Daily Safe : Radiation Safety Handling

Alpha particles ( a ) are relatively slow and heavy.
They have a low penetrating power - you can stop them with just a sheet of paper.
Alpha particles can not penetrate your skin. Due to the low penetrating power of Alpha particles, they are generally not a cause for concern, unless you ingest some material that emits Alpha radiation.
For the most part, materials that emit Alpha particles, also emit some Beta or Gamma radiation.

Beta particles ( b ) are fast, and light.
Beta particles have a medium penetrating power - they are stopped by a thin sheet of aluminum (such as aluminum foil) or plastic. Beta particles can penetrate deeply into your skin.

Gamma rays ( g ) have a high penetrating power - it takes a thick sheet of metal such as lead, or concrete to reduce them significantly.

Preparation

• Clearly label containers, equipment, and areas for the handling of radioisotopes with radioactive labeling tape. The labeling tape can be obtained from your institution stockroom or through an appropriate vendor. Minimize radioactive material work-space.
• Use absorbent material (benchcoat) and trays to confine spills and reduce the spread of potential contamination.
• Wear protective clothing. The minimum requirements include a laboratory coat, safety glasses and close-toed shoes. Wear disposable gloves, either single or double pair, depending on the radionuclide you are working with. Choose gloves that are appropriate for the chemical and other hazards in your experiment. If you are unsure about the type of protective glove to use call the Radiation Protection Office (RPO) at 495-2060.
• Traps to collect radioactivity may be necessary (as required under some permits) (e.g.: vacuum line traps). If a trap is not available, contact the RPO.
• Dedicate equipment such as pipettes and glassware to radioactivity work and avoid cross contamination.
• Plan your experiment so that mixed waste (i.e. hazardous chemical or biologically active combined with radioactivity) is not generated. If this cannot be avoided contact the Radiation Protection Office (RPO) for further assistance.

Equipment / SuppliesEquipment / Supplies

•     A Liquid Scintillation Counter for low energy beta radiation.
•     Portable Survey Meter with appropriate probe(s).
•     Disposable latex or plastic gloves.
•     Luxel Dosimeter (and finger ring, if assigned).
•     Lab coat, safety glasses, and close-toed shoes.
•     Containers for radioactive waste.
•     Pipettes dedicated to the use of your radionuclide.
•     Safety glasses (to protect from splash and shield from beta radiation).

Work Practices Work Practices

• Change your gloves often. Assume gloves are contaminated until proven otherwise. Do not leave the laboratory or touch things outside of the work space with potentially contaminated gloves. Remove gloves carefully from the inside out. Ensure that gloves are disposed of properly and wash hands immediately.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, or touch exposed areas of skin while working in a room where radioisotopes are handled. Be careful not to rub your eyes, scratch exposed areas of skin, or touch your hair when working with radioactive material.
• Use automatic or remote pipetting devices. NEVER pipette by mouth.
• Allow sufficient time for frozen stock solutions to thaw before attempting to withdraw an aliquot. If you are working with 35S-methionine, Cysteine, and Translabel® refer to the related worksheet for 35S volatility.
• Handle volatile compounds, which have the potential for vapor or gas release (such as Na125I or 35S-Methionine or Cysteine) in a functioning hood.
• Handle and dispose of spin (centrifuge) columns with care. Place used columns in a sealed container (capped tube or Ziploc® bag) prior to discarding into the radioactive waste.

Post-Work

• Promptly dispose of radioactive waste properly. Make a reasonable estimate of the amount of
• radioactivity in the waste and record on a radioactive waste tag.
• Lock-up and secure your radioactive stock solutions immediately after use.
• Survey yourself and work area for contamination with an appropriate survey meter. Decontaminate if necessary. Remove protective clothing and wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before leaving the laboratory.
• Note the results of your survey on your personal survey record of the work area. This is required if you are working with more than 1 mCi.
• Sink disposal must be done according to the approved guidelines. Do not exceed the posted daily limit for the radionuclide, unless otherwise authorized by the Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) in the permit.
• Participate in the bioassay program as requested by the Radiation Protection Office.

Basic Principles of Radiation Measurement : type of detector

Radiation entering the detector will ionize the gas and produce positive ions and negative ions (electrons). The number of ions to be generated is proportional to the energy of the radiation and inversely proportional to the gas ionization power. Gas ionization power range from 25 eV s.d. 40 eV. The ions produced inside the detector will contribute to the formation of an electrical pulse or electric current.

Primary ions produced by radiation will move towards the appropriate electrodes. The movement of ions will cause pulses or electric current. The movement of these ions above can take place between two electrodes when there are enough electric field. When the electric field the higher the kinetic energy of the ions will be even greater to be able to hold another ionization.

The ions produced by the primary ion is referred to as secondary ions. If the electric field between two electrodes the higher the number of ions produced by a radiation would be very much and called the 'avalanche'.

There are three types of detector gas field working on different areas which rooms ionization detector, proportional detectors, and detector Geiger Mueller (GM).

Room Ionization detectors (Ionization chamber)

As shown in the above gas characteristic curve, the number of ions produced in this area is relatively small so that a high pulse, when applying pulse measurement models, very low. Therefore, typically, measurements using ionization detectors applying current way. When you will use this detector pulse by pulse amplifier is needed is excellent. The advantage this detector is able to distinguish between the energy entering and working voltage required is not too high.

Proportional Detector

Compared with the above ionization region, the number of ions produced in the region is more so proportionately higher pulse will be higher. The detector is more often used for measurements by the pulse.

Seen on the characteristic curves above that the number of ions produced is proportional to the energy of the radiation, so that the detector is able to differentiate radiation energy. However, that is a loss, or a high number of ion pulses produced is strongly influenced by the working voltage and power voltage for this detector must be very stable.

Detector Geiger Mueller (GM)

The number of ions produced in this area very much, reaching a value of saturated, so the pulse is relatively high and require no amplifier pulse again. The main disadvantage of this detector is unable to distinguish the radiation energy into it, because regardless of the amount of energy it produces ions with saturated values. These detectors are the most commonly used detectors, because of the electronic terms is very simple, do not need to use the amplifier. Most of the equipment measuring radiation protection, which should be portable, made of Geiger Mueller detector.

Scintillation detectors

Scintillation detectors always consists of two parts, namely the scintillator and photomultiplier materials. Scintillator material is a solid substance, liquid or gas that will produce sparks of light when subject to ionizing radiation. Photomultiplier is used to change the spark of light generated scintillator material into electrical pulses. Radiation detection mechanisms scintillation detectors can be divided into two stages:

* The process of changing the radiation detector to spark a light in the scintillator material and

* The process of changing spark of light into electrical pulses in the photomultiplier tube

Scintillator material

Scintillation process in this material can be explained by Figure 4. In the crystal scintillator materials are ribbons or area named as the valence band and the conduction band are separated by a certain energy level. In the ground state, the ground state, all electrons in the valence band while the conduction band is empty. When there is the radiation that enters the crystal, there is a possibility that some of the energy will be absorbed by the electrons in the valence band, so it can jump into the conduction band. A few moments later the electrons return to the valence band with energy band activator materials while emitting sparks of light.

Spark of light is proportional to the amount of radiation energy absorbed and influenced by the type of material sintilatornya. The bigger the more spark energy is light. Sparks of light are then 'captured' by the photomultiplier.

 Here are some examples of scintillator materials are often used as a radiation detector.

Crystal NaI (Tl)

Crystalline ZnS (Ag)

Crystal Lii (Eu)

Organic scintillator

Liquid scintillator (liquid scintillation)

The detector is very special compared to the other types of detectors for liquid. Radioactive sample to be measured first dissolved into liquid scintillator so that the sample and detector into a single unit of a homogeneous solution. In this measurement geometry can achieve 100% efficiency because all the radiation emitted by the source will be "captured" by the detector. This method is needed to measure samples b low-energy radiation such as tritium and C14.

Issues that must be considered in this method is the reduced quenching the transparent nature of the solution (liquid scintillator) as it gets mixed samples. The more concentrated the sample concentration will deteriorate the level of transparency so that the spark produced light can not reach the photomultiplier.

Photomultiplier tubes

As discussed earlier, each scintillation detector consists of two parts, namely scintillator materials and photomultiplier tubes. If the scintillator material serves to convert radiant energy into light the spark photomultiplier tube is used to change the spark of light into a beam of electrons, which can be further processed as a credit / electric current.

Photomultiplier tube is made of a hollow tube with a light-proof photokatoda which serves as input on one end and there are several such electrons to double dinode contained in Figure 5. Photokatoda attached to the scintillator material, will emit electrons when it is light with a suitable wavelength. The resulting electrons are directed, with a potential difference, towards dinode first. Dinode it will radiate some secondary electrons when the electrons are.

Secondary electrons generated will go dinode dinode first second and then multiplied to dinode third and so that electrons are collected at the last dinode amount to very much. With a collection of electrons capacitor will be converted into electrical pulses.

Semiconductor Detectors

Semiconductor materials, which were found relatively more recent than the above two types of detectors, made from group IV elements in the periodic table, namely silicon or germanium. This detector has several advantages, namely more efficient than gas field detector, because it is made from solid, and has a better resolution than scintillation detectors.

Basically, insulating materials and semiconductor materials can not forward an electrical current. This is due to all the electrons in the valence band while the conduction band is empty. The difference in energy levels between the valence band and the conduction band in the insulator material is very large so it does not allow electrons to move to the conduction band (> 5 eV) as shown above. Instead, the difference is relatively small in the semiconductor material (<3 eV) to allow electrons to jump into the conduction band where to get additional energy.

Radiant energy entering the semiconductor material is absorbed by the material so that some electrons can move from the valence band to the conduction band. When in between the two ends of the semiconductor materials are a potential difference, there will be an electric current flow. So in this detector, the radiation energy is converted into electrical energy.

The connection is made by connecting the semiconductor N-type semiconductors of the type P (PN junction). The positive pole of the external voltage is connected to the negative pole, while N-type to P type as shown in Figure 7. This causes the charge carriers are attracted to the positive (negative pole) while the negative charge carriers are attracted to the lower (positive pole), forming (depletion layer) layer charge on the connection PN empty. With the blank layer charge this then there will be no electric current. If there is ionizing radiation that enters the empty layer this charge will be formed new ions, electrons and holes, which will move to the poles of positive and negative. Additional electrons and holes is what will lead to the formation of pulses or electric current.

Because of the power or the energy required to produce these ions is lower than the ionization processes in the gas, then the number of ions produced by the same energy will be more. This is why semiconductor detectors are very meticulous in distinguishing the radiation energy about him or known to have high resolution. As an illustration, scintillation detectors for gamma radiation typically has a resolution of 50 keV, that is, the detector is able to distinguish the energy of the radiation that enters the two when both are having different radiation energies greater than 50 keV. Medium semiconductor detectors for gamma radiation typically has a resolution of 2 keV. So it looks that much more thoroughly semiconductor detectors to distinguish radiation energy.

In fact, the ability to distinguish the less energy required in use in the field, such as radiation surveys. However, for other purposes, for example to determine the type of radionuclides or to determine the type and grade of material, this capability is absolutely necessary.

The weakness of the semiconductor detector is more expensive, its use should be very careful because it is easily damaged and some types of semiconductor detectors must be cooled to the temperature of liquid nitrogen dewar necessitating large enough.

Excellence - Weakness Detector

From the discussion above shows that each of the radiation is converted into an electrical pulse with a height proportional to the energy of radiation. It is a phenomenon that is ideal because it is in fact not the case. There are several characteristics that distinguish one type of detector with other detectors are efficiency, speed and resolution.

The efficiency of the detector is a value that indicates the ratio between the number of pulses of electricity generated to the amount of radiation detector receives. Detector efficiency value is determined by the geometry and density of the detector material. The geometry will determine the amount of radiation that can be 'captured' so that the surface area of ​​the detector, the higher the efficiency. While the density of the material affects the amount of radiation detectors that can interact to produce an electrical signal. Materials that have a density detector closer will have a higher efficiency as more radiation interacts with the material.

Speed ​​detector indicates the time interval between the arrival of the radiation and the formation of an electrical pulse. Interact with the radiation detector speed also affect the measurement because if the detector response is not fast enough, while the intensity of the radiation is so high it will be a lot of radiation that are not measurable despite the detector.

Detector resolution is the ability of the detector to distinguish between adjacent radiation energy. A detector is expected to have a very small resolution (high resolution) so as to distinguish accurately the radiation energy. Resolution of the detector caused by the statistics of events that occur in the process of conversion of radiation energy, noise from electronic circuits, as well as the instability of the measurement conditions.

Another aspect to be considered is the construction of the detector because of the complicated construction or design of the detector will be more easily damaged and usually also more expensive.

The following table shows the characteristics of several types of detectors are generally based on several considerations above.

Selection of detector should consider the advantages and disadvantages as well as the specifications table above. For example, the detector used in portable measurement tool (easy to carry) is a best gas field detector, the detector used in measuring instruments for natural radiation (very low intensity) is preferably scintillation detector, while the detectors in spectroscopy systems for materials should analyze semiconductor detector .

Safety Regulation : Occupational Health and Safety Law

Occupational health and safety (K3) is an instrument that protects workers, the company, the environment, and society about the dangers of workplace accidents. Protection is a basic human right that must be met by the company. K3 aims to prevent, reduce, and even nullify the risk of workplace accidents (zero accident). The application of this concept should not be taken as prevention of occupational accidents and occupational diseases that are expensive (cost) of the company, but should be regarded as a form of long-term investments that benefited the rich in the future.

How K3 legal perspective? There are three main aspects, namely K3 legal norms of safety, occupational health, and the real work. Safety norms is a means or a tool to prevent occupational injury allegedly caused by the negligence and work environment that is not conducive. The concept is expected to nullify accident thus preventing the occurrence of defects or death to workers, then place and prevent damage to work equipment. This concept also prevents contamination of the environment and communities where health kerja.Norma expected to be a powerful instrument to create and maintain the health status of work as high.

K3 to the prevention and eradication of occupational diseases, such as noise, lighting (light), vibration, humidity, and others that can cause hearing damage, respiratory problems, lung damage, blindness, damage to body tissue caused by beam ultraviolet, skin cancer, infertility, and others. Norms relating to labor management. K3 in this context relates to the matter of setting work hours, shifts, working women, youth employment, overtime arrangements, analysis and management of the environment, and others. These things have a close correlation to the events of the accident.
The existence of K3 actually coincided with the industrial revolution in Europe, notably the UK, Germany and France as well as the industrial revolution in the United States. This era marked a shift in the use of large-scale production machines replacing human labor. Workers simply acts as the operator. The use of the machines produced goods in the amount doubled compared to that done earlier workers. IndustriNamun Revolution, the impact of the use of the machines is unemployment and the risk of accidents in the workplace. It can cause physical disability and death for workers. Also it can cause a huge loss for the company. The industrial revolution also marked by increasingly found chemical compounds that can endanger the safety and physical and mental health workers (occupational accident) as well as the community and the environment.

At the beginning of the industrial revolution, K3 has not become an integral part of the company. In an era in workplace accidents only regarded as accidents or occupational risk (personal risk), not the company's responsibility. This view is reinforced by the concept of common law defense (CLD), which consists of contributing negligence (contributions negligence), fellow servant rule (employment provisions), and the risk Assumption (assumption of risk) (Tono, Muhammad: 2002). Then this concept evolved into the K3 employers liability is the responsibility of employers, workers / employees, and the general public that is outside the context of Indonesia kerja.Dalam, K3 consciousness actually been around since the Dutch colonial government. For example, in 1908 the Dutch parliament urged the Dutch government to impose K3 in the Dutch East Indies were marked by the publication Veiligheids Reglement, State Gazette No.. 406 In 1910. 

Furthermore, the Dutch colonial government issued several legal products that provide protection for the safety and health are regulated separately by each economic sector. Some of them are related to the transportation sector that regulates traffic perketaapian as stated in the Algemene Regelen Betreffende de Aanleg en de Exploitate Spoor van voor Algemene en Tramwegen Bestmend Verkeer in Indonesia (general rules concerning the establishment and firm Trains and Trams for general traffic Indonesia) and Gazette 1926 No.. 334, Schepelingen Ongevallen Regeling 1940 (Ordinance Accident Seafarers), State Gazette No. 1930. 225, Veiligheids Reglement (Regulation of Employment Security in Factory and Workplace), and so on. High Concern In the early days of independence, K3 aspects of strategic issues and not become a part of humanity and justice. This is understandable because the Government of Indonesia is still in transition structuring political life and national security. Meanwhile, a new national economic wheel movement initiated by the national government and the private sector.

New K3 is a major concern in the 70's in line with the height of the capital investment and the adoption of national industry (manufacturing). This development has encouraged the government regulation in the areas of employment, including setting K3 issue. It is stipulated in Law no. 1 Year 1070 on Occupational Safety, while labor legislation earlier as Law Number 12 Year 1948 on Labor, Law no. 14 Year 1969 on Basic Provisions Regarding Labor does not state explicitly classified as K3 concept kerja.Setiap norm workplace or company must implement K3 program. The workplace is very broad dimension covers all workplaces, whether on land, underground, above ground, in water, in the air or in space.

K3 legal arrangements in the context of the above is in accordance with the sectors / areas of business. For example, Law no. 13 Year 1992 on Perkerataapian, Law no. 14 Year 1992 on Traffic and Transportation (LLAJ), Law no. 15 Year 1992 on Aviation and its other implementing regulations. In addition to the above nexus sekor, regulations related to the K3 is also found in other sectors such as mining, construction, agriculture, manufacturing industry (factories), fisheries, and other lain.Di current era of globalization, national development very closely with the development global issues such as human rights (Human Rights), the environment, poverty, and labor. Global competition is not only limited to the quality of the goods but also include the quality of care and services. Many multinational companies are only willing to invest in a country if that country has a high concern for the environment. Also sensitivity to the workers and the poor. Because it is not impossible if there is a company that cares about K3, put this in the first place as a condition of investment.

Dozen things parents can do to solve the preschool whimper

12 things parents can do to solve the preschool whimper :

1. Perform introspection.
Parents reflect on what he had done in assisting the child to know his world, already tepatkah or missing. Remember, parenting is an example / model closest to the child.

2. Spend time with children.
Actually, not the length of time together, but more on the quality of care you provide. Although only briefly but if sincere, it's better than the old but memorable imposed. If you are really tired and need to rest a little, well frankly tell the child, "Honey, Mama was so tired. Mama a quick break ya, later that night we play together." But remember, the promise must be kept. Once broken, the child would be difficult to believe with you.

3. Give understanding.
Place the child as a partner who can be consulted. Use language that is simple and easy to understand children. During the discussion, ask what his hopes of children. If you need to make a deal bersama.Misal, "Mom should not work, but on holidays, when Mama specially given to Brother." Thus the child continues to feel loved and appreciated.

4. Teach your child to express feelings in a positive way.
Keterampila Train a child in speech, so in the end the child can express what she feels better. Although children may not understand the feelings, you should still be done. Melati child expresses feelings from an early age will help children to be more assertive later.

5. Encourage children to talk or discussion.
Encourage children to talk when the whining / crying has subsided or are relaxed. Kala talk or discussion, use simple language and easy to understand. Reveal what is your desire. For example, "If Big Brother wants something, to say yes, not by whining. Nah, brother wants what? Come on, talking to Mama. If sister cry, Mama know how."

6. Teach children to resist the urge.
Children should know, not all wishes can be fulfilled. You'd better come clean, why can not fulfill her desire.

7. Pay attention to each child demonstrated good behavior.
Praise when he was not fussy or when he spoke well and express that you are happy. That way kids learned that good behavior endeared people around him. He also knows, to get the attention can be done in a better way, not with a whimper.

8. Ignore the bad behavior of children.
Ignoring a child who was crying / fussing also required. Here children learn, by whining or crying, he would not gain anything. Later when her tears had subsided, only you go and ask for whining. If you are too hebih or rush to pay attention, the child will learn that crying is a way to get prompt attention from people around.

9. Be firm and consistent.
When children want something and you do not allow, then Hold on, even if the child began to cry and whine. Because, once you are no firm or consistent, the child will learn that whining is the way lo get what you want. So, when children behave negatively, never hooked. After a long time the child will learn that his way is not going to work "steal" the attention of parents. For this to be effective should be done by anyone who is in the immediate neighborhood, both caregivers, grandparents and uncle-aunt, and other family members.

10. Divert attention.
When children whine, you could also persuade him to do other activities that attract attention / interest, such as reading a book, looking at the plants in the garden, playing in the yard. Sure, in a way that is proportional to persuade, not excessive.

11. No label.
Label a child with the words "sissy" does not necessarily make children so whiny. On the contrary, often labeled, children become increasingly lazy to change his behavior. He'll think, "What changed so baseball crybaby? I've been labeled a whiny child, too!" So, avoid the label. Better, change the child's behavior in a positive direction.

12. Avoid violence.
Both physical abuse (hitting) and nonphysical (scold, berate) should be avoided, because it is not solve the problem but it adds to the problem. Children are beaten not necessarily be whining subsides, usually even harder. Not a deterrent effect but the lessons learned that can be passed to solve the problem of violence. Remember, kids are great imitator. Whatever is done will be a model for her parents.

Safe Safety Search For Your Kids and More Internet Safety Tips

Using the safe browsing feature above ensures that Google SafeSearch is always "on". There are 3 levels of safe search filtering: Off (no filtering), Moderate (filters images only), and Strict Filtering (filters both text & images).

When conducting searches apart from this site on Google's main page, check your computer settings.

To implement SafeSearch on every computer in your school, simply have all students conduct Google Internet Searches from SafeSearchKids.com

Internet Safety Tips for Kids - Safer Search at Home and at School!

• Implement the use of Google SafeSearch by bookmarking this page here for your kids to use whenever they search online. Using this website ensures that Google SafeSearch is always turned on and always set to the most strict filtering setting.
• If your child is conducting searches on Google's main site at google.com, make sure your search settings are set to "strict filtering" at http://www.google.com/preferences.
• Do not replace parental or teacher supervision of computer use at home or at school with this safe search engine or any other. No search filtering software or tool is perfect.
• A good rule of thumb is to not allow internet use when a child is home alone without proper supervision, even with this Google for Kids search engine.
• Keep your computer in an open area. If your computer is in a home office, make a rule that doors are always left open when online.  Learn about YouTube parental controls.
• It's not a good idea to allow computers or laptops in your kids bedrooms, even while using the free internet filter, unless they are close to the main area of the house such as the kitchen or living room with doors left open.
• Be careful of allowing your kids to search for images online.  Use Googe Safe Image Search for added protection.
• Do not allow internet use after you've gone to bed at night no matter how good your computer security software is or how confident you are in kids search engines.
• Learn how to turn on safe search for times when your children are not using this website to conduct their searches.
• Consider installing a safe browser for kids or a complete security program such as Safe Eyes providing anti-virus protection as well as internet filtering.
• Do not allow file sharing programs to be installed on your computer. Only use safe and secure music download programs from trusted sources on the internet. Learn more about safe music downloading.
• If your child is searching for videos on YouTube, learn how you can activate YouTube parental controls.
• Have an open conversation with your kids about safe browsing and computer use. With freedom comes responsibility.
• Report inappropriate website that appear in our search results to create the safest search engine possible.

Internet Security Software Solutions - Internet Safety for Kids!
This site offers two computer security solutions to assist in kids internet safety on the internet, whether at home or in schools. The goal is ensure internet security for kids as well as computer security on or offline. We understand computer security is a top priority for children and teens alike.

1. The first solution is safe browsing implementing the use of Google SafeSearch for Kids. Simply use the search box above where safe search is always turned on, or click here for our secure safe search page with less graphics. Bookmark google safe search on your child's computer at home or at school.
2. The second way to protect your kids online is family internet filtering. Implment the use of Internet Security Software which blocks mature websites. For something more simple, we recommend KIDO'Z - the safe browser for kids.  KIDO'Z includes pre-loaded safe websites with the ability for parents to add additional favorites.

Goggle safety Education : Safety Device / How To select Gas Detectors / Safety Goggles/ safety

Gas detectors have been around for a long time, starting with that infamous methane sniffing canary, which sadly was a one-shot device, which when subjected to methane, tended to die rather quickly with no audio and visual alarm capabilities other than a slight cheep and a total lack of motion. Fortunately technology has advanced significantly and we find ourselves at this point in time with some very sophisticated electronic equipment. But even the most sophisticated technology is useless if the sensors used are unable to detect the gases present. The three main atmospheric hazards that you test for prior to and throughout a confined space entry are:

Combustibles (Flammables)
Eg: Methane

• Propane
• Gasoline
• Various other site-specific hydrocarbons (specific to your industry)

Oxygen – Deficiency and enrichment

Toxics
Eg: Hydrogen Sulfide

• Carbon Monoxide
• Toxic Hydrocarbons
• Various other site-specific toxics (specific to your industry)

Depending on its sensor configuration, proper gas detection equipment can help identify the hazard
and protect your workers. Selecting a gas detector should be based on the hazard faced. Unfortunately far too many purchasers make one of the largest and most crucial single equipment expenditures without really understanding what they are buying. Sensors and their capabilities are the single most important factor when choosing a gas detector, yet more often than not, decisions are based on size,
price, bells and whistles and other such features that have nothing to do with the instrument’s detecting abilities. Gas detectors come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colours and sensor configurations. For confined space work, it is necessary to monitor for oxygen deficiency/enrichment, combustible gases and toxics. Therefore an instrument capable of dealing with these three hazards is necessary.

SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
Combustible Gas Sensors
a) Catalytic Combustible Gas Sensors.
These sensors look for explosive atmospheres. They detect combustible gases by causing an actual
combustion of gases within the sensor chamber. Catalytic sensors offer good linearity, and can react to most combustible gases. However, as resistance change to %LEL is quite small, they work better in concentrations between 1,000 and 50,000 PPM. They do not measure trace amounts of gas (under 200 PPM) and therefore are of no use in determining toxic levels. The disadvantages are:

• They must have a minimum of 14% oxygen content in the air to work accurately the sensor can be damaged by lead or silicone or other catalytic poisons
• the readings can be affected by humidity and water vapour condensation they respond poorly to low energy hydrocarbons such as oil vapours, kerosene, diesel fuel and commercial
• jet fuels
• they tend to loose their linearity after a year or so
• they are not recommended for use in an acetylene atmosphere

The flame arrestor will prevent ignition of most gases except acetylene outside the sensor. It is extremely important to check the approvals for which type of hazardous locations the detector can function in. Most portable gas detectors today will be certified for service is Class I, Div I, Group ABCD atmospheres.

b) Metallic Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) Combustible Gas Sensor MOS or “Solid State” Combustible Gas Sensors have been around for years. This sensor has a long operation life (3 to 5 years), is very rugged and will recover better from high concentrations of a gas that could damage other types of sensors. There are also disadvantages:

• MOS sensors also require oxygen to work accurately, although not as much as the catalytic
• some sensor’s heating elements have a high demand for power which requires larger battery packs
• the readings can be affected by humidity and water vapour condensation
• the MOS sensor may respond to many VOCs, HFCs and solvents, but is not specific to any single compound.

c) Infra-Red Combustible Sensors
Recently Infra-Red Sensors have begun appearing in some instruments. They work well in low oxygen levels or acetylene atmospheres; however, they are quite expensive. These sensors work by reflecting light off a mirror and measuring the amount of light adsorbed during refraction. Infrared sensors typically require a constant flow across the sensing assembly and may be slow to clear from alarm. They are unable to detect hydrogen. An Infra-Red sensor calibrated for a simple hydrocarbon such as Methane or Ethane will not be accurate for vapour of higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, solvents or fuels.

Toxic Sensors
a) Electrochemical (Wet Chem) Toxic Sensors
These sensors react to a specific chemical (substance). Chemically specific sensors are available for up to 30 different gases including chlorine, ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. The manufacturer’s technical information will indicate what sensors are available for their unit.

4 SENSOR PORTABLE
COMB, H2S, CO, O2
These sensors have very good linearity, which makes them very accurate for the substance they will react to. They can measure either large or small quantities and these sensors have a typical life span  of approximately 1 year for many toxic gases and up to two years for hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide. As with all sensors, Wet Chem sensors have their limitations. The electrolytic fluid can freeze when left in environments having temperatures lower than 0 degrees C. Some chemical sensors may be adversely affected by altitude as they may be pressure sensitive. Abnormal readings are another issue with regards to Wet Chem sensors. Abnormal readings are generally readings that don’t make sense. For instance you are working in a sanitary sewer and your instrument is showing a CO reading of 300 PPM (current TWA in Ontario is 35 PPM) and a low reading (below the TWA of 10 PPM) of hydrogen sulfide. What you likely have is an interference from the hydrogen sulfide. Some electrochemical carbon monoxide sensors are subject to interference from low levels of  hydrogen sulfide. The knowledge that carbon monoxide is not a common occurrence in sanitary sewer applications (whereas hydrogen sulfide is) would lead you to consider that you are probably having an interference problem. In some instances, oxidizers like chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone can cause opposite readings on such toxic sensors such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. Awareness of the hazards in your workplace, some basic understanding of chemistry, knowing what interfering gases adversely affect your unit and strict testing protocols will minimize this problem.


b) Metallic Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) Toxic Broad Range Gas Sensors
There are a number of different MOS sensors on the market and one has been developed for detecting toxic gases. Its make-up and operation is similar to the one used for the detection of combustible gases. However, the MOS broad range toxic sensor is capable of reacting to low PPM levels of wide range of toxic gases including carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, styrene, toluene, gasoline and many other hydrocarbons and solvents. MOS sensors cannot detect carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide. The sensor is incapable of telling you what gas you have encountered or the concentration, only that the atmosphere may be hazardous to your health.

C) Photo Ionization Detectors (PID’s)
Industrial Hygienists, Safety and Environmental professionals and others have used Photo ionization sensor technology for evaluating atmospheric hazards in the workplace since the 1960’s. Life expectancy of these sensors is 1-3 years and costs range between $300 and $1400 for lamp replacement. They are usually too costly to use in a multi-sensor instrument. Oxygen Sensors
Oxygen sensors are the only true chemically-specific sensors. They are similar to the electrochemical (Wet Chem) sensors described previously. They are also susceptible to freezing, are sometimes  affected by altitude and have a nominal operational life of one to two years. Never use an oxygen sensor to detect toxic gases. It is true that a toxic gas will displace the oxygen in a confined space. However, it takes 60,000 PPM of any gas to lower the oxygen from 20.9% (normal) to 19.5% (alarm point). More importantly, 60,000 PPM of any toxic gas will kill you.

DESIGNING A GAS DETECTOR
Let’s build a gas detector for confined space work. To start out it will require a combustible sensor. We previously described the three types of combustible sensors available and their features. However, for confined space work, any of the three technologies will provide adequate protection. Secondly, we need an oxygen sensor to detect both oxygen enrichment and deficiency. There are several manufacturers of oxygen sensors and while they may all look different, they are essentially the same technology and will work well. To complete this instrument we will require a toxic sensor(s). The key to safe confined space gas detection lies in these toxic sensors. There are two main sensor types used in multi-sensor instrmuments electrochemical (Wet Chem) and Broad Range (Solid State MOS).
To select the correct toxic sensor we need to evaluate our confined spaces. If your area of work is an industrial site, where the toxic gases are known or can be controlled, then a chemically specific toxic sensor can be chosen (providing a sensor exists for that gas hazard). Manufacturers produce gas detectors that are capable of supporting one or two of these chemically specific sensors. Some instruments are available with a range of plug-in sensors that can be changed in the field without fuss or calibration. Other instruments must be ordered with the specific toxic sensor(s) you require. However, there is a limit to the sensors available and, if toxic hydrocarbons or solvents are a concern (common to municipal water and waste water systems as well as industrial applications), then the broad range (MOS) type may be your best bet. If you are in an area where the toxics are unknown or cannot be controlled, such as storm and sanitary sewers, pumping stations, waste treatment plants, industrial sites with toxic hydrocarbons and the like, then the broad range (MOS) type is your best solution. Unlike the chemically specific electrochemical sensors, these sensors cannot differentiate one toxic gas from another but they will tell you whether it is safe to enter or it is time to get out. The broad range sensors have their limitations as well and cannot detect any of the dioxides, i.e.:
carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide. It must be noted that a gas detector with a combustible sensor
will not protect you from toxic levels of hydrocarbons. A classic example is gasoline. Gasoline used to have a TWA of 900 PPM. It is now considered a carcinogen. A combustible gas detector, calibrated to methane, will not alarm on gasoline until around 50% of the LEL or 5000 to 7000 PPM. This is well in excess of the old TWA and is certainly an
even bigger problem now that it is rated as a carcinogen. Regardless of its cancer causing issues, this level can cause a worker to be rendered unconscious, potentially causing death through drowning or falling. The only toxic sensors capable of detecting these low levels of hydrocarbons are the broad  range.


SAMPLING METHODS
In confined space testing it is important that the operator know how the sensor comes in contact (operation) with the atmosphere. There are three primary means of exposing the sensor to the  atmospheresample draw, diffusion and a detachable remote diffusion sensor assembly. There are strengths and weakness in all systems. Selection should be based upon need, not availability. Sample Draw The most common form of sampling a confined space is the sample draw method. The  advantage of this method is that any monitoring is performed outside the space. With a sample draw system, a pump moves the sample from the atmosphere and draws it through a hollow tube to the sensor. The pump can either be a “bulb” hand aspirator which requires squeezing or an internal motorized sample pump. Drawing the sample to the detector protects the tester by eliminating the need to enter the space and limits any movement of the door/cover to the space that may create a spark, which could ignite flammable gases that may collect around the entry point. For these reasons, the sample draw method is recommended when conducting your pre-entry test. The primary  disadvantage of this method is sample dilution. The tube leaking or using a tube over 12’ in length may reduce the concentration of some contaminant to the point where the readings presented are inaccurate. Other problems may include leaking pumps, cumbersome sample lines, and in some environments, the sample line may plug due to sludge, dirt or condensate icing. A disadvantage of the manual sample draw methods is the effort involved moving the air sample along the tube to the sensor. A general rule of thumb is that it takes 3 pump strokes to move the sample 1 foot. If your line is 12’, it will take 36 pump strokes to get the sample to the sensor, then the sampling must continue for up to 3 minutes to ensure a proper undiluted sample. If you are using a bulb hand aspirator strong
wrists are both a requirement and the end result of a lot of entries.


Sensor Operation

5 SENSOR PORTABLE
O2, COMB, H2S, CO, MOS TOXIC
Most gas detector sensors operate by diffusion. Diffusion works by air being absorbed into the sensor
cell. Electronic gas detectors rely heavily on diffusion sampling. The atmosphere must be brought to the gas sensors by the aforementioned sample draw (aspiration) or by lowering the gas detector into atmosphere. Some manufacturers offer a detachable remote sensor assembly as a means of remote sampling. Advantages of this technology include the lack of pumps and moving parts, much faster response time than aspiration and wires can carry the information with no potential of diluted readings. The sample method is still diffusion but the sensors are lowered into the atmosphere to be tested. Once the atmosphere has been tested by aspiration and/or remote sensors, the gas detector can be worn by the worker for the duration. Because each sampling method has its own strengths and weaknesses, all techniques are used to monitor the atmosphere. The sample draw is used for the pre-entry test that occurs just inside the space at the doorway. (suggestion: use a 6’ or shorter tube). Diffusion sampling occurs at all other times. Regardless of sampling techniques, spaces two to three meters deep should be tested top and bottom before entering. Spaces four to five meters deep should be tested top, middle and bottom before entering. Calibration/Bump Test All portable gas detectors should be calibrated according to the manufacturers recommendations. Not calibrating or bump testing a gas detector on a regular basis is an invitation to disaster. Sensors and/or electronics can, and do fail and it is only prudent to check your instrument on a regular basis.
a) Bump Test
A bump or field test is the application of a known gas concentration in excess of the calibrated alarm
point of the instrument. When this gas is applied to the gas detector it should trip the alarm point ensuring that the instrument is functioning correctly. If it does not then it indicates that a re-calibration is necessary. Multiple gas mixtures are available that allow you to do a simultaneous Bump test with one canister of gas. It is a good policy to bump test at least once a week.
b) Calibration
Calibration should be performed as per the manufacturers recommendations. Calibration is done with
a known gas concentration that can be at the exact alarm point or at a higher concentration where the set point can be adjusted. This varies between manufacturers. If you are Bump/Field testing on a regular basis you can wait until that tests indicates a re-calibration is required. If Bump/Field test are not performed then the unit should be re-calibrated on a regular basis. Manufacturer’s recommendations vary from daily to never. Daily may not be practical and never, while time saving can be an invitation to disaster. Somewhere in between is the answer. Every three to six months is common.

DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS
The third component to consider in gas detector selection is design characteristics. Many gas detectors are sold solely upon these characteristics. The reason for this is that many gas detector manufacturers do not make their own sensors. They design and make the electronic box of the gas detector. The following characteristics should be considered after selecting the appropriate sensors:

• Construction
• Electronics
• Approvals
• Ease of use

a) Construction
Monitoring devices must be very rugged and easily carried by the workers. Even with training and the best intentions of the workers, field use does abuse the units. Drops, jolts, exposure to the elements, misuse, etc., all can shorten the life of the instrument. The case and its components must be constructed to withstand rough handling. The unit’s alarm systems, which should be both audio and visual, must be loud enough to be heard in your environment by either the attendant outside the space or the entrant(s) inside. In a perfect world, both attendant and entrant would hear the alarm. Some manufacturers have remote alarms that could enable both the attendant and entrant to simultaneously hear the alarm. The option is only worth the money spent if the remote wiring is long enough for all your spaces. Batteries are another consideration. Batteries can be either disposable or rechargeable but either type should supply enough power to last 10 to 12 hours. If the batteries cannot last the entire work period, a back up or stand by power source must be present. Batteries have all sorts of limitations. Many units have no way to determine the charge in them; cold and age decrease battery life; lead acid batteries can leak and damage your electronics; NiCad (rechargeable batteries) can develop memories and so on. Battery maintenance costs and efforts should be evaluated very carefully to ensure your system will work when required. The new nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries appear to have cut down the memory problems found in the older NiCad rechargeable  batteries. For confined space work, gas detectors need to be portable (hand held). If the unit is  designed to be worn by the worker, it should rest on their belt, not weigh it down. In many tight spots, the worker should not wear the device as it may create a catch point. It may be advisable to have the ability to hang up the unit inside the space. Switches, buttons and knobs should be positioned or designed so that they cannot be knocked out of position, but one can still operate them with gloves on. The unit should be tamper resistant and default to an alarm mode in the event of battery or sensor failure. Gauges and/or displays should be large and easily read and understood. This means you must be able to not only see the displayed data, but also understand it. In confined spaces there are all types of lighting. Does the information show in all lighting situations? And finally, do the abbreviations make sense or do you need an explanation card on the detector? If the information cannot be understood, it may not be performing the job that it is intended to do.

b) Electronics
Information provided must be reliable and useful as life and death decisions can be made based on the data provided. The electronics’ response time, accuracy, precision, radio frequency (RF) interference, reading drift and sensitivity are all factors that can differentiate a poor purchase from a good investment.

c) Approvals*
Once a manufacturer has developed an instrument for use in a hazardous atmosphere, it should be approved by an independent laboratory for intrinsic safety. Ie: UL, FM, CSA, TUV, MET etc. Federal OSHA in the USA identifies such approval laboratories as “NRTL” (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories) and lists four pages of them on its website.

d) Ease of Use
One of the most important considerations after sensor evaluation and selection is the ease of use of the instrument. Is it simple to operate? Is it simple to understand? Are the buttons/switches easy to use with gloves on? Do you have to use switches or buttons to get alarm information? Will it alarm when battery/sensors fail? Most importantly, is it one switch operation?

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
RF Protection
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) protection is the unit’s ability to protect the readings from interference caused by radio waves, pulsed power lines, transformers, and generators. RF protection is expressed in immunity to x watts of radio transmission at a specific distance. A prudent consumer should test a gas detector in and around cell phones, radios and walkie talkies before purchasing, especially if the gas detector is packaged in anything other than metal.

Response Time
4 SENSOR PORTABLE
COMB, O2 AND ANY 2 OF 13
FIELD INTERCHANGEABLE
TOXIC SENSORS

This is the time period between obtaining data from the sensors and displaying it. This time period
depends on what information is collected, the sensor response, how the unit of measurement being used (e.g. % LEL or PPM). Response time can range from several seconds for catalytic elements to minutes for some toxic sensors. Accuracy and Precision Accuracy is the relationship between the readout and the true concentration. This relationship is indicated by an error factor (indicated by “+/-“,e.g. +/- 0.5%). The lower the number, the greater the instrument’s accuracy. Precision is the number of times the accuracy would be right in any given number of tests (correct 19 times out of 20). In this case the higher the number, the greater the precision.


Sensitivity
This is the unit’s ability to accurately measure changes in concentrations. The hazards presented by
the substance being measured would determine the need for sensitivity. For instance, at present in Ontario, chlorine has a time weighted average exposure value of 1 PPM and if is IDLH at 10 PPM; therefore, any change must be noted at once. On the other hand, carbon dioxide’s TWAEV is 5000 PPM, and is IDLH at 40,000 PPM; therefore the sensitivity need not be that great.
Selectivity/Specificity This is the ability of the sensor/circuitry to respond to the desired target gas to the exclusion of other interfering gas species.


Reading Drifts
This is the movement in the instrument’s electronic readout when the atmospheric value remains the
same. Moving the instrument from one angle to another, shaking it, ambient vibrations or no apparent reason may cause the readout to change. Poor electronic circuit board design and/or age of the machine or the sensor will cause the readings to drift. Sensor or component aging causing this problem is acceptable and can be compensated for as part of the unit’s ongoing maintenance program; however, poor construction is not acceptable. Poor construction cannot be repaired and creates mistrust of the unit with those who work with it. If they do not trust the readings, they will not use it and a tragedy could easily occur. Your best protection is to contact current users of the instrument and ask about their experiences. Well we have now arrived at close to 4100 words on selecting a gas detector. If you are still awake, congratulations, because to get to this point you must have some interest in this topic not to have been bored to death. In closing I would like you to please keep in mind that portable gas detectors are available from a variety of manufacturers. They range from single electrochemical sensor instruments to very precise multiple sensor units. Do not be swayed by sophisticated technology and fancy packaging. Choose a device that meets your needs (both short term and for the next 3 to 5 years if possible). Look at all the variables from sensors to design, but always keep sensors as your number one criteria. Your employees also have to be considered in the equation. If not, a perfectly good gas detector will collect dust because they feel the damn thing isn’t any good! A well thought out purchase can save lives and prevent injuries

Intelegent Copilot For Car : Semiautonomous system takes the wheel to keep drivers safe

Barrels and cones dot an open field in Saline, Mich., forming an obstacle course for a modified vehicle. A driver remotely steers the vehicle through the course from a nearby location as a researcher looks on. Occasionally, the researcher instructs the driver to keep the wheel straight — a trajectory that appears to put the vehicle on a collision course with a barrel. Despite the driver’s actions, the vehicle steers itself around the obstacle, transitioning control back to the driver once the danger has passed.

The key to the maneuver is a new semiautonomous safety system developed by Sterling Anderson, a PhD student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Karl Iagnemma, a principal research scientist in MIT’s Robotic Mobility Group.

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The system uses an onboard camera and laser rangefinder to identify hazards in a vehicle’s environment. The team devised an algorithm to analyze the data and identify safe zones — avoiding, for example, barrels in a field, or other cars on a roadway. The system allows a driver to control the vehicle, only taking the wheel when the driver is about to exit a safe zone.

Anderson, who has been testing the system in Michigan since last September, describes it as an “intelligent co-pilot” that monitors a driver’s performance and makes behind-the-scenes adjustments to keep the vehicle from colliding with obstacles, or within a safe region of the environment, such as a lane or open area.

“The real innovation is enabling the car to share [control] with you,” Anderson says. “If you want to drive, it’ll just … make sure you don’t hit anything.”

The group presented details of the safety system recently at the Intelligent Vehicles Symposium in Spain.

Off the beaten path

Robotics research has focused in recent years on developing systems — from cars to medical equipment to industrial machinery — that can be controlled by either robots or humans. For the most part, such systems operate along preprogrammed paths.

As an example, Anderson points to the technology behind self-parking cars. To parallel park, a driver engages the technology by flipping a switch and taking his hands off the wheel. The car then parks itself, following a preplanned path based on the distance between neighboring cars.

While a planned path may work well in a parking situation, Anderson says when it comes to driving, one or even multiple paths is far too limiting.

“The problem is, humans don’t think that way,” Anderson says. “When you and I drive, [we don’t] choose just one path and obsessively follow it. Typically you and I see a lane or a parking lot, and we say, ‘Here is the field of safe travel, here’s the entire region of the roadway I can use, and I’m not going to worry about remaining on a specific line, as long as I’m safely on the roadway and I avoid collisions.’”

Anderson and Iagnemma integrated this human perspective into their robotic system. The team came up with an approach to identify safe zones, or “homotopies,” rather than specific paths of travel. Instead of mapping out individual paths along a roadway, the researchers divided a vehicle’s environment into triangles, with certain triangle edges representing an obstacle or a lane’s boundary.

The researchers devised an algorithm that “constrains” obstacle-abutting edges, allowing a driver to navigate across any triangle edge except those that are constrained. If a driver is in danger of crossing a constrained edge — for instance, if he’s fallen asleep at the wheel and is about to run into a barrier or obstacle — the system takes over, steering the car back into the safe zone.

Building trust

So far, the team has run more than 1,200 trials of the system, with few collisions; most of these occurred when glitches in the vehicle’s camera failed to identify an obstacle. For the most part, the system has successfully helped drivers avoid collisions.

Benjamin Saltsman, manager of intelligent truck vehicle technology and innovation at Eaton Corp., says the system has several advantages over fully autonomous variants such as the self-driving cars developed by Google and Ford. Such systems, he says, are loaded with expensive sensors, and require vast amounts of computation to plan out safe routes.

"The implications of [Anderson's] system is it makes it lighter in terms of sensors and computational requirements than what a fully autonomous vehicle would require," says Saltsman, who was not involved in the research. "This simplification makes it a lot less costly, and closer in terms of potential implementation."

In experiments, Anderson has also observed an interesting human response: Those who trust the system tend to perform better than those who don’t. For instance, when asked to hold the wheel straight, even in the face of a possible collision, drivers who trusted the system drove through the course more quickly and confidently than those who were wary of the system.

And what would the system feel like for someone who is unaware that it’s activated? “You would likely just think you’re a talented driver,” Anderson says. “You’d say, ‘Hey, I pulled this off,’ and you wouldn’t know that the car is changing things behind the scenes to make sure the vehicle remains safe, even if your inputs are not.”

He acknowledges that this isn’t necessarily a good thing, particularly for people just learning to drive; beginners may end up thinking they are better drivers than they actually are. Without negative feedback, these drivers can actually become less skilled and more dependent on assistance over time. On the other hand, Anderson says expert drivers may feel hemmed in by the safety system. He and Iagnemma are now exploring ways to tailor the system to various levels of driving experience.

The team is also hoping to pare down the system to identify obstacles using a single cellphone. “You could stick your cellphone on the dashboard, and it would use the camera, accelerometers and gyro to provide the feedback needed by the system,” Anderson says. “I think we’ll find better ways of doing it that will be simpler, cheaper and allow more users access to the technology.”

This research was supported by the United States Army Research Office and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The experimental platform was developed in collaboration with Quantum Signal LLC with assistance from James Walker, Steven Peters and Sisir Karumanchi.

Source : Jennifer, MIT News Office

Safety First : New Safety Technology

Volvo has been well renowned over the years for the safety of its vehicles and its development and research into its technologies. They were the innovators behind the three point seatbelt which they introduced in 1959, which is now standard across the vast majority of vehicles on the planet.

A more recent development from the Swedish car maker has been in the development of pedestrian airbags. The new Volvo V40 features seven sensors that when activated deploy airbags across the windshield to prevent a struck pedestrian from suffering head trauma.

Volvo are now taking it upon themselves to continue the innovation in areas such as autonomous driving support, intersection support and animal detection. Their aim is to eliminate deaths or serious injuries in Volvo cars by 2020.

Volvo’s autonomous driving support system will be able react in the event of an emergency and automatically adjust the car’s engine, brakes and steering. The system is designed to avoid collisions before they occur and to also help keep the car in the correct lane should the worst happen.

Intersection support will also use an array of vehicle sensors that are able to read the current road and traffic conditions. The system will apply the brakes if it deems that a collision at a junction or intersection is about to happen.

Volvo’s animal detection system is another technology Volvo will be looking to introduce into its fleet. In Sweden, accidents with animals typically occur at cruising speeds of 60mph, with impact speed being the determining factor in the damage and injuries sustained. The system will be able to detect animals from a distance of up to 30 metres away and apply the brakes automatically. Volvo hope that the system will be able to wipe off enough speed to help ensure that a collision does not incur any serious injuries.

With the current “compensation culture” in the UK, any technology that helps lifts the burden on insurers and motorists alike will be a welcome. Claims for Car accident compensation has resulted in premiums soaring the UK.

Computerize Identification For Oil and Gas Processing Plant

Current Bottlenecks of Oil and Gas Processing Companies

   For oil and gas companies, maintaining an operational integrity of the equipment and systems depends on the quality of monitoring, inspection and maintenance of the equipment (among others). But to date, efficiency of monitoring efforts is questionable as it requires considerable financial and human resources.

   Usually, during monitoring and inspection rounds the specialists first write down the monitored and measured parameters on the paper. Then, back at the workdesk, they again rewrite the collected information to the operational logs, or key it into the computer (usually in Excel table, less often into the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) programs.

   Such a “traditional” data collection procedure implies high degree of human error – there is no guarantee that the reporting specialist really completed the inspection and correctly noted the data. This means that reliability and accuracy of the received information, and, consequently, the operation of the facility, could be questioned.

   During the scheduled search for the best location for each facility according to given information, the personnel is forced to continually go back and forth, from the archive to the computer to check the database, as no-one can possibly keep the information about all monitored equipment in the head. Time wasted on moving and search for the necessary data takes at least 20 percent of the employees’ time (according to foreign estimates). That is, non-production costs are about six resource days per month or 70 resource days annually – this is a large figure, and the one that should attract attention of the management engaged in efficiency enhancement routines.

   This means that practically any facility of oil and gas processing industry is facing the tasks of reducing the impact of human factor on the quality of monitoring and maintenance, and improving the operating efficiency of personnel.

Boosting the performance gains

   Significant reduction of the resources used to maintain the normal functionality of equipment and engineering systems could be achieved by improving the following processes:
Timely information to staff and management on the status of equipment, any critical situations and, consequently, prevention of accidents, malfunctions and their prompt removal as required.
Monitoring operators’ activities by reducing the possibility of the following risks:
–    information loss (for example, loss of paper scratch-pad or the lack of a uniform standard for recording the monitored and measured parameters);
–    poor quality of work (i.e., careless writing in the scratch-pad);
–    failure to perform the routine maintenance (due to lack of formal means of maintenance monitoring).
Easy access to operational information and documentation.

The modern answer: computerized Identification and Information Mobility

   NEOLANT promptly responded to these market needs, unrolling its flagship information system based on the technology of automated identification and standing on the “three pillars”: 
barcode or radio frequency tagging of the monitored objects;
portable data terminals for the automated tag recognition, obtaining and entering real-time the information on the monitored equipment and subsequent information transfer to specialized information systems;
software for consolidating and processing the data, including data visualization tools (e.g., 3D models and geographic information systems).
The system provides ultimate control over the actions of operating personnel, the constant accumulation of relevant information about the equipment status, real-time expert access to all operational data independently of location.

Barcodes or RFID?

   Let’s consider the functioning of automated identification technology in detail.
Barcode tags (Fig. 1) are graphically encoded IDs of equipment. Special production and application method leads to the following results:
elimination of duplication;
virtually unlimited shelf life;
can be applied to almost any surface;
tags remain intact in the harshest operating environments.
In the application of radio frequency identification (RFID) data stored in the so-called RFID-tags are read and written by radio signals. This technology can do more complex tasks than barcoding; RFID-tags are more resistant to mechanical stress and pollution, and can be picked off by a scanner from a larger distance. Tags come in various forms: some contain only information stored by the manufacturer, others allow the customer to re-write data. However, the RFID system can be affected by electromagnetic fields.
The choice between the barcoding and RFID depends on the operating conditions at the customer’s plant - either technology has plus and minus points, and they complement each other well.
To read barcodes and RFID tags, portable data terminals (Fig. 2) are used. The device, a combination of handheld computer and scanner, guarantees the identification of the units, allows entering the current values of monitored parameters and storage of large amounts of information. The data terminals are equipped with touch screen, run NEOLANT-provided OS and have significant battery life (8-10 hours).

How Does the System Operate?

   Routine rounds, inspections, planned maintenance of equipment with automated identification (Fig. 3) can be divided into several stages:
Before starting the inspection the specialist identifies himself in the data terminal by user name and password. Without this procedure, the terminal will be unable to scan the bar codes, and hence data entry would be impossible. 
The terminal remembers the date and time of inspection.
The expert reads and decrypts the bar code tags with the terminal, which defines the class of a unit or component and identifies the specific tag.
After that the terminal offers to enter the current values of monitored equipment parameters, stores the values and provides access to expert information on past changes.
After the round the employee puts the terminal back in docking station attached to a PC. With the help of NEOLANT specialized software the data gets automatically transferred into the information system for analysis and processing. 
Further information can be printed or presented in any format: graphically, on technologic charts, in tables, reports, on the electronic map (GIS system) or on 3D model of the company, created by NEOLANT team.
Modern tag manufacturing technologies labels guarantee certain properties – i.e., the tags are impossible to remove or change without breaking. To scan the barcode, the employee must be near the monitored unit, and data entry option is available only after scanning is complete. This excludes the possibility of fake reports records and guarantees completion of routine maintenance rounds. Also, employee identification in the system and stored date and time of the inspection round ensure personal responsibility of operating personnel.

Information at Your Fingertips

   Another key advantage of automated identification technology is that mobile terminals significantly reduce time while adding up to the comfort of a planned maintenance. They allow storage and retrieval of information about the current state of company’s units, also giving the history of changes for monitored parameters and other data required by operators, up to route maps, guides and unit images.
All operating data and documentation collected in one device and available for reading at any location within the company on both HQ locations and in the field using secure Internet communication links. This means that personnel of operating units and services belongs to a single information space, to receives real-time information, updates it during the inspections, planned maintenance work, and does not waste time on unneeded movements within the company.

Monitoring Implies Visual Control

   A single information space created in NEOLANT system is supplemented by data visualization software - geographic information systems (GIS) and informational 3D models. The latter represent a 3D models of company facilities linked to relevant operational information and documentation; such models provide visual expert access to the data (by selecting objects on a 3D model). Visualization also helps business leaders to perceive information conveniently and clearly, for real-time troubleshooting and for reducing the risks associated with the human factor. 
3D model can reflect in a variety of data required by the manager or a technologist for the analysis of energy facilities and systems, such as:
the system uses color coding to indicate non-performance of a routine maintenance by the operating personnel, etc.;
the system visualizes the state of the facility, using color coding for highlighting segments of the model (Fig. 4), etc.
Usage of GIS systems to display information is advisable if the manager needs a comprehensive understanding of the status of equipment on large territories, or in geographical context.

The Problem Solved

   Automated identification technology helps to: 
prevent accidents and failures while ensuring timely repairs due to visualization of objects’ state in the information system and emergency alarm;
avoid loss of information due to data collection in electronic form directly at the location;
monitor the implementation of routine maintenance – tags are impossible to remove or change without breaking; also, there is visual alarm encoded into the 3D models;
ensure the quality of work through personal responsibility of each employee for their work of action and instant data transfer to the mangers via the 3D model;
provide convenient access to operational information through organization of operational data acquisition anywhere within the enterprise via mobile gadgets, organization and storage of operational data electronically in a single information system, and rendering with the use of 3D models or GIS systems.
NEOLANT proposes a complete cycle of works on creation of an automated identification system, from development of technical specifications, and to determine the optimal tag technology, customization, implementation, personnel training, tagging, equipment supply, creating 3D models, GIS networks, etc. Because each enterprise is unique, the company’s specialists develop, implement and adapt their solutions based on the specific situation.
Using the technology of automated identification, NEOLANT customers get a solution to the complex challenges they face – reducing the impact of human factor on the quality of monitoring and maintenance within the enterprises while improving the operating efficiency of personnel.

Work Place Heat Hazard

Hot environments in a wide range of industries present serious hazards to employee safety and health.  Heat stress, the combination of  heat, humidity and physical labor, can lead to serious illness and even death.

Long exposure to extreme heat or too much activity under a hot sun causes excessive perspiration, which can lead to heat exhaustion.  Symptoms include headache and a feeling of weakness and dizziness accompanied by nausea and vomiting, there may also be cramps.

In heat exhaustion there is excessive perspiration.  By contrast, in heat stroke, there is an absence of perspiration; an extremely high body temperature; hot, dry skin; confusion; and loss of consciousness and/or convulsions.  An extremely high body temperature can cause death.

Treatment for heat exhaustion includes:

• Move the person to a cool environment (i.e. a well-ventilated or shaded area).
• Remove or loosen their clothing.
• Increase the consumption of fluids.  (Do not force an unconscious person to drink.)

For heat stroke or if the person is unconscious:

• Reduce the body’s temperature as rapidly as possible via a cool water or sponge bath; fan the body surface.
• Contact a physician immediately.

Case Study:  Restaurant Industry

In July of 2006, MIOSHA received an employee complaint regarding heat stress in a restaurant.  The complaint alleged that employees were working in 95-degree temperatures, they felt dehydrated, the temperature may have affected an employee’s breathing, an employee was sent to the emergency room for heat exhaustion, and the conditions were unworkable.

Investigation Background

While there are no MIOSHA regulations requiring temperatures to be kept under a certain degree, Section 11(a) of Act 154 (the General Duty Clause) requires the employer to furnish to each employee, employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to the employee.

Work operations involving high air temperatures, radiant heat sources, high humidity, and strenuous physical work activities have a high potential for inducing heat stress in employees engaged in such operations.  The work operations identified in this investigation involved employees cooking at a grill in the kitchen, chefs cooking in the dining room, and workers dishwashing in the kitchen of a restaurant.  Employees had developed and experienced heat-induced disorders such as heat exhaustion, fainting and heat fatigue, for approximately two weeks prior to the investigation.

Investigation Measurements

During the investigation wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) measurements were obtained.  WBGT offers a useful, first-order index of the environmental contribution to heat stress; it is influenced by air temperature, radiant heat and humidity, but does not account for all the interactions between an employee and the environment.

During the investigation the WBGT measurements indicated employees were exposed to readings ranging from 77.9 to 96.3 °F on July 28, 2006, and from 82.4 to 93.2 °F on August 2, 2006.  It was noted there were outdoor record high temperature of 96 °F on

July 31, 2006, and 97 °F on August 1, 2006.

Heat Stress Violations

The investigation of employee exposure to heat stress in this workplace resulted in a citation of the General Duty Clause being issued, based on known industry standards.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH^®) provides general controls to deal with heat stress from air temperature, as well as the interactions between employees and the environment.  The interactions below were investigated during the inspection.

Heat reduction – During the investigation it was noted that employees were exposed to radiant heat during the cooking process and were exposed to steam while dishwashing.  The employer had not provided shielding, the ventilation above the dishwasher designed for removal of steam was not functioning, and cooling garments and portable air chillers were not utilized.

An employer should shield employees from radiant heat sources, and reduce process heat and water-vapor release.  Cooling garments (vests, bandanas) can be worn to reduce the heat exposure to employees and portable air chillers can be used. 

Ventilation – During the investigation it was noted that air conditioning was provided in the dining room and office areas, but there was no air conditioning supplied to the kitchen area for cooking and dishwashing.  It was also noted that the air conditioning in the dining room was not functioning at the time of the inspection.  Circulating fans were used in the kitchen areas; however, it was not effective since air that exceeds 95 °F can increase the heat load on the body.

An employer should provide general air movement through use of supply and exhaust ventilation.

Administrative controls – During the investigation it was noted that breaks were not taken by employees according to the ACGIH^®recommendations for frequency found in Table 2 of the Heat Stress section of the Threshold Limit Values (TLV)booklet.  Employees were not allowed sufficient recovery time for heat exposure.  Breaks that were taken by dishwashers and dining room chefs were taken outdoors in a hot environment, not in a cool area.

An employer should set acceptable exposure times to heat, should allow sufficient recovery for employees exposed to heat, and should limit physiological strain by reducing heavy activity.  As metabolic rate increases from work demand, an employee’s exposure to heat stress can result in an excessive heart rate and elevated body core temperature by not allowing for proper recovery from heat exposure for the body.

Training – During the investigation it was noted that employees were not trained on the signs of symptoms of heat stress and were not permitted to practice self limitation to exposure.

Employers should train employees and supervisors by providing accurate verbal and written instructions about heat stress, including self-determination of exposures.  Employees should be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat stress and should be encouraged to detect these signs in themselves and in coworkers.  Employees should also be permitted to practice self limitation of heat exposure based on these signs.

Heat stress hygiene practices – During the investigation it was noted that most employees did drink water, but were not monitored or encouraged to drink cool water every 20 minutes.  Additionally, aside from the clothing worn by dishwashers, employees were required to wear uniforms that through fabric and style (high collars, neckties, and chef’s hats) limited evaporation.

Employers should encourage fluid replacement and the use of proper clothing.  Employees should drink small volumes (approximately 1 cup) of cool liquid every 20 minutes.  Free movement of cool, dry air over the skin’s surface maximizes heat removal through evaporation of sweat from the skin; water-vapor-impermeable or thermally insulated clothing restricts heat removal.

Medical surveillance – The investigation revealed the employer did not screen employees to identify those employees more susceptible to heat.

Employers should allow pre-placement screening to identify those employees susceptible to systemic heat injury.  Employees who take medications that may compromise normal cardiovascular, blood pressure, body temperature regulation, renal or sweat gland functions; and those employees who abuse alcohol, may have an increased susceptibility to heat stress.  Employers can also encourage healthy life styles and ideal body weight.

Acclimatization – During the investigation it was noted the employees were acclimated to the heat exposure.

Acclimatization is a gradual physiological adaptation that improves an individual’s ability to tolerate heat stress.  Full-heat acclimatization requires up to three weeks of continued physical activity under heat-stress conditions similar to those anticipated for the work, with a loss occurring after four days.  Employers can develop a plan to expose employees to heat at gradually increasing rate over a five-day period. 

Company Abatement

The employer submitted the information below as actions taken to address the issue:

• Air conditioning equipment in restaurant was repaired.
• Cooling vests and cooling bandanas were purchased for employees.
• Temperature monitoring control devices were purchased and place in the kitchen and dining room.
• A temperature monitoring and tracking procedure was implemented.
• Management attended a MIOSHA safety in the workplace seminar.
• Signs were posted educating the staff about heat stress and how to recognize the symptoms in themselves and others.
• Employees were given access to cool beverages.
• Major renovations of the building which would include replacing HVAC equipment were planned.

CET Division Services

If you have any questions on heat stress, or need a workplace evaluation, please call the MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division at 517.322.1809. 

Additional information and handouts can be obtained from www.michigan.gov/miosha;  www.osha.gov; and www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress.