Problems with Pushing/Pulling Limits Using a Pallet Jack

Pallet jacks are commonly used in manual material handling, and almost as often, operators run into frustrating, if not dangerous, challenges working with them. Unfortunately, even when employees attempt to use them safely, coworkers and bosses can create problems by overloading and leaving the operator to handle too big a load alone.

We found an inquiry on the OSHA website that demonstrates this common problem.

“I have a friend who delivers heavy pallets by the use of a pallet jack. He must push the pallets on to a hydraulic lift gate on his truck, lower the load and then push/pull it to a designated point, up to 100 yards from the truck. It is not unusual for the pallets to hold up to 2300 lbs. He is very frustrated by his co-workers/boss overloading the pallets to the point where he has to ask for help at delivery points. Is there an OSHA limit as to how much he should be required to handle by himself?”

The OSHA expert who responds has 20 years experience in management of occupational safety, health and workers` compensation and safety training. He shines a light on how difficult a situation this friend is in:

Read More

Uses and Advantages of Pallet Trucks

Manual pallet trucks have a very interesting history. The Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century saw the need for specific equipment to safely handle heavy goods. Thus in 1887, a basic hand pallet rack was invented to manually lift pallets a few inches from the ground. However, this pallet could not move goods from one location to another.

Though a new model was fabricated in 1909 to move goods, pallet trucks we know today were designed in the 1920s. From then on, they became:

  • Much more prevalent;
  • Quickly popular as they increased efficiency in a workplace and factories.

These days, pallet jacks /trucks are one of the most versatile material moving equipment in the industry. These can:

  • Easily move smaller and bigger goods from one location to another.
  • Stack goods on top of another.

As effective methods of handling various heavy goods, these are used in:

  • Manufacturing plants
  • Specialty and retail stores
  • Factory floors
  • Warehouse facilities

Types of Pallet Trucks

2000-kg pallet truck with load scales

Read More

How to Operate a Manual Pallet Jack

More than a few warehouse workers and other people who need to move goods have found themselves confused with one of the simpler staples of an industrial environment: the hand or manual pallet jack. Pallet jacks are built to effectively transport the rough wooden platforms know as pallets or skids that so often contain all

Read More

Gas Leak Detection – How to Check for Gas Leaks In a Home

, , ,

gas leaks

Many workplaces and homes have gas powered appliances, yet never think anything of potential gas leaks once it’s been installed. Unfortunately gas leaks happen fairly often, sometimes leading to detrimental accidents. If you use gas in your home or at work, you must know how to recognize gas leak symptoms and have the proper tool to check gas lines on a regular basis.

The Danger of Gas Leaks

Did you know that the sulfuric smell associated with propane isn’t a naturally occurring scent? Propane and other gas leaks are potentially very dangerous which is why manufacturers add in this easily recognized smell.

There are Two Main Reasons Why Gas Leaks Can Be Dangerous

First off, natural gas is popular because of high combustibility. It produces a lot of heat, even in small amounts. While this is a benefit for cooking in the home, heating water and other applications, it also means gas can prove detrimental when not controlled. When there is a leak in a gas line and the room begins to fill, even a tiny spark can ignite the cloud.

The second reason gas leaks are dangerous is because it can produce carbon monoxide when there is incomplete combustion. This means if something goes wrong and the gas isn’t completed burned up, carbon monoxide forms. According to the CDC, carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for 500 deaths a year. It is fatal in large amounts, but even non-fatal carbon monoxide poisoning can still cause long term health issues and brain damage.

Recognizing Gas Leaks

Read More

If I have a gas leak in my home, will I die?

, , ,
Gas Leak Detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors can alert you if levels become unsafe in your home.
Carbon monoxide detectors can alert you if levels become unsafe in your home.

That sulfuric, rotten egg odor that signals a natural gas leak isn’t an ordinary component of the carbon-hydrogen compound. Because of the potential danger associated with natural gas leaks, suppliers add the noxious scent to natural gas as an olfactory warning that the harmful vapors are loose in the air.

This precautionary measure indicates the inherent hazards of natural gas that can, at the right levels, kill you. That said, natural gas is repeatedly touted as one of the safest and cleanest-burning fossil fuel sources. More than 65 million homes in the United States use it to power their gas stoves, water heaters and other essential appliances [source: Safe Gas Indiana]. When correctly burned, natural gas produces mostly water vapor and carbon dioxide and far fewer greenhouse emissions than wood, coal and oil [source: Alberta Energy].

Natural gas has become a widespread energy source because it’s highly combustible, which means that it can produce large amounts of heat when you burn small amounts. Consequently, a natural gas leak can increase the risk of fire and explosion since it spreads quickly and combusts easily. An electrical spark or fire source can set this off if you have a leak in your house.

If you suspect a natural gas leak inside, immediately stop what you’re doing (do not flip any electrical switches, unplug anything or use a telephone) and go outside. Inhaling high concentrations can also lead to asphyxia (when the body is deprived of oxygen) and possibly death. Early symptoms of asphyxia include fatigue and chest pain.

­

Although generally safe to use in the home, when natural gas does not burn up completely because of faulty installation or lack of ventilation, it emits a byproduct of carbon monoxide. The more carbon monoxide present in the air, the less oxygen you can inhale, potentially killing you. In fact, 500 people in the United States die of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning every year [source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. ­

What if you have a cold or a poor sense of smell? Is there any way to detect a natural gas leak besides that signature scent?

Read More

How to recognize a gas leak

, ,
When installed and used correctly, natural gas is safe and convenient. But gas leaks can occur. These leaks can lead to physical symptoms and, in some cases, the gas can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in people and animals.

According to the American Gas Association, over 73 million residential, commercial, and industrial premises in the United States use natural gas. It is highly flammable, and gas leaks increase the risk of fire and explosion.

If people suspect a gas leak, it is essential that they evacuate the area immediately, and call 911, the local fire department, or the utility company’s emergency line.

In this article, learn about the signs and symptoms of a gas leak and what to do if a gas leak occurs in the home.

Gas leak signs in the home

A gas leak may cause houseplants to die.

A gas leak may cause houseplants to die.

Read More

Gas detector

, ,

A gas detector is a device that detects the presence of gases in an area, often as part of a safety system. This type of equipment is used to detect a gas leak or other emissions and can interface with a control system so a process can be automatically shut down. A gas detector can sound an alarm to operators in the area where the leak is occurring, giving them the opportunity to leave. This type of device is important because there are many gases that can be harmful to organic life, such as humans or animals.

Gas detectors can be used to detect combustible, flammable and toxic gases, and oxygen depletion. This type of device is used widely in industry and can be found in locations, such as on oil rigs, to monitor manufacture processes and emerging technologies such as photovoltaic. They may be used in firefighting.

Gas leak detection is the process of identifying potentially hazardous gas leaks by sensors. These sensors usually employ an audible alarm to alert people when a dangerous gas has been detected. Exposure to toxic gases can also occur in operations such as painting, fumigation, fuel filling, construction, excavation of contaminated soils, landfill operations, entering confined spaces, etc. Common sensors include combustible gas sensors, photoionization detectors, infrared point sensors, ultrasonic sensors, electrochemical gas sensors, and semiconductor sensors. More recently, infrared imaging sensors have come into use. All of these sensors are used for a wide range of applications and can be found in industrial plants, refineries, pharmaceutical manufacturing, fumigation facilities, paper pulp mills, aircraft and shipbuilding facilities, hazmat operations, waste-water treatment facilities, vehicles, indoor air quality testing and homes.

History

Gas leak detection methods became a concern after the effects of harmful gases on human health were discovered. Before modern electronic sensors, early detection methods relied on less precise detectors. Through the 19th and early 20th centuries, coal miners would bring canaries down to the tunnels with them as an early detection system against life-threatening gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane. The canary, normally a very songful bird, would stop singing and eventually die if not removed from these gases, signaling the miners to exit the mine quickly.

Read More

Thermal Imaging Inspection for Package Integrity

, , ,

Ensuring package sealing integrity has long been an industry challenge, one in which the stakes are exceedingly high. Hanging in the balance are quality control standards that not only mandate pharmaceutical manufacturers’ adherence to strict guidelines and low tolerances, but also
define their incalculably priceless reputations. This is, of course, because our quality control issues are a matter of public safety rather than mere product efficacy.

The primary method being used today—sampling—only allows for a percentage of packages units to be inspected. Finally, however, technology has caught up to meet pharma’s packaging integrity inspection needs. Dynamic thermal imaging allows pharma companies to inspect 100% of packaged products in a totally passive manner without ever even having to touch them. Dynamic thermal imaging ensures that every package that leaves a facility is properly sealed, thus maintaining the necessary sealing barrier to protect product efficacy.

Inspection is performed through the cap by means of high-sensitivity thermal imaging. Upon being detected any defective bottles are removed from the production line.
Inspection is performed through the cap by means of high-sensitivity thermal imaging. Upon being detected any defective bottles are removed from the production line.

Read More

Benefits of Thermal Imaging

, , ,

Benefits of Thermal Imaging in the detection of:

  • Water infiltration  (roof leaks located with recent rain fall within 24~48 hours)
  • Cold air infiltration
  • Excessive moisture in building materials
  • Stud / Joist / Beam / Rafter placement and structure
  • Insulation gaps, insufficient and unevenness
  • Electrical drops, panels, breakers, switches and wire connections
  • Heating and cooling duct placement, insulation, air leaks
  • Pipe location
  • Special Inspections
    • Pest infestation
    • Energy audits
    • Insurance claims

Thermal Imaging Limitations

  • Thermal imaging only displays surface temperatures of solid objects.
  •  IR detects the temperature based upon wavelength of the light emitted by the object (longer wavelength, colder).  IR, therefore, does not show the temperature of objects that reflect light, (glass, shiny metal, light colored objects in direct sunlight).
  • IR, does not “see through walls”, but only displays the very slight differences in surface temperature of the wall.  Images of areas “behind” and not in contact with walls depends upon the temperature difference of the area.  It is easier to see “hot” objects because they will be radiating heat to the not-in-contact surface.  See pictures below for how IR is still incredibly useful.
  • Careful adjustment of the range of temperatures displayed is important to proper imaging and interpretation. (but don’t worry: I have been trained to do this).
While there is no guarantee that nothing will be missed during the visual inspection.  Thermal imaging brings me one step closer to not overlooking anything.
So you have to ask yourself:  do you want a home inspector that offers thermal imaging or risk going with one that does not?
As you study the photos below, I remind you, these images would not be visible without the aid of a thermal imaging camera.  Which is included in all my inspections!

Updated March 2018

Home owner did not know bathroom above was leaking…they do now.

 

Another ice dam found with thermal imaging.  There were no moisture signs on the ceiling, verified with a moisture meter.

Read More

How software tools can improve thermal inspection reports

, , ,

Presenting a clear report of your thermal inspection and easily sharing data are just as important as getting high quality images. Sometimes it may seem that you spend more time on your report than on scanning with your infrared camera, but they work hand in hand. You want the report to be thorough and accurate

Read More