MSA to webcast Safety Technology Showcase

by Featured NewsSafety

MSA Safety Incorporated, the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures, has announced it will webcast a portion of an upcoming “Safety Technology Showcase” highlighting the investments behind the MSA’s development of new technologies for global safety markets.

The company has scheduled the webcast for the afternoon of Monday,
May 23, 2022.

During the event, Nish Vartanian, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ken Krause, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will provide an update on the new technologies and products that are enhancing MSA’s product portfolio. Mr Vartanian and Mr Krause will also provide a brief business update, focusing primarily on MSA’s business outlook and market position.

The webcast will begin at approximately 2:00 p.m. EDT. It can be accessed via MSA’s
website at http://investors.MSASafety.com. Following the presentation, a replay will be available for 90 days at the link listed above, under the “News and Events” menu.

Brady advises manufacturers on increasing workplace safety

by Featured NewsSafety

American developer and manufacturer of specialty products, Brady Corporation, has released advice on choosing a supplier to increase workplace safety for lockout/target projects to help prevent accidents in the workplace.

Lockout/Tagout can help prevent workplace accidents by completely isolating machinery from its energy sources, preventing the machine moving and connecting to energy sources while interventions are ongoing.

Brady has advised manufacturers worldwide looking to optimise existing systems to implement complete Lockout/Tagout programmes to maximise workplace safety and protect employees, to consider the following when selecting a supplier:

  • Choose a systems with optimal procedure management:
    • The process of managing, creating, updating, reviewing, scaling and communicating visually instructive lockout procedures.
  • Make sure it blocks access to any energy control point:
    • Temporarily blocking access to valves, buttons, fuses and any energy isolation point with Lockout/Tagout devices.
  • Choose the right safety padlocks:
    • Select an effective and secure padlock with multiple lock and key options for elaborate, futureproof lockout programmes.
  • Identify every lockout:
    • Communicate about ongoing maintenance interventions with reliable Lockout/Tagout tags.
  • Practical lockouts:
    • Make Lockout/Tagout even more practical and efficient with accessories.
  • Easily distribute lockout tools:
    • Highlight the right solutions for specific lockouts, and encourage tool returns to the right location

GFCI wins NFPA’s Philip J. DiNenno Prize for 2022

by Featured NewsSafety

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced Electrical Shock Hazard Protection by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Protection as the winner of the 2022 Phillip J. DiNenno Prize, which recognizes pioneering innovations that have significantly impacted building, fire, and electrical safety. The prestigious award is named for the late Philip J. DiNenno, the greatly respected former CEO of Hughes Associates, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to fire safety.

The 2022 DiNenno Prize selection reflects a departure from the traditional recognition of one or more individuals who have played a pivotal role in the creation of a fire and life safety technology. Instead, it honors the ground-breaking technology itself, as its innovators are no longer living.

The (GFCI) concept has evolved since its inception in the 1940s into a series of sophisticated protection devices that have increased protection of people from electric shock. It has also allowed for greater degrees of safe electrical power usage among numerous applications in all types of environments. In addition, widespread installation of GFCI protection throughout the built environment has directly led to significant, quantifiable increases in society’s current levels of electrical safety. Furthermore, GFCI technologies will continue to prevent tragedies attributable to electrocutions even more so in the future.

“GFCI technology in itself is very important in electrical safety, saving hundreds of lives per year,” said Craig Beyler, DiNenno Selection and Prize Committee Chair. “This year’s recommendation remains true to the core tenets of the DiNenno Prize and continues to honor live and deceased innovators equally.”

The DiNenno Prize typically features a $50,000 award to its recipients. In absence of living recipients, the Phoenix Burn Society for Burn Survivors and the Electrical Fire Safety International (ESFI) have been selected as the beneficiaries of the prize and will each receive a cash donation to support their work in reducing loss from electrical hazards.

The award will be officially presented at the NFPA “Stars at Night” award ceremony in coordination with the NFPA Conference & Expo (C&E) in Boston this June. Jack Wells and Henry Zylstra, who each played a critical role in the advancement of GFCI technology, will serve as legacy presenters of the DiNenno Prize.

In addition, there will be a special panel presentation on Ground Fault Circuit (GFCI) Protection at C&E on Monday morning at 8:00 am. Wells, Zylstra, Alan Manche and Steve Rood will serve as presenters, reviewing the role GFCI has played in electrical safety; Wells and Zylstra will share stories about their involvement in the development and commercialization of GFCI technology.

Fire headlines upcoming changes to Welsh FFHH act

by Featured NewsSafety

The Fitness for Human Habitation (Wales) Act comes into effect on 15 July this year (effective to all landlords, social and private).

The act identifies 29 hazards within the property where landlords need to meet minimum requirements.
The FFHH act requires a smoke alarm, in proper working order, to be present on every storey of a dwelling.

Landlords must ensure that each of these alarms are in proper working order and interlinked with all other smoke alarms connected to the electricity supply.

Landlords may consider it appropriate to install more that one smoke alarm on each store along with a heat alarm in the Kitchen, these additional alarms could be mains or battery powered. Any additional battery-powered alarms do not need to be interconnected (Although, BS 5839-6 recommends interconnecting all alarms within the dwelling).

The act signposts landlords to BS 5839-6 for recommended guidance on the installation of alarms
A Carbon Monoxide alarm should be installed in all rooms containing a fuel-burning appliance (including cookers).

CO alarm can be mains or battery-powered and must comply with BS EN 50291. Siting should be carefully considered noting the expiry date of the alarm.

CertAlarm completes fourth cycle of round-robin tests

by Featured NewsSafety

CertAlarm, an organization offering a pan-European quality mark in the fire protection and security systems industry, today confirmed the completion of its 4th cycle of round-robin test series.

Round-robin tests are comparative tests performed by the participating laboratories at regular intervals and using the same test sample. As such they are an important monitoring tool for CertAlarm’s partners and recognized test laboratories. They enable quality supervisors and management to place the results obtained by the laboratory performing the tests in a wider framework and to identify problems and initiate actions for improvement.

In particular, round-robin tests help to bring to light inconsistencies in the testing systems or methods and can give rise to necessary corrective action, e.g.:

  • interpretation of standards,
  • calibration/maintenance of the testing equipment,
  • training of the laboratory personnel,
  • adjustment of influencing factors relevant to testing (e.g. climate).

“In order to improve our program we specifically select tests which have proven to be difficult to perform or have shown in the market place that inconsistencies exist in approved products. One of the tests selected for this cycle’s series was therefore the measurement of the make and break distances of opening contacts according to EN 50131-2-6 (clause 6.4.2). The criticality of this test lays in the interpretation of the PASS/FAIL criteria in coherence with the manufacturer declaration and the requirements in clause 4.3.1.2 and 4.3.1.3.”, says Benoît Stockbroeckx, Technical Manager of Euralarm and Chair of CertAlarm’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG).

“As a matter of fact, diverging interpretations highlighted unclarity in the wording of the standard. This issue has been brought to the relevant standardisation working group (CLC/TC 79/WG 2) and the discussions paved the way for an improvement of the standard in view of a future revision. Thanks to this exercise we can now be sure that all of CertAlarm’s labs will test and conclude according to this understanding in the future. Moreover, CertAlarm so contributed to the improvement of the standard for the benefit of all European laboratories, certification bodies and manufacturers dealing with opening contacts”, he adds.

“The round-robin procedure helps us understand if we are doing things right and providing our customers the same level of results”, confirms Anja Kinsky, General Manager of CertAlarm.

Rhino Doors expands with EV charging point installations

by Featured NewsSafety

UK-based engineered doors manufacturer Rhino Doors is strengthening its commitment to its people and the environment with the installation of electric vehicle charging points at one of its manufacturing facilities.

Rhino Doors, whose main base is in Port Talbot, South Wales, installed the charging points to encourage its team members to adopt the use of electric vehicles (EV), and to support clients visiting the facility via an EV.

By providing its team with the facilities to charge their vehicles at work, Rhino is working to offset its carbon footprint and mitigate negative impacts on the environment.

This new initiative comes after the manufacturer completed Made in Britain’s Green Growth Programme in February of this year, scoring highly for social impact and green credentials.

The Green Growth Programme is designed to support UK manufacturers to advance their progress on sustainability and work towards reaching net zero by 2050 or earlier.

In January of this year, Rhino also published its strategy on Corporate Social Responsibility, outlining the ways in which it is working to prioritise both people and planet.

Spanning the key areas of Environment, Community, Workplace & People, and Marketplace, the company’s CSR strategy details a range of initiatives it has implemented to positively impact on local communities and the wider environment.

Stuart Lawrence, Group Managing Director of Rhino Engineering Group, said: “As a manufacturer of industrial doors, we know that the intensive work we undertake can have an impact on the environment and the people around us.

“We’re very proud to have been recognised by Made in Britain for our continued efforts to minimise our environmental impact and work towards carbon neutral operations.

“This new initiative is just one small way in which we are working to implement sustainable practices and bolster our ethical standing with all our stakeholders.”

London warns against home fires to save on heating

by Featured NewsSafety

Fire chiefs in London have warned the public that should not attempt to reduce their energy bills by improvising open fires at home.

The caution comes after a man in south-west London set fire to his property by burning timber in his living room to keep warm. The man was trying to avoid putting on the central heating in his home, fire investigators said.

Fuel poverty campaigners said the incident – one of at least 100 involving open fires, log burners and heaters in the capital in the last few months – laid bare “the harsh and dangerous reality of the cost-of-living crisis”.

Issuing an urgent safety warning, the London fire brigade (LFB) said the cause of the blaze on 26 April had been determined as “involving an open fire being used instead of gas central heating.”

It is understood to have also been caused by combustible items too close to an open fire. The London ambulance service said it treated three people at the property in New Malden, with one man being taken to hospital as a priority.

The LFB said there had been more than 100 fires involving open fires, log burners and heaters in the past few months.

It fears the rise in energy bills could result in a surge of fires as people resort to alternative means to heat their homes throughout the colder spells of the year.

Charlie Pugsley, assistant commissioner for fire safety, said: “We know this is a difficult time and people are thinking about ways to reduce their energy bills, but we’re really concerned that they may be putting lives at risk by doing so.

“If you do have a log burner or an open fire, follow our advice carefully. Almost 30% of fires involving log burners, heaters and traditional open fires are caused by items being placed too close to a heat source. Always use a fire guard and keep anything that could catch alight well away, such as logs and kindling which could be ignited by radiating heat.”

Weber Hydraulik secures ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certifications

by Featured NewsSafety

Rescue equipment manufacturer Weber Hydraulik has secured two crucial environmental and sustainability certifications in ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 at its base in Losenstein, in Austria.

Both certifications comply with environmental guidelines and the efficient use of energy contribute significantly to the sustainable orientation of companies.

“Sustainability is a very important topic for us. We are constantly working on optimizing our processes with regard to the set environmental and energy targets. The ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certifications now show quite objectively that we meet very high requirements in this regard,” says Günther Rebhandl, Head of Quality Management at WEBER- HYDRAULIK, who is pleased with the success.

Environmental risks can be reduced through sustainable environmental and energy management. At the same time, environmental performance is made transparent and targeted improvement measures are devised. Lower consumption of resources such as energy and water, plus the reduction of disposal costs also offer an economic advantage over the competition in the long term.

Environmentally friendly energy and heating technology

At its site in the Enns Valley, the innovative manufacturer goes far beyond the required measures. Photovoltaic systems installed on the roof of the building provide clean electricity from solar energy. With an output of 364 kWp, part of the electricity used in production is self-generated. “The proportion of electricity requirements that can be covered by solar energy has been continuously increased in recent years,” explains Albert Koppenberger, who is responsible for plant maintenance at the Losenstein site.

The heating system is also powered by wood chips in an environmentally friendly manner. “Our entire heating requirements are covered by the wood chip heating system,” Koppenberger continues. This makes the Losenstein site independent of oil and gas.

E-mobility reduces CO2 emissions

In March 2019, it was discovered that transportation causes a large part of the CO2 pollution at the Losenstein site. “By using e-mobility for work trips, we saw great potential to reduce the site’s CO2 emissions. That was the starting signal for the e-mobility campaign,” says Koppenberger. An attractive leasing model for e-cars was worked out for employees at the Losenstein site. In the meantime, around 70 employees have taken advantage of the campaign. The electricity required for the e-cars also comes from the company’s own photovoltaic system. Employees can charge their vehicles free of charge at the 20 newly installed charging points.

“Passing the certifications once again proves the consistently high quality orientation as well as the environmentally friendly and energy-efficient design of all processes in the company,” confirm Kurt Sperrer and Bernhard Obermayr as managing directors at the Losenstein site. “We are convinced that we can also offer our customers a decisive advantage with our sustainable orientation.”

Construction Industry Council welcomes Building Safety Act

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The Construction Industry Council (CIC) welcomes the Building Safety Act, which received Royal Assent today. CIC and its membership of the professional bodies across the built environment have been liaising with officials at DLUCH (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) since the Grenfell tragedy in 2017. CIC has provided input, representing our membership, into the Hackitt Review, the draft bill and the Bill which has, amongst other things, sought to implement her recommendations.

CIC is also particularly pleased that the establishment of a New Homes Ombudsman is taken forward in the Act, since this implements the main recommendation from the ‘More Homes, fewer complaints’ report.

The Act represents a paradigm shift in the way in which residential buildings are to be designed, built, managed and regulated. However, despite the scale of the Act (262 pages) and the vast number of amendments that have been made to it, there is still a great deal of detail to be determined through secondary legislation which CIC and its members stand ready to further assist government by providing expert opinion to enable government to get this detail right.

One issue that needs to be addressed is that, despite the five years that have elapsed since Grenfell, the wider industry is still ill-prepared for the changes to come. In tandem with the transitional period of 18-24 months for the implementation of secondary legislation there needs to be a considerable communication exercise to create the necessary culture change in the industry and to absorb the new regulatory regime.

CIC especially welcomes the specific focus on improving competence across all sectors engaged in the design, construction, maintenance, management and regulation of residential buildings. This carries forward the work of the Competence Steering Group that CIC has hosted over the past four years. CIC will continue to work closely with colleagues in the construction, built environment, fire safety and building owner/manager sectors to continue our engagement with the interim Building Safety Regulator and the Interim Industry Competence Committee.

Whilst welcoming the Act, which has taken two years since the publication of a draft bill in 2020, CIC has a number of reservations about the extensive changes that have been made during the passage of the bill. In particular, the holistic process recommended by Dame Judith Hackitt has been cherry-picked*. (Note 3) In some regards, her recommendations have been expanded upon (for example, in relation to scope, which we welcome) and in others they have been watered down and her rounded approach to achieving building safety has been impacted.

The last-minute change of heart about the statutory requirement to appoint a Building Safety Manager is a prime example of this break from the Hackitt recommendations. The role has been removed but the functions to ensure the building safety of residents remain and the idea that the cost of providing building safety management of occupied buildings, in scope to the Act, will not fall on the residents is unlikely to be the case, irrespective of whether there is a duty to appoint a Building Safety Manager.

CIC also remains concerned about the impact of extended liability under the Act, including for any works to dwellings (whether higher risk or not), and under the s38 of the Building Act. It is particularly concerned about extending the period of liability under the Defective Premises Act from six to thirty years and retains the belief that such a period of retrospective strict liability is unworkable for practical and contractual reasons. This amendment is likely to further exacerbate an already uncertain market for professional indemnity insurance (PII).

The PII market for construction-related activity in general and any work on high-rise residential buildings, in particular, is already far too weak to meet demand and there is adequate data to show that businesses are leaving the marketplace as a result. This is a major problem that requires urgent government intervention to enable businesses to continue to be able to carry out work on the design, construction and management of high-rise residential buildings and more widely, on fire risk and building safety work. Taken together with the rising cost of building work, particularly in relation to construction product availability and inflation, this will have a constraining impact on the industry’s ability to meet housing demand, especially affordable housing. This is a matter that the Treasury will need to consider very carefully.

Building Safety Bill receives Royal Ascent and becomes a law in UK

by Breaking NewsBuilding ManagementIndustry SectorsSafety

The Building Safety Bill received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 and is now an Act of Parliament. It has been a long process leading up to this point since the tragic Grenfell fire on 14 June 2017, but there is much further work to do in order for the changes in the Act to be implemented.

As many stakeholders will be aware, the Act is a significant piece of legislation that completely overhauls the regulatory regime for higher risk buildings in England, as well as introducing numerous other changes that affect construction products regulation, competency standards in the construction industry, the management of building fire safety risks, liabilities, and so on.

Peter Baker was previously appointed as Chief Inspector of Buildings by the Health and Safety Executive, and is leading the new Building Safety Regulator as established under the Act. Mr Baker notes that:

“The Building Safety Act introduces tough new measures for the safety and quality of buildings which will be enforced by the new independent regulator being established in HSE.

“I call on everyone involved in the design, construction and management of buildings in England to now step up, get ready for the changes, and work together to drive the necessary culture change to protect people and deliver safe and good quality buildings”

The Government’s transition plan notes when various provisions are expected to come into effect, however this may well be updated now that the Act is law. HSE has said that the registration of high-rise buildings will be starting from April 2023, with the new safety management regime requirements applying from October 2023. No doubt further dates for other changes will soon be released.

Now that the Act is in force, Developers need to be looking at how they procure higher risk projects and what effect the Act will have on these developments and their obligations in relation to the same. Similarly, Contractors and Consultants need to understand their additional obligations not only on higher risk developments, but also on building projects generally where they will hold specific duties.

All construction stakeholders (including manufacturers and suppliers) need to understand the full extent of the changes coming, and appreciate now what actions and business investment are required in order to ensure compliance with the new regime, and act now or risk being caught short.