Month: June 2022

Forklift collision avoidance systems are an essential part of enhancing workplace safety by alerting forklift drivers and other workers to the presence of vehicles, personnel and obstacles.

Utilising electromagnetics, RFID, GPS or bi-directional radar (or in the case of PBE’s system, all four), facilities can configure these tracking methods to recognise different groups, such as vehicle types, personnel, or obstacles. Proximity detection systems are not a “one size fits all” solution, so Carroll Technologies works with its customers to customize a warning system that is ideally suited for the application, from mines and tunnels to forklift facilities of all sizes.

Forklift collision avoidance systems

Carroll Technologies was approached by Ford Motor Company for help with a collision avoidance and proximity detection system to improve safety within their warehouses. Many of their facilities have lot of forklifts that operate in close proximity to one another, posing risk not only to the equipment but also to employees who are working around the vehicles.

According to Carroll Technologies president Allen Haywood: “Facilities that just have one forklift want to make sure that they don’t collide with certain low hanging obstacles and avoid danger areas, it’s never just about collision avoidance with other forklifts, but also avoidance of personnel.

“For Ford Motor Company with needed customizations such as more tags, so they’ll be notified if they get close to people, objects, other forklift, pickup trucks, or heavier pieces of equipment. This is the same technology that they use for collision avoidance for haul trucks, pickup trucks and loaders for big operations that can be used inside buildings for a handling facility, whether it’s one forklift or 50.

“Systems can be customized for a lot of different types of operations and programmed to set the parameters that they need. We can also incorporate remote opening gates and doors, as well as recordings of travel so that they can look back through history via mobile or desktop software. It can record everything that has been travelling, what speeds have been travelling at, and any near misses.”

Read more

Collision avoidance systems for cranes
Collision Prevention Systems in Industrial Applications
Commercial vehicle collision avoidance systems
How does a collision avoidance system work in mining operations?
Proximity Warning Systems & Proximity Detection Devices for Mines

The energy industry operates in many challenging and remote environments, and any disruptions or downtime is costly. Effective communication solutions for the energy industry are key to ensuring that operations run smoothly and that any problems are corrected quickly should they arise.

Adverse environments make it difficult to develop reliable communication solutions, and those working in the energy industry need a system that they can depend on to facilitate collaboration and report any problems.

 

Reliable communication solutions for the energy industry

Carroll Technologies is dedicated to finding the most reliable and effective communication solutions on the market. With PBE Group, customers can be sure to have clear and undistorted communication.

PBE Group has extensive experience providing customized communication solutions to energy, construction, mining and tunneling industries. PBE’s team is focused on building long-term relationships with its customers to provide perfect execution and delivery of its safety and communication solutions. From handheld radios to fixed phones, and from man-down features to bullhorn speakers, PBE can supply communication solutions perfectly calibrated for any energy industry application.

PBE’s 112S/S Standard GEN II Model 112 page phone features sounder strobe for increased audible and visual alerts in noisy working areas, whereas the model 111 Page Boss is fitted with a bullhorn speaker, 110 or 220 VAC power supply and 12VDC output. The model 140 Page Boss features a touch tone keypad that can make calls through Model 139 or operate as a standard 12 VDC paging phone

PBE also supplies and installs leaky feeder cable. Any leaky feeder system can be customized for specific site requirements to ensure the best radio coverage and data communications.

Ensuring safety and productivity for its customers is key, so PBE is ISO-certified and ATEX-approved. For more information about PBE products, or to find out what communication solutions are best suited for your site, call Carroll on 606-573-1000 or send an inquiry here.

 

 

During the manufacturing and maintenance of equipment, it is not uncommon for workers in power plants to be required to enter confined spaces. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a confined space is defined as not being designed for continuous occupancy by the employee and having a limited or restricted means of entry or exit.

Examples of confined spaces in the energy industry include pressure vessels, pipelines, silos, boilers, and turbines.

 

Power plant safety: confined space policy

Whether dealing with windfarm turbines or offshore platforms, the hazards of confined spaces often overlap, however some confined spaces have recognized specific hazards. Safety policies and the equipment provided to workers must be adjusted to take these unique hazards into account, such as respiratory PPE for low oxygen environments or areas where there is a risk of hazardous gases.

Low-hazard confined spaces are known as non-permitted space. Whilst workers may not require special protective equipment, they will need to complete a written safety checklist before they begin work and may also be required to remain in contact with other personnel. Suitable signage for entry and exit, as well as warning signs for confined spaces, may also be applicable.

A permit-required space contains at least one atmospheric hazard. This may include material that has the potential to engulf an entrant, internal configuration such that a worker could become trapped or asphyxiated, sloping floors to a smaller cross-section, or any other hazards such as exposure to chemicals or hazardous gases.

 

Written permit space programs

Workers must be supplied with a permit space program that details the steps that need to be taken when entering a confined space at a power plant or wind farm.

Elements of these permit space programs include documentation of permit entry procedures, designation of employees that have active roles, training procedures, how to identify and mitigate hazards, processes for use and maintenance of equipment, and rescue procedures.

 

Safety equipment for confined spaces in power plants

Carroll Technologies provides a wide range of customizable safety signage from Nation Marker Company (NMC) in an array of materials, from rigid plastic to aluminium, and in a range of colours.

For permit-required spaces with low oxygen or hazardous gases, Carroll supplies a range of respiratory PPE. This includes the MSA Altair 4X and 5X multi-gas detectors for continuous monitoring of combustible or toxic gases, which also feature motion detection to alert others if the user has become immobile. Carroll also supplies the Ocenco’s M-20, the world’s smallest SCSR that uses compressed oxygen to provide respiratory protection for up to 32 minutes.

For remaining in contact while in confined spaces, Carroll Technologies provides an extensive range of two-way radio systems that provide complete communications coverage. Models include the 111 Page Boss, fitted with a bullhorn speaker, and Model 112 page phone, which features a sounder strobe for increased audible and visual alerts in noisy working areas.

GlobalData insights state that renewable energy held a 19% share of the US’s total power capacity in 2020, and this is expected to increase to 48.4% by 2030. This means that over the next decade, more money is expected to be invested in constructing and maintaining these energy, power and utilities industries, including wind and solar farms.

Workers in these industries will face several of the same safety hazards than other industrial sectors, including the risk of falls and slips. For Carroll Technologies, providing workers with the best fall protection equipment is a key priority.

Wind turbine fall protection

OSHA fall protection standards require that any personnel working on a surface more than 6ft high with an unprotected edge must have fall protection equipment.

For offshore wind farms, good practice guidelines from the G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation state that sites need to have collective protection (such as fixed guardrails), and personal protection (such as fall prevention or restraint systems).

Both onshore and offshore wind farms will require guard rails, safety nets, and personal fall protection equipment (such as lanyards and harnesses) to keep workers safe when they are required to climb turbines.

Fall protection for solar installers

Solar installation and solar panel maintenance will typically take place on roofs, so it is essential that workers are kept safe. Workers installing solar panels above a height of 6ft will require fall protection equipment such as lanyards and harnesses, as well as adequate safety anchors.

Alternative energy companies and fall protection

Carroll Technologies has searched and tested the market to find the best fall protection equipment for energy, power and utilities industries.

Carroll supplies rugged, energy-absorbing lanyards that keep fall arrest forces below 6 kN. MSA’s restraint lanyards are designed to be placed between the anchor point and the harness, which prevents workers from dropping into the fall area.

Honeywell’s Miller brand provides a high-quality range of full protection solutions, including its harness and fall limiters. The Miller AirCore harnesses are lightweight and made from corrosion-resistant aluminium and breathable open-core padding to allow for optimal airflow, as well as reduced heat and moisture entrapment.

Fall protection equipment available through Carroll Technologies includes:

• MSA retractable lanyards
• MSA vest-style harnesses
• MSA full-body harnesses
• MSA lanyard restraints
• MSA trauma prevention
• MSA lanyards with hooks
• Honeywell Miller AirCore harnesses
• Honeywell personal fall limiter