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EEMUA Asset Integrity Leadership Certificate course – for new and established leaders in industrial engineering – starts 2 March 2026 – https://bit.ly/3YBRBX6. The AILC course equips people in industrial engineering Leadership roles to effectively consider relevant data, and take proven, practical steps to ensure that company assets perform reliably – benefitting business efficiency and industrial safety through improved planning and execution; and helping avoid incidents and major accidents on COMAH/Seveso III sites and other high hazard industrial installations.
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Connected Technology Talks brings you expert insights from the world of Advisory, Testing, Inspection, and Certification (ATIC). Each episode features industry leaders discussing critical topics, including cybersecurity, EMC, electrical safety, ATEX, radio & wireless, and other emerging trends shaping connected technologies. Perfect for manufacturers, engineers, and regulatory professionals looking to stay ahead in the connected technology industry!

The company SPM Special Machine is an Italian manufacturer rapidly gaining recognition worldwide for its innovative design and engineering of special electrical equipment intended for hazardous areas where flammable gases, vapours or explosive dusts may be present (such as petrochemical plants, refineries, mines, offshore platforms).

In this article, we will present some of the key products developed by SPM Special Machine, ranging from cable reels to slip rings, and finally the products specifically designed for mining applications, such as medium-voltage junction boxes and the ATEX motor-driven cable reel system.

Explosion-proof cable reels can be equipped with either spring-driven or motor-driven systems (electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic).

The cable drum is manufactured entirely from stainless steel and is designed to handle flexible power, control, or data cables.

A roller guide system or a cable distribution system ensures uniform winding and unwinding of the cable.The slip ring consists of low thermal-resistance sliding contacts housed inside a flameproof enclosure (certified Ex d, ATEX, IECEx).

The electric motor is a heavy-duty torque motor Ex d, which automatically manages all phases of cable winding and unwinding.

Another area of expertise for SPM Special Machine is spring-driven cable reels.With a construction entirely in AISI 316L stainless steel, these products are suitable for long travel distances and medium-power applications, and can be installed either vertically or horizontally.

SPM Special Machine Srl – Collettori rotanti elettrici e avvolgicavo

Explosion-proof slip rings are electromechanical devices that allow the transmission of power, signals, or data between a fixed part and a rotating part, specifically designed and certified to operate in environments with an explosion risk caused by flammable gases, vapours, or potentially explosive mixtures.

They are essential in industries where even the smallest internal spark could trigger an explosion—such as chemical and petrochemical plants, refineries, offshore platforms, and marine cranes.

The company offers a complete range of explosion-proof slip rings, capable of covering a wide variety of requirements in terms of current ratings, number of electrical circuits, and data-transmission performance.Key advantages of SPM Special Machine explosion-proof slip rings compared to competitors 

• Low thermal power generated by the sliding electrical contacts;
• Current ratings up to 1200 A per active phase;
• Operating voltage up to 20 kV;
• Modular ring configuration for power, auxiliaries, digital/analog signals, data, and even fiber-optic transmission (FO-Ring), with a total number of rings up to 200 ;
• Very compact Ex db enclosures, treated with dedicated protective coatingsExplosion-proof classification of the SREX series (SREX150 / SREX300 / SREX506 / SREX690);
• Ex d → flameproof enclosure (gas)* Gas group: IIB* Temperature classes: T4 / T5;
• Certification schemes: ATEX / IECEx.

The main strength of the SREX explosion-proof slip ringsThe excellence of the SREX series lies in the innovative sliding contacts, patented by SPM Special Machine.

These ring-and-brush assemblies are manufactured using high-quality materials, engineered to withstand harsh environments such as marine and mining applications, and feature very low thermal power dissipation, allowing their integration into extremely compact Ex d enclosures.

All these technical solutions are highly appreciated by SPM Special Machine customers during installation and operation in their plants.

SPM Special Machine Srl – Collettori rotanti elettrici e avvolgicavo

A major innovation for the mining market developed by SPM Special Machine is the ATEX explosion-proof medium-voltage junction box rated at 20 kV.

This flameproof medium-voltage junction box is an enclosure designed for connecting and branching MV cables in hazardous areas (Zones 1, 2, 21, 22) where explosive atmospheres may be present, whether due to flammable gases, vapours, or combustible dusts.

The JBEXs junction box series from SPM Special Machine is ATEX-certified with Ex sb protection according to IEC 60079-33 (Special Protection “sb”).

They are built either in stainless steel for marine environments or in carbon steel with special coating for mining environments.

ATEX classification and main technical characteristics of the JBEXs 

II 2 G Ex sb IIC T6 Gb;  I M2 Ex sb I Mb  Ambient temperature range: −20 °C to +50 °C

Rated operational voltage: 20 kV

Highest system voltage: 24 kV

Frequency: 50/60 Hz

Rated current: up to 630 A

Unique advantageUnlike traditional medium-voltage junction boxes with Ex eb protection, which are typically limited to 11 kV, the JBEXs can be safely used at higher voltages, up to 20 kV.This capability represents a significant advancement for hazardous-area MV systems.

Thanks to these special features, the JBEXs is rapidly gaining popularity among SPM Special Machine customers especially for mining applications (category I M2), where operational voltages of 20 kV are commonly required.

SPM Special Machine Srl – Collettori rotanti elettrici e avvolgicavo

In the figure, a power supply system with a conductor bar can be seen, where a motor-driven cable reel for hazardous areas is installed for medium-voltage tunnel applications.

The system supplies a tunnel boring machine (TBM) with an approximate power of 3 MW, using explosion-proof junction boxes with Ex db protection.The EX protection type of the system is Ex h – ATEX category I M2, and the same design can also be developed according to the IECEx scheme.

The special motor-driven cable reel consists of a painted steel drum, on which a robust, flexible medium-voltage cable (12/20 kV) is wound.

The drive system is powered by a motor-gearbox assembly and the cable winding and unwinding operations are controlled by a dedicated electrical control panel.

The core component of the motor cable reel is the slip ring, which is housed inside an Ex db flameproof enclosure.

This high-performance slip ring is designed for heavy-duty environments and is significantly more compact than competing products.Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the active parts are not air-insulated, but instead isolated through a multi-layer insulation system, enabling the slip ring to reliably withstand high voltages up to 24 kV and maximum currents of approximately 680 A.

This high-voltage slip ring with insulated active parts is a patented technology of SPM Special Machine, allowing the company to meet new challenges in markets requiring extreme engineering solutions..

SPM Special Machine Srl – Collettori rotanti elettrici e avvolgicavo

• Company cut corners to speed up roof repair work.
• Man fell through fragile skylight.
• Despite incident, company carried on with the job the day after.

A construction company in Hampshire has been fined £80,000 after a man fell more than 15 feet through a fragile skylight during roof repair work. 

The 29-year-old sub-contractor sustained multiple fractures as a result of his fall at The Tanneries Industrial Estate in January 2024.  As a result, he was unable to work for months, and has not regained full use of one leg.

J Smith Construction Services Limited had started the roof repairs at the site in Titchfield in December 2023, but the work had been progressing slowly.  In an attempt to speed up the project, the company planned to work over the weekend of 13-14 January 2024 and took on extra workers to help, including the sub-contractor.

The company did not arrange for scaffolding to be erected at the open edges of the roof, nor make adequate arrangements to prevent or mitigate falls through fragile areas of the roof.  As there was nothing to prevent or reduce his fall through the skylight, the man fell from the height of the roof to the solid floor below.

Despite this serious incident, J Smith Construction Services and the remaining sub-contractors returned to complete the work the following day, with no additional safety measures in place.

Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death and HSE has detailed guidance on working safely at height, working safely at height including roof work. Health and safety in roof work

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to take appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of the workers on the roof.

J Smith Construction Services Limited of Southampton, pleaded guilty to breaching The Work at Height Regulations 2005, Regulation 6(3).  The company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,630 at a hearing at Southampton Magistrates Court on 4 December 2025.

Company director, Mr Joseph Smith, who had been present throughout the works, pleaded guilty to Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, s.37(1). At the same court hearing, he was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £2,630.

After the hearing, a HSE spokesperson said: “These sentences should send a clear message to employers that HSE and the courts take a failure to comply with health and safety legislation extremely seriously. 

“Too many workers are injured or killed every year as a result of falls from height during construction work. These incidents can be prevented if reasonably practicable measures such as scaffolding or netting are put in place to protect workers.” 

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Karen Park and paralegal Helen Hugo.

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences in Scotland can be found here.

 

MSA Safety, Inc. (NYSE: MSA), a global leader in safety solutions, announces the launch of the Gas Detection Hub, a brand-new digital knowledge platform designed to help safety professionals move beyond reactive risk management and create a proactive, insight-led safety culture.

Developed by MSA Safety to help empower safer through smarter worksites, the Hub provides a central destination for expert insight, practical resources, and the latest thinking in gas detection technology. Aimed at safety managers, operational leads, engineers, and decision-makers across key industries, the Hub is now live and free to access with a simple one-time registration.

“The Gas Detection Hub was built with one clear objective: to help safety professionals make informed decisions in high-risk environments by giving them the tools, knowledge, and confidence to enhance worksite safety,” said Danny Stranks, MSA Safety Connected Sales Manager. “From real-world case studies to in-depth whitepapers and technical explainers, the Hub offers content that’s not only insightful but also offers the clarity and perspective to help you navigate complex changes.”

The Gas Detection Hub is a dynamic, growing ecosystem of high-value content. Visitors can expect a mix of resources, including:

• Expert blogs and leadership insight
• Product information and application guidance
• Customer stories and case studies
• On-demand video explainers
• Industry whitepapers
• Updates on the latest safety standards and connected technologies

            New content is added regularly so that professionals always have access to fresh, relevant information aligned with the latest developments in gas detection and safety.

Global reach, local relevance

The Gas Detection Hub is accessible worldwide, with content tailored to regional needs and industry priorities. Whether working in oil and gas, utilities, manufacturing, or any sector where gas detection is important, the Hub serves as the go-to destination for education, expert advice, and connected safety innovation.

One sign-up. Unlimited access.

With a one-time registration, users gain full access to all content and future updates, removing barriers to engagement while encouraging ongoing interaction with MSA’s knowledge ecosystem.

The Gas Detection Hub is now live and is available with information important to gas detection safety. To sign up to the Hub, click here. 

Make UK is warning manufacturers that they risk facing substantial fines and even potential shutdowns through a failure to address key workplace health issues.

The warning comes as the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is now focusing far more pro-actively on workplace health as part of routine inspections. This is in response to a new ten year strategy to reduce workplace ill-health which has escalated significantly in recent years.

According to the latest HSE data published last month, 1.9 million workers were suffering work-related ill-health in 2024/25, an increase of 200,000 from the same point last year. Almost all this increase was down to stress, depression & anxiety which increased from 776,000 to 964,000 cases.

The increase in workplace health related issues amounts to over 30 million working days lost, costing the UK approximately £14bn bn a year. Figures also show that in 2024 HSE completed 246 criminal prosecutions with a total fine value of £33 million, of which half was related to workplace health.

The new HSE strategy focuses on six key areas: manual handling; display screen equipment, COSHH, noise, mental health & stress. As a result, all HSE inspections are now focusing as much on health as on safety with inspectors routinely asking businesses what hazards they are addressing, what controls companies have in place and what processes are in place to ensure these controls are working.

According to Make UK, unlike safety where the risks are more obvious and immediate and therefore easier to address, understanding the impacts on health is typically less obvious, harder to assess and, most importantly, can show itself years’ later meaning that employers can be at risk of prosecution in the future.

Make UK is committed to improving health outcomes in UK workplaces & continues to support it’s members by offering expert advice, exemplar templates and even state of the art software solutions aimed at tackling this issue. Help for employers can be accessed via the link below.

healthy workplaces | Make UK

Commenting, Chris Newson, Director of Environment, Health & Safety at Make UK, said:

“This is a welcome move from HSE to place workplace health on the same footing as safety in terms of importance given the alarming increase in workplace health issues. Manufacturers need to be aware of this dramatic new focus on enforcement by HSE and ensure they are addressing health as part of their routine controls for safety in the workplace. This will come up more and more when inspections take place and companies need to ensure they have sufficient processes in place to maintain workplace health and controls to ensure these processes are working. Failure to do this will leave them at risk of potential prosecution and, in extreme circumstances, shutdowns until the issue is resolved.”

HSE Prosecution

Chris Keegan died after being fatally injured at his place of work West Yorkshire plant hire company fined £433,550 HSE found the forklift had not had a full inspection to ensure it was safe to operate after repairs. The family of a much-loved man have spoken of his ‘horrific’ death at work following the prosecution of his employer this week. Chris Keegan was killed on 20 November 2023 while working for Hessle Plant Ltd as a delivery driver at its main depot in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Chris’ widow Dianne said: “Chris was a wonderful, kind and generous man, who would do anything he could for anyone. He especially did anything he could for me. "My heart is broken, and I will never get over losing my husband in such a horrific way. He never deserved to die in such tragic circumstances.” Leeds Magistrates' Court heard that Mr Keegan had been tasked with returning the forklift truck to a customer's site in Sheffield following repair work to its transmission. As he reversed the vehicle onto the trailer shortly after 6am, it fell from the side of the trailer bed. Mr Keegan was thrown from the seat and became trapped between the chassis of the forklift and a neighbouring trailer. Mr Keegans wife and two of his stepdaughters arrived at the depot as the emergency services fought to save Chris’ life, but tragically his injuries proved fatal, and he passed away at the scene. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the forklift had not been subject to a full inspection to ensure it was safe to operate. Examination of the forklift by HSE after the accident found several other defects which should have been identified and rectified before it was operated.  The investigation found that whilst Hessle Plant Ltd would undertake a full pre-delivery inspection on forklift trucks being delivered to new customers, at the time of the accident the company did not do this for machines being returned to existing customers. HSE also found that many of the company's employees would rarely wear seatbelts when operating forklift trucks, and there was no system in place for monitoring and enforcing seatbelt use on site. HSE guidance states that employers should ensure that work equipment - such as a forklift truck - has been properly maintained and inspected if necessary to ensure it remains in a safe condition to operate. HSE guidance also states that where seatbelts are fitted to a counterbalance forklift truck, they should be used. Further guidance for rider-operated lift trucks can be found at HSE’s website. Hessle Plant Ltd, of Carrwood Road Industrial Estate, Glasshoughton, Castleford, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £433,550 and ordered to pay £8,146.80 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge as Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 26 November. Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector, David Beaton, said: "This was a tragic and preventable death. Mr Keegan was placed at undue risk by operating a machine with underlying maintenance defects, which he would have been unaware of when attempting to reverse the forklift in the dark onto a trailer with an exposed edge. "Had Mr Keegan been wearing the seatbelt provided, the accident he suffered would likely not have proven fatal. "Every year there are fatal accidents caused by machinery which has not been properly maintained or inspected, and forklift truck drivers not wearing seatbelts. This case should underline to all businesses, which hire out or operate forklift trucks, the importance of keeping machinery in efficient working order and ensuring the use of seatbelts by forklift drivers is appropriately supervised." This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Iain Jordan and paralegal officer Stephen Grabe. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available. Relevant guidance can be found here Rider-operated lift trucks - HSE HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.