News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Arco Professional Safety Services delivers secret agent to London – safely
• Arco Professional Safety Services behind the dramatic stunt at the London Eye

Dressed in a tuxedo and bowtie, Steve Dawson from Arco Professional Safety Services was pictured climbing a ladder below one of the pods on the Lastminute.com London Eye yesterday morning, ahead of the film premiere of Britain’s most famous secret agent at the Royal Albert Hall.

Supply of ASAP UK’s X-TRA Thick T-GRIP Nitrile gloves, which are particularly popular in the automotive sector, had been disrupted during the pandemic 

ASAP UK has today announced that availability of its X-TRA Thick T-GRIP Nitrile gloves, which are designed for the most challenging conditions, are again available to buy ex – stock from the company’s UK Distribution Partners. The gloves are extremely popular in the automotive sector and in many heavy – duty industrial applications.  

The X-TRA Thick T-GRIP gloves have a diamond texture, which channels away fluids for superior grip in hazardous conditions; the gloves are virtually impenetrable and highly resistant to chemicals. 

The ePAL mobile app for operators of powered access is now available in 26 additional territories, following its successful launch in the UK & Ireland.

A new mobile app for operators of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast-climbing work platforms (MCWPs) that brings training certification into the digital era and reduces the environmental impact of issuing the International Powered Access Federation’s (IPAF) PAL Card and training certification is now available in dozens of extra territories, following its successful launch in the UK and Ireland earlier this year.

The Air Quality and Emissions Event, one of the key events for gas detection, air quality monitoring and analysis technology, takes place virtually this year over the 13^th and 14^th October 2021. ION Science, a global leader in VOC detection and analysis, as well as the only UK OEM within the field, will be attending to showcase their latest technology and expert offering.

The focus on delivering better air quality, both indoors and out, as well as monitoring emissions for better health and environment, is something that has risen in prominence over the last decade. COVID-19 further highlighted the importance of good quality air through reducing emissions, and the need to protect and maintain air quality indoors for health and wellbeing purposes. These ideals are held in high regard by those within the public and consumer spaces in more recent years, but are also things that the industries themselves have long been working towards behind the scenes.

One of the world’s leading PID (photoionisation detection) sensor manufacturers, ION Science, are pleased to announce they will be exhibiting at US-based technology event Sensors Expo. ION Science will be showcasing products including their industry-leading MiniPID2 Sensor, at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. Attendees can visit, trial products, and talk to experts in the Exhibit Hall from the 22^nd – 23^rd of September.

Sensors Expo is an electronics event that has been running for 36 years, with a focus on sensor technology. Since its inception, Sensors Expo has broadened its horizons and diversified to include electronics technologies and embedded systems that are compatible with sensors. The highly anticipated annual event explores the entire sensors ecosystem, from sensing to processing to analysing and connecting. The Expo will showcase the newest tech and innovations, interactive demonstrations and in-person networking, within the safest environment possible.

New UK technical requirements lead to changes in conformity marking

Leading motors, drives and automation manufacturer WEG is updating the marks on its products following regulatory changes introduced due to Brexit. From January 1, 2023, products commercialised in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will require mandatory UK conformity assessed (UKCA) markings to indicate that the products adhere to UK standards for safety and ecodesign whilst products commercialised in Northern Ireland will continue to retain CE Marking. WEG’s safe area motors, drives and control gear products have already been certified as compliant under the new provisions and have achieved UKCA marking, allowing them to continue to be sold, installed, and used in the UK under the new guidelines.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, manufacturers are expected to comply with UK regulations and standards and to display the new UKCA marking on their products — from January 1, 2023, a CE mark will no longer be valid. At present, goods solid in the United Kingdom are only required to carry the CE mark to indicate conformity with European standards. The certification puts WEG ahead of the curve, as manufacturers now have until December 31, 2022, to transition to the new regime following a recent BEIS announcement of a one-year extension to the process.