given number of sprinklers are allowed to be supplied from specific sizes of pipe.

2. Material

2.1 Sprinkler pipes to ASTM A536 GR `B'

2.2 Zone Control Valve

2.3

Test and Drain Valves

2.4 Alarm valves

2.5 Pressure gauges

2.6 Flow switches

2.7 Pressure reducing valves

2.8 Water motor gong

2.9 Other associated materials

3. General Equipment & Tools

The equipment that will be engaged for Installation of Fire Fighting works will be

3.1 Tool Box

3.2 Welding Machine

3.3 Drilling Machine with various Bits

3.4 Grinding Machine

3.5 Cutting Machine

3.6 Threading Machine

3.7 Chain Block

3.8 Pipe Wrench

3.9 Hand Tools-gloves.

3.10 Hammer

3.11 Portable Lights

3.12 Manual Excavation Tools

3.13 Removable Barricades

3.14 Scaffolding / Mobile scaffold

3.15 Ladder

3.16 Spirit Level

3.17 Screwdriver, Pliers, Spanner. 3.18 Marker

3.19 Pressure gauge

3.20 Level gauge / Spirit level.

3.21 Measuring tape

3.22 Pressure test pump.

4. Storage

4.1 All material while unloading shall be lowered to the ground either manually or with mechanical aid like crane depending on the quantity of the pipeandshouldnotbedroppedtotheground

4.2 For pipes, timber supports shall be placed beneath at equal distance.

4.3 Pipes shall be stacked on a flat surface with adequate supports.

4.4 End caps of pipes shall be in place until removed for installation.

4.5 While stacking, it shall be ensured that pipes of bigger sizes are placed below and smaller sizes on top.

4.6 The pipes will be stacked in the site store on a proper stand on wooden loft on a flat surface at a height not exceeding 1.7m. From the bottom layer.

4.7 All pipes shall be covered and shall not be exposed to direct sunlight.

4.8 All other items such as valves, gauges, switches shall be kept on racks within site stores and shall be segregated as per size, model, type etc. for easy retrieval.

4.9 Any items found damaged or not suitable as per project requirements shall be removed from site. If required to store temporarily, they shall be clearly marked and stored separately to prevent any inadvertent use.

5. Preparation

5.1 Check and ensure all drawings used for installation are latest and approved for construction.

5.2 Check the coordination of piping layout with other services and reflected ceiling and resolve problems, if any.

5.3 Check Type of Material, Size of Material, Make of Material as per approved makelist.

5.4 Mark the pipe routing on the ceiling as per approved drawings.

5.5 After checking in case of any damages observed during inspection, the concern report will be issued and Material shall be returned to the supplier for replacement.

5.6 The sprinkler pipe size from the water supply source to a sprinkler shall be not less than 3/4 of an inch (20 mm) in diameter. Threaded adapter fittings at the point where sprinklers are attached to the piping shall be not less than 1/2 of an inch (15 mm) in diameter.

6. Installation

6.1 Fix supports and hangers with approved material, as per approved layout drawings.

6.2 Cut all excess hanger rods to leave only 25mm lengths below the support for final adjustment of levels, if required.

6.3 Machine cut the pipes square to required length and ream the pipes to remove burrs and clean thoroughly before installation.

6.4 Pipe work upto 50mm shall have threaded joints and pipes 765mm and above shall be with grooved coupling joints. The pipe work shall be

grooved and installed as per coupling manufacturers instruction and grooving equipment as supplied by manufacturer shall be used.

6.5 Install pipe work at heights and to gradients shown on approved drawings, in a neat and tidy manner. The Pipe route should be min 500mm away from wall.

6.6 Holesaw cutter shall be used to cut holes in the pipe work where required for fixing mechanical Tees etc.

6.7 PVC Sleeves of suitable sizes shall be provided at wall crossings and fire stopping with approved material shall be completed.

6.8 Only standard fittings shall be used for changes in directions, reduction in pipe sizes, Tee joints, etc. Only long radius bends shall be used where required.

6.9 Expansion couplers shall be installed at location where piping crosses the building expansion joints (Refer Annexure I for manufacturer's recommendations).

6.10 All vertical pipes shall be installed plumb with at least 25mm clearance from the wall / surface.

6.11 Install valves, supervisory switches, flow switches, pressure gauges etc as per approved drawings and manufacturer's instruction.

6.12 Install drain valves at all low points as shown on approved drawings and ensure that water can be drained from all sections of pipe work

6.14 Inspectors test drain valves of suitable size shall be provided at the farthest point in the system in each zone as per approved drawings.

6.15 Check and ensure easy access is available for maintenance and removal of all components such as valves, switches etc.

6.16 The droppers for sprinkler heads are installed at location as per approved layout / coordinated drawings.

6.17 Plug or cap off all open ends in the piping during the installation phase.

6.18 Flush and clean the entire piping with clean water until the system is clean.

6.19 Install correct type of sprinkler heads as per

approved drawings and manufacturers instruction.

6.20 Clean the pipe work thoroughly to remove all dirt, soil, oil, etc. and apply one coat of primer.

6.21 Provide identification and flow directional arrows to the pipe work, valves and other components as per approved submittals / details.

6.22 The entire installation shall be supervised, checked and certified prior to testing and commissioning of the system.

6.23 The details of the entire installation of the system shall be inspected and approved by the Authority

7. Testing & Commissioning

7.1 The entire pipe work shall be hydrostatically pressure tested as per method statement Ref. ETA/MS/P-011.

7.2 The final testing and commissioning of the system shall be carried out as per Method Statement Ref. ETA/MS/P-014.

8. Water Supply Treatment

8.1 NFPA 13 9 1.5 states “In areas with water supplies known to have contributed to micro biologically influenced corrosion (MIC), water supplies shall be tested and appropriately treated prior to filling or testing of metallic piping systems”.

8.2 But, the chemical composition of DEWA water clearly shows that there is no microbiologically influenced corrosion. As water from DEWA is filled in the fire protection system, water treatment is not required for the wet system (Annexure V).

9. Safety

9.1 Warning signs shall be placed at required location during pressure testing of the pipe work and barriers where required to protect other services.

9.2 All precautions shall be followed as per established project safety procedures.

10. Records

10.1 Work Inspection Request (WIR) duly signed by Consultants.

10.2 Installation check lists signed by QA/QC.

10.3 Installation report / certification by specialist fire protection contractor.

10.4 Test Certificate for Piping System

Know The Various Types of Commercial Gas Detection Systems

Over the past few years we have come across so many fire incidents in the commercial spaces causing loss of human life and sevre injuries. All of these incidents have something in common - they're all related to gas explosions and could have been avoided with the presence of a gas detector. What’s more is that the damage done in gas explosions in commercial areas are far more dangerous because of the proximity to other flammable equipment, take for example Few years back in an incident in Patna, all it took was one, undetected leak to spark 8 cylinders into a series of explosions. Employers and manufacturers around the world are acknowledging the very real risks of gas explosions and gas detectors are becoming the norm for any commercial space which involves the handling of gas.

 Why is it important to use different gas detectors for different needs?

Choosing the right gas detector requires close inspection of your needs and a study of the options available to you while considering functionality and applications. If these two are aligned, then you have found the right gas detector which addresses your needs. If not, let's take a closer look, and we mean literally take a closer look!

A site inspection is nowhere near enough; you need to conduct a thorough risk assessment to classify any potential gas leaks. Choosing your gas detector will depend on the results of this assessment. If the risks are highest for the release of LPG, you’ll need one that detects LPG, if your risks are highest for carbon monoxide, then that’s the detector you’ll need There are different kinds of gas leaks and, therefore, there are various gas detectors built to identify them. A gas detector in a restaurant would be different from one in a parking lot because the two have very different risks The risk of explosions caused due to undetected LPG leaks is the highest in restaurants, whereas risks of hydrogen leaks are much higher in areas with battery rooms. Each hazardous gas has different characteristics and hence, has different requirements to be detected. So choice of the gas detector comes down to utilitywhere do you need your gas detectors?

Let us take a look at the various commercial gas detectors

 LPG Gas Leak Detector

Designed for the safety of commercial and industrial kitchens, commercial grade gas leak detectors can detect LPG or PNG and send out a warning before the gas density in the air reaches dangerous levels. This gas detector is designed for early warnings of CNG leakage through pipelines or cylinders. These detectors are mounted on the walls and are designed to be used for commercial areas such as restaurant kitchens and large canteens.

 Carbon Monoxide Gas Leak Detector

A silent and deadly killer, Carbon Monoxide is impossible to detect without a gas detector since it is odorless, colourless and non-irritant. It is the most common cause of fatal poisoning in the UK, and accidental deaths are common in these lethal poisonings. This gas is caused mainly in heating systems, blocked chimneys, faulty appliances and parking spaces. If you're dealing with areas which receive less ventilation or have a higher amount of CO2 emissions, you'll need a carbon monoxide detector. Make sure that you choose one where the output of the detector is PFC relay. A good gas detector will be waterproof and splash-proof, and will have a LEL barograph, requiring no calibration.

 Hydrogen Gas Detector

This deadly gas is a high risk in battery rooms, which puts a lot of industries at risk Even railways and metros which use huge battery packs are at risk of this gas leak. In fact, just a few weeks ago, a fire in Mantralaya, the seat of power in Mumbai claimed the lives of three people and left fifteen gravely injured. The cause of this was hydrogen banks which were being held in a server room This is why it is essential to have a good gas detector if this is one of your risks. A good detector would have a replaceable filter, IP65 enclosure, and a LEL bargraph It should also be interfaced with the gas detection panel to detect the exact location of the gas leak andallowtakingquick action.

 CO Detector

2

As the population rises, the CO emissions will 2 naturally rise too. This means that spaces which are large enclosures are at risk for this kind of leak. In a sealed environment such as a mall, oxygen levels drop from 21% to 17%, the CO level will rise to 4%. 2 This level of CO can result in dizziness, confusion, 2 and headaches. At higher levels of CO , it can be 2 lifethreatening Large tanks of CO are stored in 2 pressurized tanks in bars, breweries, and restaurants. Since the gas is colourless and odorless, a leak will basically result in a death trap for everyone within the premises This is why it is important to have a good gas detector since it is impossible to detect otherwise.

 Refrigerant Gas Detector

Last year, an ammonia gas leak in Kanpur caused a tragic explosion in a cold storage facility that took the lives of five people and injured several others. Just a few months later, 50 students were hospitalized in Chhindwara after a gas leak in a cold storage near the school. The effects of a gas leak from VRF systems can be devastating, which is why a Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector is essential. A good gas detector can be used in refrigeration systems in commercial and industrial premises, food and storage facilities, supermarkets, parking garages, wastewater treatment plants, hospitals, and schools and colleges. Look out for bargraph indication which will tell you the level of concentration of the gas. Make sure that your gas detector is available with PPM bargraph and a long life semiconductor sensor. It also helps to choose one which is water and dust retardant and has a replaceable filter

While choosing the right gas detector, make sure that you are evaluating all of the risks involved and choose a gas detector which is most suitable for your needs.

Vighnaharta Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Nitin Joshi, MD

For more information visit: www.vighnaharta.in

India Needs a New Approach to Fire Safety

Whenever an incident of fire takes place, the investigation afterwards highlights issues such as non-compliant construction; lack of precautionary maintenance like the upkeep of extinguishers, fire doors, fire exits and their markings and assembly areas; gross overlook of safety procedures such as evacuation drills; and lack of recording of significant consideration for better response towards flammable materials, and their use in cladding and partitions walls.

City-wide physical changes like the densification of areas, non-compliant use of properties, and change in their use which leads to local traffic congestion or on street parking that constricts fire tender movement or delays their access to the affected area are also blamed.

Let us discuss some of the major laws in India governing fire safety and governance.

 The National Building Code of India, 2016 Part 4 of the National Building Code (NBC) of India, 2016, is titled 'Fire and Life Safety'. It covers the requirements for fire prevention, life safety in relation to fire and fire protection of buildings. The code specifies occupancy-wise classification, constructional aspects, egress requirements and protection features that are necessary to minimise danger to life and property from fire. It specifies the demarcations of fire zones, restrictions on constructions of buildings in each fire zone, classifications of buildings based on occupancy, types of building construction according to fire resistance of the structural and non-structural components and other restrictions and requirements necessary to minimise danger of life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the buildings can be evacuated.

 The code broadly covers the following areas Fire prevention: This covers aspects of fire prevention pertaining to the design and construction of buildings.

In addition the codes governing fire safety and governance, We should have guidelines and framework to conduct a comprehensive risk-assessment for our cities

It also describes the various types of buildings materials and their fire rating.

Life Safety: This covers life safety provisions in the event of fire and similar emergencies, also addressing construction and occupancy features that are necessary to minimise danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic.

Fire Protection: Covers significant appurtenances (accessories) and their related components and guidelines for selecting the correct type of equipment and installations meant for fire protection of the building, depending upon the classifications and type of building.

The guidelines for fire drills and evacuations for high-rise buildings are also specified in NBC Part 4. It mandates the appointment of a qualified fire officer and trained staff for significant land uses.

 The Model Building ByeLaws, 2003

In 2003, the Union Ministry of Urban Development desired that the Model Building ByeLaws (MBBL) be prepared, in view of the Bhuj Earthquake that had occurred in 2001, to lay focus on the safety of buildings and for the guidance of state governments.

Under the MBBL: Point specific responsibility for all fire-related clearance rests with the Chief Fire Officer. The concerned Development Authority shall refer the building plans to the Chief Fire Officer for obtaining clearance in respect of buildings. Any eligible building needs to undertake necessary approval or the Completion certificate will not be granted by the competent authority and the occupancy of the building cannot be administered.

The Chief Fire Officer shall issue the 'No Objection Certificate' from the view point of fire safety and means of escape, after satisfying himself that all the fire protection measures have been implemented and are functional as per approved plans.

On the basis of the undertaking given by the Fire Consultant/Architect, the Chief Fire Officer shall

renew the fire clearance in respect of the following buildings on an annual basis:

1) Public entertainment and assembly 2) Hospitals 3) Hotels 4) Underground shopping complex

 Cities are dynamic and they undergo changes

Our cities undergo rapid physical changes, much like a chain reaction. A rising population demands more space to live and work. As a result, residential and commercial buildings primarily witness expansion and densification over time. This leads to increased traffic on roads. What we are not able to comprehend is how to capture this dynamism in our planning and development process, in order to be safe, prepared and responsive to disasters such as a fire incident.

As an urban planner, this question always resonates in my mind.DowehaveorrevisetheFireMasterPlanforourtowns and cities? In fact, the first question is how many cities have a MasterPlan? Theanswerisnoteven30percent.Evenifthere areany,aretheylegalmasterplansordraftones?

Secondly, who calculates the original/revised fire risks based on old/new densification regimes, provisioning during the construction and then, the regularisation of unauthorised colonies, land use and later change of use provisioning, speed and delay in traffic movements and its fine tuning with revised fire layouts of towns?

Even for the installed assets, petty gains, short cuts, negligence, lack of upkeep and inappropriateness of installations, checks and balances go missing, which make them non-functional or under- performing.

 So What should be done?

In addition to the codes and governance overlays which exist in India, we should have guidelines/framework to conduct a comprehensive risk-assessment for our cities. Risks coexist and can be complex; they are qualitative and quantitative, hence there is a dire need to study these in city-wide and local contexts. By and large, these risk assessment studies should be an integral part of every master planning exercise, which should be revised for changes in land use and density.

WHY YOU GO RIGHT INSTALLING A COMMERCIAL FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM?

Almost every year, fire hazards in thousands of commercial properties like office buildings, retailers, or restaurants cause lakhs/crores of assets in damage Fire is your critical nightmare, especially when your work runs a department store, a warehouse, or any other related business. Now imagine, if a fire breaks out at night, when no one is around in your building, stocked with furniture or flammable chemicals, the fires can spread in no time, and you might lose a business that takes years or decades to build up. It makes sense to have a fire-fighting system and sprinkler probably come to mind when you think about the best mechanisms of a fire protection system. Sprinkler Systems protect during night and day from fire damage particularly, when no one's around to call the fire department. Sprinklers are not only recommended for business buildings but also well worth having in homes.

Now a question occurs, how does a sprinkler system work? A fire sprinkler system consists of pumps, piping, and detection devices. The Pipes of sprinklers generally hook into your

building's water supply that pushes to upper floors in multi-level structures through pumping or pressurization, and sprinkler heads are the distribution devices that help spray water over a fire. High heat usually occurs between 165-175 degrees F, which can activate sprinklers, and after this, they may release water over the hot area, dousing the fire.

So if your business or home needs new fire sprinklers to get installed or an existing system inspected that can help you cover. With our widespread in-house engineering and fabrication department, many companies can provide customers with comprehensive range of sprinkler systems installations and AMC services in a timely and professional manner across India.

There are some reasons for which you cannot go wrong installing fire sprinkler systems that include:



Evade to all the Potential Injuries or Fatalities

Fire sprinkler systems can avoid any kind of accidental injuries or death if any fire happens and allow people time to evacuate the building. Further, the systems can help minimize the damage from a property fire. For example, if a fire occurs at a multistore building and sends smoke to all the floors above the fire resulting in potential casualties, and in this particular case, a fire sprinkler system (commercial) reduces the likelihood of injury or death from a building fire.



Prevent from Potential Damages

Fire at any commercial property is a life-threatening event as any small fire can cause a great deal of damage in an office building, restaurant, or shop. Hence, you must use fire sprinkler systems, which are designed to extinguish a fire and to limit potential damage due to fire hazards.

 Validate your Company's Commitment

to Safety

Installation of fire sprinkler system for any business proves that you as a business owner don't just value your business and also, give importance to your clients' or employees' lives and want to keep them safe while they visit your company. Business owners want their employees and customers to feel safe at their place of business by installing commercial fire sprinkler systems, and therefore they get to know you care about their safety and well being.

E-Bike and E-Scooter Safety

The popularity of electric bikes and electric scooters (e-bikes and e-scooters) has taken of over the past few years. Lithium-ion batteries are usually the source of power for both, and if not used correctly, or if damaged, those batteries can catch on fire or explode. Whether you use e-bikes or e-scooters as your main way of getting around, or just for fun, there are important safety tips to keep in mind when charging or storing these devices.

TheProblem

• Damaged or Defective batteries can overheat,catch ire,or explode. Lithium-ion battery fires give of toxic gases and they burn extremely hot.

• Store e-bikes,e-scooters,and batteries away from exit doors and anything that can get hot or catch fire.

•

SafetyTips

• Only purchase and use devices,batteries, and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.

• Always follow the instructions from the manufacturer

• Only use the battery and the charger that were designed for, and came with, the device.

• Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.

• Only charge one device or device battery at a time to prevent overloading the circuit.

• Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 105°F (40°C).

• Do not store batteries in direct sunlight or inside hot vehicles, and keep them away from children and liquids.

• Only have device repairs performed by a qualiied professional.

• Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is always the best option.Take the batteries to a battery recycling location or contact your local waste department for disposal instructions.

SignsofaProblem

Stop using the e-bike or e-scooter if you notice any of these problems with the battery: unusual odor,change in color,too much heat,change in shape,leaking,smoking,or not keeping a charge.

Mumbai Fire Brigade Receives Four International Standard Organisation Certificates for 'Outstanding' Service.

Mumbai Fire Brigade receives four International Standard Organisation certificates for 'outstanding' service

With this, the MFB became the first fire brigade authority in India to acquire ISO standard certificates.

Hemant Parab Chief fire brigade officer said, "MFB has received certification in four different categories. The certification standards include, ISO 9001, 2015 for quality management, ISO 14001, 2015 for environment management system, ISO 45001, 2018 for occupational safety and health management and ISO 27001 regarding information and security management."

Henceforth, the ISO will be auditing the performance of MFB every year and to maintain the standard the brigade will have to work more efficiently. There is an improvised system in the IT section, the firemen will get a more accurate idea about the fire incidents and

how many vehicles or personnel need to be deployed into operation at the site of incident,” Parab said.

Members of the ISO carried out an audit of the brigade for three months before giving the certificate. The MFB had prepared two manuals that included the overall performance data of the brigade.

“The ISO audited multiple aspects of the MFB, After the first phase of the audit was completed, the ISO gave us certain inputs to improve, based on these inputs we made certain changes in our system, following which the certification was issued,” said a senior official from the MFB.

What is the ISO?

The ISO is an autonomous standard development organization that is headquartered in Geneva and comprises representatives from across several fields and multiple nations. The primary objective of the ISO is to push the development standards and technical aspects of the fields that it is associated with.

M. N. Rubber Pvt. Ltd.

New Buildings Over 70 Metres Must Have Fire Evacuation Lifts To Get NOC From Fire Brigade

SANJAY MANJREKAR took over as the new chief of the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) on November 1. He has been associated with the MFB for more than three decades. In his conversation, Manjrekar talks about his vision towards bettering the service of this brigade during his stint.

 What are the key areas that you are planning to improve?

My primary focus is to strengthen the manpower At present, 910 posts of fireman are vacant since no recruitment has taken place for more than three years. Therefore, our priority is to get these posts filled at the earliest. We are expecting to complete the recruitment procedure by the middle of January 2023 and the training session should begin by March.

 In the last two years, we have seen many fire incidents reported from various nursing homes and hospitals. How do you plan to mitigate this issue?

Every hospital and nursing home should have its firefighting system installed. Often, our officers visit hospitals and nursing homes and carry out sensitisation and awareness drives on fire-fighting measures. Now, as a precautionary measure, we will carry out random inspections in hospitals and commercial establishments to check whether the installed firefighting systems are functional or not and if they are being maintained properly If we see the equipment is defunct, then notices will be served to the management and action will be taken against them.

 Often, it has been seen during the fire incidents reported in the past few years that the in-built firefighting systems in most of the residential buildings and high-rises fail to work during a blaze. How do you wish to bring an end to this problem?

According to the Maharashtra Fire Prevention & Life Safety Measure Act, the owner and occupier in a residential building are solely responsible to ensure that the firefighting systems are operational. If the systems are defunct or non-operational, then we will send them a notice immediately for setting up a new system The Fire Act empowers the brigade to disconnect the electricity and water connection of the building in case of failure to set up a firefighting system. However, our motive is to not take extreme action straight away and we will try to raise awareness by carrying out random inspections to ensure citizens understand the importance of fire safety These inspection drives will pick up pace soon after the ongoing recruitment process is over.

 With time, technology is also getting advanced. Do you plan to induct new gadgets in the brigade, for the ease of firefighting, and are there any plans to augment the number of fire stations in the city as well?

MR. SANJAY MANJREKAR, Chief of the Mumbai Fire Brigade

We are the first brigade to induct firefighting robots. Earlier, we had one robot and now we are getting two more robots. We have also introduced firefighting bikes for ease of access in dingy lanes and slum areas. Technical assessment of firefighting drones is also being carried out, which could be used both for monitoring and firefighting activities in the future. Besides this, we already have two fire stations ready, one in Borivali and one in Vikhroli. These stations are fully constructed and equipped with all the amenities, but we are unable to operate them due to inadequate manpower. Once the recruitments are done, we will start these stations as well.

 In Mumbai, skyscrapers are being built in every ward, where does the policy of installing a ‘Fire Evacuation Lift’ stand?

The builders in Mumbai will have to install Fire Evacuation Lifts compulsorily in the new buildings that have a height of more than or equal to 70 metres, without which the Fire Brigade will not issue the No Objection Certificate (NOC). The old buildings may not need to install compulsorily, but it is advisable that if there is a possibility then evacuation

lifts should also need to be installed in old buildings as well.

 Many Mumbaikars are opting for Electric Vehicles (EVs). Earlier this month, we saw a fire breaking out after the battery of an e-bike heated up. Is the fire brigade planning to frame any new policy for safely installing EV charging points within residential buildings?

Firstly, EVs should not be charged indoors. They should be charged at charging stations that need to be set up at an outdoor location. The occupants of the building, including the security guards should be given proper training on the do’s and don’ts of charging an EV.

Those who intend to install such charging points should contact the local deputy chief engineer (electricity) and get all the necessary verification, inspection and paper-works done. A detailed set of guidelines is being uploaded and available on both the fire brigade and civic body’s websites. Whenever our station officers visit the buildings, they also tell people the necessary guidelines for charging an electric vehicle.

A Complete Business Media Solutions Under One Roof

VICTOR IMPORTS

FIRE & SECURITY INDIA EXPO 2023

ADVERTISER’S

ATLAS FIRE & SAFETY PRODUCTS

AUTOLITE EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM LLP

BALAJI SAFETY PROJECTS

DEEPTRONICS

DELTA PLUS INDIA PVT LTD.

DETNOV SECURITY SL

DSPA

EDUFORCE

ENGINEERING EXPO 2022 & 2023

FIRE ALARM & AUDIO SYSTEMS (APOLLO)

FSD EXPO 2023

HAKIMI ENTERPRISES

HEAVEN CONTROL

HSE INTEGRO PVT LTD.

HY REFLECT

INTERNATIONAL POLICE EXPO 2023

INTERNATIONAL FIRE INDIA 2023

J. B. SALES AGENCY

KEMEX INTERNATIONAL PVT. LTD.

KETTY APPARELS INDIA PVT. LTD.

LAKELAND GLOVES AND SAFETY APPAREL PVT. LTD.

MARITIME OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY SUMMIT 2023

MARVEL GLOVES INDUSTRIES

MOST PREFERRED WORKPLACE IT & ITES 2022

MOST PREFERRED WORKPLACE MANUFACTURING 2022

NEWAGE FIRE FIGHTING CO. LTD.

OSH INDIA - MUMBAI 2022

PACC 2023

RESQ TECHNOLOGIES

RONAK FIRE INDIA PVT. LTD.

SAFETYEX 2023

SAFETY APPLIANCES MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (SAMA)

SHAH BHOGILAL JETHALAL & BROS.

SHREE FIRE SERVICES

UDYOGI PLASTICS PVT. LTD.

UNISAFE SERVICES

VENUS SAFETY & HEALTH PVT. LTD.

VICTOR IMPORTS

VIGHNAHARTA TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD.

VINTEX FIRE PROTECTION PVT. LTD.

WELDAID SAFETY AND SIGNAGE PVT LTD.

PAGE NO.

55 35 27 49 21 03 47 15 63 73 69 33 53 29 18 68 70 26 05 39 25 66 19 64 65 74 62 67 37 61 71 14 57 51 23 07 17 09 43 59 31

Protecon With Reliablility and Trust Since 1960