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Showing posts from June, 2014

Spark Detection: Your First Line Of Defense

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From Biomassmagazine.com "the NFPA specifies in its Standard 664, paragraph A.8.6.2.2: “The spark extinguishing system should activate every time a single spark is detected .” Spark Detection: Plant’s First Line Of Defense Understanding the best application of infrared and heat detection sensors is important for effective control systems. By Jeffrey C. Nichols | June 22, 2014 The National Fire Protection Association defines combustible dust as “A finely divided combustible particulate solid that presents a flash fire hazard or explosion hazard when suspended in air or the process-specific oxidizing medium over a range of concentrations.”  (NFPA 654, the Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions, 2013) The key to preventing a catastrophic event is to install effective prevention technology for detecting all sparks and embers in the incipient stage in the process, and extinguishing or diverting sparks before they igni

How to Survive an OSHA Audit -- Occupational Health & Safety

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How to Survive an OSHA Audit From Occupational Health & Safety, OHSonlone.com How to Survive an OSHA Audit There is no way to avoid an OSHA audit, much as there is no way to avoid having a root canal. But you can lessen the pain by being well-prepared. By Jim Rhoad Jun 01, 2014 "Hello. I'm from OSHA, and I am here to help you." If you own or operate a business, chances are very good you've heard these dreaded words before. Next to, "Hello, I'm from the Internal Revenue Service," there are few greetings more inclined to make your knees weak. But it doesn't have to be that bad. Even with the 7 million workplaces that it covers each year, OSHA will most likely find its way to your location. When it does, here are some tips to help you survive your OSHA audit. Plan for an inspection by making sure you have three key items in place prior to the arrival of the OSHA compliance officer (CO): 1. A determination whether y

Risk Assessments Made Easy -- Occupational Health & Safety

Risk Assessments Made Easy From Occupational Health & Safety, ohsonline.com Risk Assessments Made Easy Every business should carry out regular risk assessments, and there's no excuse not to with the Risk Assessor App, which is free to download on the App Store. It makes the process easy and produces a clean, easy-to-read report in PDF format. It's important to keep the assessments up to date, so the App syncs reminders for future assessments with iCal. Risk assessments are a vital step in protecting your business, its workers, and anybody who might be affected by risks in the area. They provide a platform to focus on risks that really matter in the workplace, the ones which have potential to cause injury or harm. In most instances, straightforward measures can be taken to control risks. An example would be ensuring that spills are cleaned up promptly to prevent people from slipping, or perhaps something as simple as closet drawers being kept closed to e

Wood Pellet Safety

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Standardizing Pellet Safety from Biomassmagazine.com Standardizing Pellet Safety Countries around the globe are combining efforts to develop robust safety standards for pelletized biofuels. By Anna Simet | June 04, 2014 Fires and explosions are an undesirable reality of the pellet industry, and can result in employee injury or death, economic loss, and facility damage. As global pellet production and consumption have soared over the past several years, the buzz surrounding safety and health issues in the manufacturing, handling and storage of wood pellets has become much louder. So loud, that the International Standards Organization has launched an effort, under the direction of Working Group 4 of ISO/TC238, to develop global standards for numerous components of commercial, industrial and small-scale applications. Topics to be addressed include not only prevention, detection, suppression and management of fires and explosions, but also safe handling and stor

Biomass Industry Plays With Fire, Gets Burned

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Biomass Industry Plays With Fire, Gets Burned  [The Biomass Monitor] from the Energy Justice Network Editors note: While we do not agree with all assertions in this article, it does a good job of cataloging and pointing out the dangers of wood dust, as well as fires and explosions in the biomass industry - which we are in business to help prevent!  Call or write with any questions. Biomass Industry Plays With Fire, Gets Burned May 24, 2013 — Josh - by Josh Schlossberg, The Biomass Monitor Toxic smokestack emissions aren’t the only public health threat from industrial scale biomass energy facilities. Fires and explosions have been responsible for multiple injuries and three deaths at biomass incinerators over the past three decades. As of May 2013, fires and/or explosions have occurred at 22 industrial biomass incinerators, based on research from UK-based Port Talbot Residents Against Power Stations and The Biomass Monitor . Additionally, over