News

Once again, REMBE GmbH Safety+Control is challenging the status quo of autonomous protective systems. Thus, the globally increasing environmental influences and weather extremes prompted REMBE engineers to test the protective effect of REMBE explosion vents also against weather-related water and air permeability.

Particularly in plants and processes with high demands on water and air tightness, explosion vents that are directly exposed to weather conditions due to their installation position often represent a potential point of entry and thus a hazard for the bulk materials themselves. REMBE therefore applies what is legally required for construction elements such as windows and doors to the various explosion vents in the explosion protection area. Within the framework of large-scale weather simulations, the REMBE explosion vent types ODV, EDP, EGV-HYP, as well as the new vent duct cover KAD-LIC have been tested for their properties of air permeability, watertightness and their resistance to wind load. BS EN 14351-1, the product standard for windows and doors, served as the basis and classification.

The results of the weathering test are extremely impressive. A comparison of the test results with real weather conditions shows that storms with wind forces of up to 14 on the so-called Beaufort scale (bft) - this corresponds to wind speeds of up to 166 km/h - have no influence on the protective effect of the explosion vents. Even in heavy rain in conjunction with wind speeds approaching 120 km/h, the explosion vents exhibit a high degree of tightness. A comparison with the windows used in the construction industry illustrates the high weather resistance: The REMBE explosion vents achieved the same and in some cases significantly better test results than the currently available windows for residential buildings.

What is the added value of weathering testing?

The REMBE explosion vents thus not only protect the plant in the event of an explosion through targeted explosion venting, but also ensure effective protection of the bulk materials themselves from external environmental influences during normal operation. The risk of contamination by water, dust and air as well as collateral damage due to swelling or excess weight is thus minimised.

Fig. 1: Examples of the tested explosion vents (left: Explosion vent EDP; right: Explosion vent EGV HYP)

• Certified weather resistance
• Effective protection of the plant and its products from environmental influences
• Air leakage of < 0.75 m³/h m joint length
• Impervious to driving rain up to a wind force of 12 bft (120 km/h) and a precipitation rate of 440 mm/h
• Wind stability up to a wind force of 14 bft (166 km/h)

www.rembe.de

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 ICIS, a global source of commodity intelligence, today announced the launch of a new, free weekly hydrogen market overview, “ICIS Hydrogen Market Watch”. The ICIS Hydrogen Market Watch acts as a central resource for market participants to monitor key developments in the nascent hydrogen market. The overview presents market participants with pricing information and coverage of core developments across policy, regulations and more, supporting them in making investment decisions in this important commodity for the future.

Jake Stones, Hydrogen Specialist at ICIS, said, “Hydrogen is one of the key enablers for the energy transition. However, although there is already large hydrogen usage, there is not enough clarity to establish a global market on the level needed for the future. ICIS is therefore producing this free weekly overview to support both price and information transparency to support market growth.”

The hydrogen market is currently opaque, which hinders new entrants as they cannot gauge return on investment. Although there is a lot of disparate information available, this weekly summary focuses on essential developments, giving market participants clear, actionable insights across policy, regulation and pricing.

“Supporting investment decisions with a reliable insight about the market and pricing transparency will help bring clarity to the hydrogen market,” continues Stones. “This new intelligence service will feature ICIS’ hydrogen assessment information for unabated Steam Methane Reforming (SMR), commonly referred to as “grey” hydrogen, low-carbon SMR and low-carbon Autothermal Reforming (ATR) and wholesale power market electrolysis. The overview will also show the cost premium between low-carbon hydrogen and grey hydrogen.”

ICIS Hydrogen Market Watch will include an ammonia-to-hydrogen assessment, providing the cost of hydrogen from imported ammonia, which represents a large proportion of hydrogen production. This is a market-based assessment based on the pricing of ammonia. It will also include insights from across the hydrogen economy, such as articles and whitepapers, and will feature the ICIS Hydrogen Insights podcast series.

“While the future energy mix will be diverse, hydrogen has a big role to play. If we are going to meet our decarbonisation targets, it is essential that we have transparency in this developing market. ICIS helped to create the European Gas market, through its forerunner Heren Energy, hence the Heren Index and ICIS TTF, and we are confident that the ICIS Hydrogen Market Watch will help move the Hydrogen market a big step forward,” concludes Stones.

• ICIS Hydrogen Market Watch

This article can also be found in the issue below.

ETW Energietechnik from Moers has built a biomethane plant in Rittershoffen, in Alsace, in cooperation with the planning office Rytec from Baden Baden. The processing capacity of the plant, which went into operation in February 2023, is about 700 normal cubic meters of raw biogas per hour. This means that up to 350 normal cubic meters of biomethane are fed into the natural gas grid every hour. This is roughly equivalent to the average fuel consumption of 20,000 passenger cars.

Use of substrates from the region

The project was initiated by three young, visionary farmers from Alsace who are committed to environmental protection and regenerative energies and want to promote sustainable agricultural use in the region. Only agricultural residues from the immediate surroundings are used as substrates.

Especially the very low power consumption of 137.6 kilowatts electric makes ETW‘s plant state of the art for biomethane plants of this size class. This significantly reduces the risk of future electricity price increases. Even with a downstream high-pressure compression plant, which compresses the processed biomethane to 67.7 barg (bar gauge) and feeds it into the natural gas grid, the power consumption of the entire plant is less than 202 kilowatts electrically, significantly lower than comparable products on the market. This means that the entire plant consumes less than 7 per cent of the energy provided by the biomethane.

Interface reduction ensured rapid construction progress

As early as 2016, the first considerations were made to realise the project. In 2019, the concrete design and planning work began. The approval, application for funding, construction financing and earthworks were all carried out by the Rytec company from a single source. The maximally reduced interfaces allowed the construction work to progress quickly and effectively. The biogas plant will create three jobs in the region. The residents of the neighbouring village of Rittershoffen initially expressed concerns during the project development. In response, however, the entrepreneurs invested a lot of work and money to ensure that the plant was well integrated into the landscape.

Green added value for the entire region

„As a family business that has traditionally specialised in growing fine crops such as asparagus and horseradish, the sustainable development of our region is an important concern for us. Therefore, it was particularly important to us that the integration of the biogas plant is not only in line with our company philosophy, but also offers a green added value for the entire region,“ reports Denis Scharrenberger, Managing Director of FERME SCHARRENBERGER.

The location of the biomethane plant is now off the road at a sufficient distance from the adjacent village – planted with a wall around the property as well as high-quality native trees and hedges. To accommodate the local residents, extensive earthworks as well as longer power lines and pipelines were invested in here.

Focus on highest quality

When designing the plant technology for the fermentation of the diverse residual materials, a lot of emphasis was placed on the highest quality. The ETW SmartCycle® biomethane plant from ETW Energietechnik GmbH is correspondingly high-quality, reliable and low-maintenance. Thanks to the use of oil-free screw compressors and an intelligent plant control system, the plant has the lowest energy consumption on the market.

Prefabricated parts from Drössler Umwelttechnik with factory-concreted installation parts such as FF pieces and agitator frames were also used for the concrete. All built-in parts have additional sealing flanges. The sandwich construction of the tank walls is optimally thermally insulated and already fitted in the factory with integrated heating pipes protected by the concrete.

The stirring and separation technology was carried out by the Paulmichl company. The agitators are equipped with powerful external drive technology. Especially the fermenter agitator Mammut convinces at the Rittershoffen plant with a strong agitating performance at a high dry matter content. Thanks to the infinitely variable hydraulic adjustment of the agitators, optimal adaptation to the fermenter substrate can be achieved. The panorama sight glasses developed by Paulmichl provide the operators with visual insight and monitoring of the plant operation. The reliable separation operation at the Rittershoffen plant is carried out by a separator of the PM260 model series, which is specially adapted to the fermentation residue. By means of pressure control of the separator, the feed pump is controlled in its flow rate, so that operation can take place without a feed tank and overflow pipe.

The gas storage tanks from SATTLER, who have almost 45 years of experience in this field, have an enormously high tensile strength and extremely low permeability.

With the BioG solids dosing system, more demanding residues such as straw and manure can be introduced in liquid form. The system in Rittershoffen consists of a 190 cubic meter BioFeeder. The subsequent BioMerge mixing system (market launch 2022) mixes fermenter liquid with the shredded material and pumps it through an eccentric screw pump as a homogeneous mass into the fermenter. Stones as well as other foreign bodies are successfully separated in the overall system. This helps to reduce the wear and tear on the pumps as well as on the downstream technology.

Gate valves and measuring technology are each double-protected, so that the plant is equipped with the highest safety standards of the Rytec company.

With the low-energy gas processing plant from ETW Energietechnik, the frequency converters from Rytec and the future CO2 liquefaction, the bottom line is that a negative CO2 footprint is generated.

This article can also be found in the issue below.

Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd.’s (RSS) Gemmak Engineering Ltd. fabrication facility has received a UKCA Certificate of Conformity of the Factory Production Control, up to and including EXC 3.

The certificate, to designated standard EN 1090-1:2009 + A1:2011, covers structures and structural components, including manufacture of structural steelwork components. EXC 3, or execution class 3, relates to supporting structures made of steel up to strength class S700 and structural components made of aluminium alloys. Typical examples include buildings with more than 15 floors; pedestrian, bicycle, road, and railway bridges; and crane tracks.

Gemmak is one of 10 RSS facilities, situated near the company’s de facto headquarters in Pyle, South Wales. It serves as the manufacturing division within the firm’s engineering services department. It is principally used to design, manufacture, fabricate and repair a range of lifting beams, swing jibs, lifting platforms, pipework, runway beams, and lifting brackets, in addition to bespoke equipment, for the steel, shipbuilding, petrochemical, and other heavy industries. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is one of a number of high-profile companies that utilise these services.

Alan Varney, engineering services director, said: “Our customers benefit in having the confidence that the products that we manufacture will have full traceability and NDT [non-destructive testing] inspection with certification. In turn, it will create broader opportunities for us, which, in the past, we have had to turn down due to not having suitable certification [to EXC 3].”

Gemmak will fabricate anything metal, using the latest design, cutting, and welding technology. At the centre of a suite of design systems is SolidWorks, a solid modelling computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering computer programme. Tooling includes various guillotines, a plasma cutter, radial drills, magnetic drills, pillar drills, a centre lathe, an iron worker / press, an abrasive wheel, a band saw, and a circular saw. Gemmak delivers one-off projects plus batch orders and even maintains ongoing production lines for customers.

In addition to EXC 3 projects, Gemmak continues to manufacture to EXC 1 and EXC 2 standards. The first covers structural components made of steel up to strength class S275 and structural components made of aluminium alloys. This includes buildings with up to two floors (four floors if detached), bending beams up to 5m in length, projection beams up to 2m in length, and stair railings in residential buildings. It also covers agricultural buildings such as barns. The second class, meanwhile, comprises all supporting structures made of steel up to strength class S700 and structural components made of aluminium alloys. This typically includes buildings with between two and 15 floors.

Varney added: “Our fab shop has been getting busier over time and this latest certification will position us to enter our next phase of growth.” 

Gemmak is also certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and Safe Contractor.

The UKCA Certificate of Conformity of the Factory Production Control was presented by Centre for Assessment Ltd., of Manchester, UK.

This article can also be found in the issue below.

The new Hydraulic Nut Splitters from Enerpac are ideal for removing seized and corroded nuts, eradicating the need for unsafe grinding and flame cutting. With 21 tools in all, the efficiency, durability, and ergonomic design of the nut splitters gives maintenance engineers the ability to remove the toughest seized nuts.

The Enerpac nut splitter portfolio includes: NC Series Nut Cutter, NSH Series Nut Splitter and NSPH Series Nut Splitter Power Head tools. When it comes to efficiency, the tools have an optimised cutting head geometry ideal for the industry application. For example, the Enerpac NSH and NSPH Series tools are designed for the oil and gas market and the cutting heads specially designed to tackle bolted pipeline flange joints. Another efficient feature is the dual blade design found on several models. As nuts can be split from two sides in one action, this saves the operator valuable time.

For enhanced durability, the tools are heat treated and shock resistant to withstand minor impacts without damage. Durability includes features such as heavy duty, steel chisels that can be reground as needed, models with a drop-tested revolving anchor point, and models that can tackle nuts with up to a max HRC 44 hardness.

Operators will appreciate the ergonomic design. An angled head and ergonomically designed and positioned handle makes the tool easy to work with and manoeuvre. Several models also feature an easy-to-use compact design. 

To learn more about the latest Enerpac Nut Splitting tools, visit www.enerpac.com.

Photo 1:  Removing corroded nuts is easier with a Enerpac nut splitter.

Photo 2: Enerpac nut splitter for a wide range of nut sizes.

This article can also be found in the issue below.

Hydrogen technologies are undergoing a significant period of growth as widespread use is planned in the energy generation and production industries. Any structure that contains hydrogen components should be ventilated adequately to avoid ignition. Since hydrogen is lighter than air, it collects under roofs and overhangs.

The avoidance of ignition sources is one of the three basic measures for explosion protection: containment, segregation, and prevention.

The prevention of an explosion through limiting ignition sources is implemented using explosion-protected equipment. The design reduces the potential for the component to contribute as a source of ignition. Non-electrical equipment such as ATEX industrial fans with Ex H certified constructions are important components that must be selected correctly according to accurate hazardous area classifications.

Mechanically generated sparks or hot friction surfaces resulting from mechanical impacts caused by the rotating and stationary parts meeting for prolonged time periods, are considered in the prevention concept. This aspect is stated in ATEX legislation, requiring the safe and effective construction of components in permissible material pairings to reduce this ignition source.

Whether ignition of explosive gas mixtures can be caused by mechanical impact depends on many parameters. In addition to the materials involved in the impact, the ignition sensitivity of the fuel gases is important. Hydrogen is very sensitive to ignition with a very low MIE of only 0.017mJ. Therefore, Hydrogen is assigned to explosion group IIC in accordance with the low minimum ignition energy.

Hydrogen is less likely to cause a fire or explosion hazard in an open or well-ventilated space, but a problem arises when hydrogen gas is allowed to accumulate. If this is allowed to happen, there will be a risk of a flammable mixture building up. When a large amount of accumulated hydrogen rises and mixes readily with air, it creates an ignitable mixture that can result in flames or explosions. Hydrogen is flammable in air at a volume of 4-75% by volume.

The best practice to avoid accumulation is to determine where hydrogen leaks are likely to occur and how they may disperse, then ventilate accordingly to manage the airflows sufficiently to keep hydrogen concentrations below the lower flammability level (LFL).

Hydrogen has an auto ignition temperature of over 1000°F. The auto ignition temperature of a substance is the lowest temperature at which it will spontaneously ignite without the presence of a flame or spark. Hydrogens flammability range is very wide when compared to other fuels, but under the optimal combustion condition of 29% hydrogen: air ratio, the energy required to initiate hydrogen combustion is much lower than required by other fuels.

Hydrogen is a very small molecule with low viscosity; therefore, it is prone to leakage. Natural ventilation with vents at high levels in confined spaces will allow hydrogen to escape and quickly disperse into atmosphere safely. For more information on how our range of IIC T1 hydrogen compatible industrial fans are suitable for explosive atmospheres contact our team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or say hello to our technical team on the website chat.

This article can also be found in the issue below.

Capabilities Unlock Carbon Data Management for Infrastructure Projects

Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company, is announcing at the Environment Analyst Global Business Summit, the availability of new carbon assessment capabilities in iTwin Experience to enable infrastructure professionals to seamlessly quantify carbon reduction opportunities in their projects. The Summit takes place June 27 and 28 in Chicago.  

With the new capabilities, infrastructure professionals can fully automate embodied carbon calculation reports and impact analyses by taking advantage of iTwin Experience, enabling them to explore multiple design choices faster and eliminate manual data exports and normalization.

In 2022, Bentley developed an integration service in the iTwin Platform to automate the process of generating embodied carbon reports for infrastructure projects via One Click LCA and EC3. Reports are initiated using the iTwin Platform and then viewed in One Click LCA or EC3. Now, iTwin Experience provides a ready-to-go, bi-directional integration with EC3, enabling carbon assessments to be visualized in a digital twin without the need to write code. iTwin Experience exports a data model to EC3, a free tool for which users need to be separately registered, which performs the embodied carbon calculations and returns results that iTwin Experience seamlessly reads and visualizes.   

Organizations that want to include carbon assessment workflows in their infrastructure projects without developing proprietary iTwin-powered apps will benefit from the newly available carbon calculation capabilities in iTwin Experience. The capabilities also unlock the integration of carbon assessment workflows with other Bentley products and solutions for designing and managing infrastructure projects.

The capabilities are being released in Preview and will be available for a restricted number of partners and early adopters.

Kaustubh Page, Director of Product Management with Bentley Systems, said, “Lifecycle assessments, environmental footprint analyses, and reports are becoming standard requirements for infrastructure projects worldwide. Designers and environmental engineers spend critical time generating environmental assessments or reports. Because the required data needed to be manually exported from multiple design authoring tools and then aggregated and verified, generating these environmental assessments has been a time-consuming and potentially error-prone process. With these new capabilities built into iTwin Experience, it is feasible to transform what is typically a six-month process into a six-minute workflow. Our goal is for iTwin Experience users to spend their valuable time on designing, optimizing, and making better decisions, faster – not exporting, aggregating, and validating data.”

Rodrigo Fernandes, Director of ES(D)G with Bentley Systems, said, “We want to enable users to implement carbon analysis and optimization as a natural, repeatable, and standardized procedure, as part of managing every type of infrastructure project, anywhere in the world. The sooner that carbon assessment is integrated into an infrastructure project, the bigger the carbon reduction opportunities will be. This announcement is focused on embodied carbon, particularly relevant in the early project stages, but iTwin Experience unleashes opportunities for telling the whole ‘carbon story’ of an infrastructure project and asset. We are genuinely unlocking environmental footprint assessments powered by infrastructure digital twins.”

Mark Tablante, Design Technology Director with Burns & MacDonnell, said, “Electrification is a critical component to meeting the world’s decarbonization goals. There is a tremendous amount of capital investment needed in electric T&D infrastructure and a carbon-efficient design makes the most of every dollar spent to further decarbonization. Tracking and reporting on progress toward utilities’ net zero goals is important to not only their shareholders, but for the future of our world. Burns & McDonnell is working with Bentley to test their new iTwin-powered carbon reporting capabilities for the electric utility industry. Our sustainability engineers and environmental group are proud to work with our clients and technology partners to help develop vendor agnostic solutions for a brighter future. We look forward to integrating these services and continuing helping our clients track carbon and reach their net zero goals.”

Embodied carbon impact calculation from EC3 visualized in iTwin Experience. Design elements are color coded based on the severity of realized embodied carbon. Image courtesy of Bentley Systems.

Design elements in logical groups for embodied carbon impact calculation. Image courtesy of Bentley Systems.

The new capabilities in iTwin Experience transform what is typically a six-month process into a six-minute workflow. Image courtesy of Bentley Systems.

Video Carbon Calculation Capabilities – iTwin Experience

The number of workplace injuries remains nearly unchanged year-over-year, with more than 2 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by provide industry employees in 2019.^[i] And up to 90% of workplace injuries can be attributed to human error.

While PPE has not traditionally had the technological capabilities to help prevent worker injury due to human error, the latest safety innovations, such as gas detection wearables, can help provide the visibility and data-driven insights to help your organization create an adaptable, proactive safety program and establish a culture of behaviour-based safety. Connected, wearable technology is leading the way for gas detection programs to evolve and enhance both their approach to worker safety and their approach to record-keeping, compliance, and fleet management.

But transforming your organisation to a connected program does not happen overnight. The first step is understanding the benefits of wearable technology and how a connected program can work for your organisation.

To start, what is a gas detection wearable? What are the benefits of connected safety technology? Here are answers to those top questions:

1. What is a gas detection wearable?

A gas detection wearable is designed to be worn by each individual worker, on his/her person, while on the jobsite. With a wearable detector that can simply clip directly on to apparel or other PPE, such as a fall harness, lone workers can be monitored in real-time to help provide critical data points about on-site workers to off-site safety managers, including emergency monitoring.

A wearable device can be a useful way to monitor workers’ safety, location, and behaviors; however, it may not always be enough to help build a proactive, adaptable gas detection safety program over time.

But a wearable gas detector that comes with automatic connectivity can be much more impactful in terms of driving transformation, efficiency, and reaching long-term safety and productivity goals of a gas detection program.

2. What does the term “connected” mean for gas detection hardware?

The term “connected” not only means a connected device – one that comes with out-of-the-box, cutting-edge cellular connectivity through leading national networks – but also a comprehensive solution inclusive of hardware software. It’s not necessarily enough to simply have cellular connectivity; hardware should also be connected to software, so that connectivity can provide the real-time data and insights to help drive adaptable, proactive safety programs.

This connectivity transforms hardware from traditional PPE to a technology-based, future-forward solution.  Successful integration of this advanced technology requires that not only are devices smarter and capable of providing visibility and insights to help curb risk, boost productivity, and simplify compliance, but also that they continue to perform with the durability and functionality to maintain their first and foremost mission of helping to protect the worker. As a wearable device, the detector should maintain the IP-rating, sensor technology, and battery life expected of today’s most durable portable gas detectors.

A wearable device that comes with automatic connectivity right out-of-the-box allows for quick and seamless implementation, no IT required.

3. How can wearable, connected technology help improve worker safety?

The most common industries for lone workers include oil and gas, telecommunications, utilities, construction, and industrial contractors. With wearable devices, safety managers can help ensure these lone workers are not completely alone. By digitally assigning a wearable device to individual workers at the start of each shift, safety managers can gain insight into key individual worker data including:

• Compliance of device use and faulty safety behaviours, including turning off an instrument or changing settings
• Workers’ locations, gas readings, and alarms
• Safety behaviours in the field, and whether new training specific to individuals is needed

A connected work program for gas detection can provide the visibility that is needed to manage large teams of workers and help establish a behaviour-based culture of safety. With real-time visibility of lone workers, safety managers can help make sure those workers are protected, with instant alerts. And  connected hardware and software solutions can provide real-time data such as worker location and how the detector is being used by each worker – which can all help inform safety training to both drive worker safety day-to-day and enhance an organisation’s safety culture over time.

4. How can wearable technology improve worksite safety?

It can be difficult to difficult to manage assets across different worksites and keep remote teams safe and productive. Connecting worksites with wearable, connected technology gives safety managers visibility into:

• Teams and assets, including worker position and activities and which devices require maintenance
• External and environmental factors, such as temperature or humidity
• Equipment status, maintenance, and asset management information across all worksite locations
• Centralized reports and data logs for automated compliance
• Intelligent mapping and zone segmentation, automated digital follow-ups, alarm sharing, and heatmapping to help drive operation-wide safety

With notifications available on both desktop and mobile devices, safety managers can get alerts when alarm exposure or SOS event occurs. Other details such as GPS location, gas readings, and compliance data are readily available within these immediate notifications provides safety managers with the visibility needed to manage safety and productivity across multiple worksites at once, all from remote, off-site locations.

5. How can wearable technology improve compliance and accountability across an organization?

Since a non-compliant detector can lead to potentially disastrous outcomes, it’s essential to ensure that every device is optimised. In other words, every device operates and protects the worker as it should. Technology not only makes this possible, it also makes it seamless. Advanced features that wearable technologies for gas detection should include are:

• Automatic bump tests and calibration when devices need it
• Visual indicators with green, yellow, and red lights representing “compliant,” “non-compliant,” and “in alarm,” respectively
• Device lock out to ensure that non-compliant devices are not inadvertently used
• Real-time historical data into specific workers

6. Can wearable devices help improve compliance and overall workflows?

Connected wearable devices allow you to connect workflows across your organization by providing insight into compliance and productivity issues. This information, coupled with connected cloud-based software, can allow you to:

• Automate compliance and help to reduce false alarms, remove asset-related risks, and lower the cost of downtime
• Determine if instruments have been configured correctly and are compliant in testing and while in use
• Create comprehensive reports in an industry standard format

7. What type of investment should an organization anticipate for implementing new wearable and connected technology across their workers and worksites?

With the latest technology, often comes newer business models to help drive your organizations’ transformation to a connected safety program. Subscription models that include both detector hardware and software options can help enable faster implementation, along with increased warranty coverage and ongoing software and firmware upgrades.

The right partner can help support your organisation’s connected safety journey with the right solution to fit your needs, from the number of wearables to various software options and features capabilities, giving you flexibility.

A seamlessly integrated solution of connected wearables and cloud-based software can provide visibility of your workers, worksite, and workflows that can make all the difference and help organizations drive a proactive safety culture over time.

Find out more about the latest innovations in connected gas detection wearables here.

For Love Your Lungs Week, Kevin Williams, Respiratory Services Manager at Arco Professional Safety Services, shares his insights into what businesses and organisations need to know to protect their staff’s respiratory health.

There are 19,000 estimated new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work, annually over the last three years, according to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey¹. This statistic is entirely preventable if risks are appropriately controlled. This Love Your Lungs Week is an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of respiratory health as a serious workplace safety issue.

Businesses and organisations must know how to protect staff and provide adequate respiratory protection. Employers have a legal duty to put in place suitable arrangements to manage workplace health and safety, including compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). A considered approach can prevent future deaths and ensure regulatory compliance.

What are the Dangers?

The inhalation of hazardous substances poses a serious risk to workers’ health. Hazards can be present in the form of dusts, fibres and fumes, mists and sprays, micro-organisms, gases and vapours. However, this type of exposure is more common in certain industries, such as construction and manufacturing, with the largest estimate of occupational cancer cases. A hazardous substance of particular prominence is respirable crystalline silica (RCS) or silica dust. This is a common by-product of many manufacturing tasks, such as brick and tile manufacture, ceramics, stone working, kitchen worktop manufacture and foundry work, which can all produce airborne silica particles that are invisible to the naked eye.

Inhalation of RCS can cause the development of the following lung diseases:

Silicosis – makes breathing more difficult and increases the risk of lung infections. Silicosis usually follows exposure over many years, but extremely high exposures can lead to rapid ill health.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – a group of lung diseases, including bronchitis and emphysema, resulting in severe breathlessness, prolonged coughing, and chronic disability. It can be very disabling and is a leading cause of death.

Lung Cancer - can be caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to RCS dust. When someone already has silicosis, there is an increased risk of lung cancer.

What Can be Done?

The first step toward protecting employees and workers is identifying the materials and substances that present a respiratory health hazard. Organisations and businesses must understand the specific risks of any materials within a workplace to ensure the appropriate control measures are in place.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDs) serve as a valuable tool for collating and digesting information regarding any potentially hazardous substances in a workplace. This includes identification, make-up and usage and advice on exposure controls and personal protection.

Moreover, understanding relevant hazardous substances in the workplace is not only crucial for protecting employees, but also forms the foundation in conducting a risk assessment - a vital process to be carried out before work can begin. Being proactive is essential for any risk assessment, requiring a consideration not only of hazardous materials but also of individuals who may come into contact with them, including both employees and the public. A full risk assessment is essential to maintain regulatory compliance and safeguarding employees’ wellbeing.

Following a complete risk assessment and recognising any potential hazards, preventative and protective measures should be implemented. This is highly conditional to the specific work scenario; however, all situations should first consider the possibility of substitution of hazardous materials. The removal of risk is the easiest path to safety. In cases where this is not possible:

Utilise engineering controls to remove or reduce employee exposure. These might be less powerful tools, water systems or an ‘on-tool dust’ extraction solution.

Provide PPE in the form of respiratory protective equipment (RPE). An effective respiratory management programme will ensure correct RPE selection, face-fit testing (for tight fitting RPE), relevant training and regular equipment inspections and maintenance. When selecting types of personal protective equipment, the correct selection of RPE is critical. Experts should be consulted if there is any uncertainty.

Carry out regular employee health monitoring. This will ensure that all control measures are working. Monitoring employees’ health can identify early signs of exposure and can inform updates on current control measures.

Together we can prevent these needless deaths from work-related lung diseases. A well-thought-out approach to risk management and the correct RPE can dramatically reduce the current statistics across all sectors.

As part of a series of toolbox talks, Arco has produced a video around respiratory protection and advice for those working around wood dust and Silica dust.

Following submissions to both consultations by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Respiratory Health, relating to the hazards of silica dust, Arco accepted an invitation to join a panel of industry experts to advise the Government on how to tackle the risks associated with silica dust.

Click the links for further information about Arco’s comprehensive product range and the supporting respiratory services and training provided by Arco Professional Safety Services