Dust clouds can be ignited by the effects of mechanical friction from overheated bearings or motors, sparks from grinding machinery, static electricity, electrical arcing, welding sparks or naked flames. Here’s Part 2 of our guide to understanding, preventing and controlling dust explosions. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND How can you create a ball of [...]
Dust clouds can be ignited by the effects of mechanical friction from overheated bearings or motors, sparks from grinding machinery, static electricity, electrical arcing, welding sparks or naked flames. Here’s Part 1 of our guide to understanding and preventing dust explosions. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND * A dust explosion that occurred at a [...]
A Day In A Life Tragedy can result when machine safety systems aren’t in place, or are overridden by employees. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND It was 10:52 p.m. when Steven, a machine operator, was called to help clear a jam on the machine located next to his. When he looked at the machine, [...]
How to properly handle safety issues with electrical equipment in hazardous areas. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND An area in any industrial facility classified as hazardous is one in which the atmosphere contains, or may contain, flammable or explosive gases, dusts or fibres. In this type of area, a fire or explosion could occur [...]
Making the Right Decisions To avoid maintenance-related accidents and injuries in the workplace, start by sharing the right information. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND Plant maintenance and engineering people are faced with decision-making every day. Every day something needs to be fixed, installed, relocated or purchased. Many plant professionals wonder if there is some [...]
Federal budget makes Canada a tariff-free zone for machinery and equipment. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND The 2010 Canadian federal budget takes further action to improve conditions for investment in manufacturing, enhance competition, and reduce barriers for businesses. It makes Canada a tariff-free zone for industrial manufacturers by eliminating all remaining tariffs on machinery [...]
Often, clearing jams, making settings and cleaning operations are mistaken for maintenance activities that require lockout. But this is not the most productive or necessary way to operate a machine. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND Preventing access to moving parts is regulated, in Ontario, by the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act, and throughout [...]
Global standards to be used in Canada regarding the safe use of hazardous materials in the workplace. Canada's Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is going to change -- after remaining essentially unchanged for more than two decades. WHMIS is a comprehensive program for providing information on the hazards and safe use [...]
We all hope that a pandemic will not affect us, however we need to be ready should it arrive. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND The flu season is upon us. Scary headlines about H1N1 -- the swine flu virus -- appear in the media almost daily. The infectious pandemic obviously should be taken seriously, because [...]
Owners vs. Suppliers: Who’s Responsible for Compliance? To avoid unnecessary liability, many purchasers of machinery and equipment pass the responsibility for PSRs on to their suppliers. BY SIMON FRIDLYAND Many of my clients who are engineers complain that they are experts in their specific fields but might not necessarily be experts in [...]
