Tag Archives: high temperature

General Safety Issues

The Importance of Having the Right Electrical Cables for Your Business (Guest Post)

From multiple modes of transportation to oil and gas rigs to wind turbine farms, electrical cables are crucial to many industries and the safety of their operations. For the aerospace industry, cables transmit electricity and data to make the plane work properly and allow pilots to communicate with on-the-ground personnel. In the food industry, cables keep factory lines moving while also boosting production efficiency. For miners, cables are necessary to keep everything from shuttle carts to mining pumps running smoothly. Why does this matter? It means that, whatever your specific industry, you probably have a need for working electrical cables that can withstand various temperatures, pressures and situations in order to protect you and your work environment. How do you choose the right kind? 

To help answer that question, here are some elements of your business to keep in mind when choosing cables — so you can be sure you pick the best, safest options for your business and employees: 

Temperature: In situations where circuits must keep running even under extreme temperature changes, such as in furnaces, ovens, cooking equipment or lighting fixtures, cables must be resistant to heat. If the cables aren’t properly fire-resistant and/or high-temperature rated, they could be severely damaged, which would then cause major damage to equipment and personnel. So when looking at cables, ask yourself the following questions relating to temperature: 

  • How hot or cold will the cables get in my application?
  • Could these cables withstand the temperatures involved in this job? 

Pressure: For industries that must utilize high-pressure sprays on equipment, such as the food industry, for example, the continual pressure on cables can wreak havoc over time. That’s why these situations call for tough, durable cables that can withstand abuse without threatening your business operations. To know you’re choosing durable cables that can withstand pressure, ask the following: 

  • What sort of pressure will these cables be exposed to?
  • Are the cables I’m purchasing specially designed to hold up to high pressure? 

Environmental Changes: Think about the specific environment into which your cables will be placed. Is it on a moving piece of equipment? Will it be exposed to chemicals on a daily basis? Will they be exposed to wash downs? Is your cable hanging and exerting tension? Do you need it to remain flexible in all situations? Is it buried underground? If so, you’ll need cables that are specifically designed to stay functional in any environment. Whether for a large ship or at an oil site, cables that can’t withstand environmental changes could cause disaster. Ask yourself: 

  • What sort of environmental changes will these cables experience?
  • Can the cables I’m buying handle swings in temperature, movement, chemicals, tension, etc.? 

Costs: As with any aspect of business, budget is always an important factor to keep in mind. Part of choosing the right cables for your budget is understanding how much “replacing” failing cable costs your production schedule from a pure cable cost and lost production hour cost. If your cable is failing over and over again, chances are you may be choosing the wrong cable product for the application. This costs your company money. The initial investment in choosing the right cable for your application can save your company money since it will last longer and require less replacements, hence saving production and labor costs. 

Before selecting the cables for a given application, think through these questions: 

  • How often am I replacing cable in this application?
  • How many employees does it take to replace the cable? How long does it take them to do? How many applications are changed out per day?
  • Is it possible that there is a longer lasting cable available to me?
  • Could I save my company money by investing in a longer lasting cable? 

How are cables used in your industry? Whether it’s mining, utilities or government, there’s a good chance cables are involved. When selecting cables for your next project, use the elements listed above to know which to choose.

 

About the author:

Carol Sabovik is the Marketing Manager of TPC Wire & Cable Corp. (http://www.tpcwire.com/) in Macedonia, OH. TPC Wire & Cable is a leading wire and cable manufacturer for many markets, including industrial manufacturing and the automotive industry. TPC’s products are designed and engineered to withstand harsh conditions including abrasion, chemicals, constant flexing and extreme temperatures.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

PROTECTING YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS – YOUR HANDS (GUEST POST)

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 We all have a favorite tool, maybe it is that new Lithium-Ion powered cordless drill, it might be a new air compressor for powering all of your pneumatic tools, or it might be an old set of wrenches that you’ve had since you were a teenager and bought your first car.  But no matter what your favorite tool is and what tools you use each day to make a living, you have to invest in the right pair of gloves to protect your most important tools- your hands.

Chances are that if you work for a large company, there are regulations and programs put in place by the safety coordinator or safety manager.  Depending on what kind of job you do, you might use many different types of gloves to protect your hands.  If you work for a smaller company or are a DIY’er, you may not have any expertise on the subject or mandated regulations.  It is up to you to protect yourself.

Like any other type of safety gear, hand protection come in all shapes and sizes and are often specific to what type of job is at hand.  Depending on what type of job you are doing will determine the proper glove for the task.  Gloves will be divided into different categories such as cut resistant, chemical resistant, insulated, arc protection, high temperature, general purpose and many specialized gloves.  The most important thing to remember is that you must use the correct glove for the job and you should have a basic understanding of why that glove is the right choice, not just because somebody told you to wear it.

1.        Cut Resistant.  Cut resistant doesn’t mean cut proof.  There are many degrees of protection, depending on what glove you chose.  Most of the cut resistant gloves will be a mix of material, usually coated on the palm with extra protection such as Nitrile or Polyethylene.  They may be cloth mixed with rubber or Kevlar.  These gloves are going to be used for handling parts with sharp or pointed edges such as sheet metal of glass or tile.  They will be puncture resistant and protect your hands from cuts and scrapes. 

2.       Chemical Resistant.  Usually made of rubber, Nitrile or PVC, chemical resisatnat gloves are going to protect the worker form harmful chemicals.  They are often longer cuffed gloves, protecting past the wrist and can even be elbow or shoulder length depending on the required needs.  They are going to protect against oil, grease, acids, alcohol and solvents.  They are used in mining, utilities, manufacturing and the automotive industries.

3.       Insulated.  These gloves are going to protect from electric shock and are very important for the safety of lineman, electrical utilities and electrical workers.  It is very important to verify voltage protection and to inspect for cracks and tears before each use.  These will be very specific to a job and most people will never need this type of glove.

4.       Arc Protection.  Arc protection gloves are going to be made of Kevlar and Nitrile.  They are going to be cut and flame resistant and are used in facility work, machinery work, and heavy equipment service and cable installation.

5.       High Temperature.  High temperature gloves are exactly what they appear to be, they are going to protect the worker from being burned.  These gloves will protect form burns and high temperatures, usually with a cotton or Nitrile blend.  They are used in production of glass and plastics, foundry operations, steel mills and in the automotive industry.

6.       Disposable Gloves.  Latex and Nitrile disposable gloves fit into this category.  They may be used in laboratory, medical and janitorial applications.  They are good for protection, but are thin and allow for greater dexterity.

7.       General Purpose.  This is a broad category; it is going to include any of the gloves that you may use in a job that isn’t inherently dangerous, such as yard work, driving, working around the house.  These are gloves to protect from blisters, splinters and other common problems on the job. 

There is a glove for just about any job that needs to get done.  Workers are injured every day because they are not wearing the proper hand protection and it is often left to the individual using the glove to decide what is appropriate for the job.  Just like you would always put on a pair of safety glasses to protect against eye injury, hand protection should be available at all times and in every tool box.

Bio: Jay Preston is author and Brand Manager for ToolHQ, Australia’s premiere cordless tool source.

Thanks, Jay for this thorough explanation of the types of gloves.  For anyone who wants to protect their hands, depending on the right glove for the job, check Texas America Safety Company for just the right type.