The safety of workers and equipment is an important consideration for power generation facilities, just as it is for other worksites. Power plants feature multiple pieces of complex machinery that can present risks to workers who do not have the proper tools and equipment, and equipment can be at risk if not operated correctly. The proper tools for worker safety are key, as are tools not only for repair but also preventive maintenance of equipment. Some of the leading manufacturers and service companies for tools and safety products for the power generation industry are featured here.

IDEC Introduces Safety Interlock Switch

IDEC Corp. recently announced the release of its new HS1T interlock switch with solenoid (Figure 1). This interlock switch delivers an industry-leading 5,000 N of locking force, with many features included to maximize protection in machine- and equipment-guarding applications. Interlock switches are incorporated into machinery and equipment to both monitor and lock gates, doors, and similar access points. Interlock switches are used to ensure guarded locations are secure before starting a machine and are also used to deny access to certain areas during operation, both critical for operator safety and protection. The HS1T is much more powerful than comparably sized devices, thanks to a metal head integrating the locking and mounting functions, an improvement over older designs where the head could break away from the mounting body. Also, to maximize installation options, the remaining actuator portion can be independently rotated from the high-strength head using only one screw. IDEC Corp., Sunnyvale, California

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1. IDEC Corp.’s HS1T interlock switch includes features to maximize protection in machine- and equipment-guarding applications. Courtesy: IDEC Corp.

Eagle Safety Cabinets Store Flammables, Other Liquids

Eagle Manufacturing has set the industry standard for high-quality safety cabinets (Figure 2) for the storage of flammables and other liquids. In 2011, Eagle designed a new state-of-the-art production facility and created a cabinet design incorporating improved convenience and safety features. The company’s safety cabinet product line is designed and manufactured to best meet the ever-changing needs of today’s industrial environments, including in power plants. The company’s cabinets are made in the U.S. and are available in 2- to 110-gallon sizes. The cabinet features include: reinforced double-wall construction; lead-free, high-gloss, baked-on power coat finish; continuous piano hinges; ground connection; four adjustable galvanized leveling legs; trilingual warning labels; and a three-point latch system. Eagle Manufacturing, Wellsburg, West Virginia

2. Eagle Manufacturing’s high-quality safety cabinets safely store flammables and other liquids, with a design that incorporates convenience and is adaptable to different industrial environments. Courtesy: Eagle Manufacturing he Safety Station (Figure 3) is a multi-purpose drench shower, eye/face wash, and safety supply storage cabinet all in one. It is ideal for laboratories and other environments, such as power plants, where persons may be exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals. Sanitary white polypro construction means there is no wood or metal to rot or rust. The Safety Station is equipped with a pull rod-activated shower and push handle eye/face wash for quick rinsing of eyes, face, and body. Towels and first aid supplies can be stored in the cabinet below. Safety Stations are fully assembled and ready for installation and connection to the water supply. HEMCO Corp., Independence, Missouri 3. The Safety Station from HEMCO Corp. offers an all-in-one solution for showering and storage in areas where hazardous chemicals are used. Courtesy: HEMCO Corp. hemcocorp.com Oil and Cut-Resistant Gloves Protect Welders Tillman, a leader in personal protective solutions for welders and the industrial market announces the introduction of the OilShield line of oil resistant and ANSI cut resistant gloves (Figure 4). “No one likes to feel liquid seeping through their leather gloves; to combat this, Tillman developed a family of top grain Goatskin gloves with OilShield, a molecular additive that repels oil, grease, and liquids from penetrating leather,” said Jeff Shipley, director of marketing for Tillman. “We knew the OilShield gloves would be used in the grimiest and harshest of conditions, so we had to start with a strong leather.” Goatskin, also known as one of nature’s strongest leathers, was chosen due to its exceptional abrasion-resistant properties, its durability, and its suppleness, which provides the flexibility and tactility needed for a sure grip. With Tillman known for offering best leather, identifying the best top grain Goatskin became the foundation for the OilShield gloves. Tillman added a Para-Aramid lining to three of the OilShield gloves for enhanced cut resistance yielding ANSI A6 Cut Resistance, on two OilShield Drivers gloves, and a staggering ANSI A7 Cut Resistance on the OilShield MIG welding glove. The right combination of Para-Aramid and Tillman supple Goatskin delivers ANSI Level 4 Abrasion and Puncture Resistance. John Tillman Co., Compton, California 4. The OilShield line of gloves provides protection from oils. The gloves also are cut-resistant and stand up to tough, abrasive conditions. Courtesy: John Tillman Co. jtillman.com 3M Scott Offers Reusable Respirators 3M Scott provides a full line of reusable respirators to meet the needs of any work environment. Half or full facepiece reusable respirators help protect against both particles, and/or gases and vapors. 3M Scott is a premier manufacturer of innovative respiratory protective equipment for firefighters, industrial workers, police squads, and militaries around the world. The AV-3000 Facepiece with SureSeal (Figure 5) combines superior fit with greater comfort and versatility. This market-leading facepiece has earned its place through enhanced features that make it extremely comfortable and easy to use. 5. The AV-3000 Facepiece with SureSeal is known for its comfort and versatility, with enhanced features that make it easy to use. Courtesy: 3M Scott

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Safety Station Provides Multi-Purpose Protection

The AV-3000 SureSeal facepiece holds National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health approvals across a wide variety of applications, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense. The facepiece versatility helps minimize equipment inventory, simplify user training, and reduce redundant fit testing to ensure lower cost of ownership than other facepieces. 3M Scott Fire & Safety, Monroe, North Carolina

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Shock Protection Blankets Provide Cover Around Exposed Electrical Parts

Shock protection blankets from Grainger provide cover-up protection when working close to live exposed electrical parts. They provide a protective barrier from irregularly shaped line hardware. Eyelets on insulating blankets make them easy to secure in place by using blanket pins, snap buttons, or ty-straps. Shock protection blankets (Figure 6) cover energized portions in hard-cover places such as pad mounts, cubicles, switchboards, and substations.Grainger offers blankets in a variety of sizes and colors. Brands include Knipex and Salisbury by Honeywell. Salisbury also now offers insulating blanket material on a roll, made from a high-strength fabric-reinforced Type II rubber, which allows workers to custom-cut blankets to fit each application at the job site. This minimizes the number of different low-voltage blanket sizes and shapes that would otherwise need to be carried from job to job. All classes of roll blankets are easy to cut and flexible to –40F. They also are highly puncture and tear resistant. Each class of blanket is also flame (self-extinguishing), oil, and ozone resistant. W.W. Grainger Inc., Lake Forest, Illinois

6. A shock protection blanket is designed to provide cover-up protection when working close to live exposed electrical parts. Courtesy: Grainger

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Thigh Support Stabilization Knee Pads Enhance Kneeling Ergonomics

The ToughBuilt GelFit Fanatic—Thigh Support Stabilization Knee Pads are the new benchmark for all-day kneeling ergonomics, comfort, and functionality. The pads provide ultimate stability while maintaining easy side-to-side movement. Integrated thigh support keeps the knee perfectly centered, never twisting out of the kneepad. The lower platform raises the shin off the ground, alleviating pressure on the ankles. The ergonomic gel and foam design embraces the natural shape of the knee and upper shin, maximizing pressure distribution for an extremely comfortable fit.The pads are made of abrasion-resistant 1680D fabric, with a rugged double-injected shell with non-slip rubber, and hard-wearing, shatter-resistant plastic. The combination elastic/EVA/buckle thigh and calf straps comfortably hold their place without cutting off circulation. ToughBuilt Industries, Las Vegas, Nevada

7. These Thigh Support Stabilzation Knee Pads from ToughBuilt are a benchmark for all-day kneeling ergonomics, comfort, and functionality. Courtesy: ToughBuilt GuardLink Technology Supports Communications Protocol GuardLink technology is a safety-based communications protocol that links safety to The Connected Enterprise. Allen-Bradley Guardmaster smart safety devices (Figure 8) feature GuardLink technology that delivers information, advanced functionality, and flexibility. This technology helps enhance safety and increases machine and plant-wide efficiency. GuardLink technology-enabled devices offer advanced features and diagnostics that can only be accessed through a GuardLink-enabled connection tap. The benefits of GuardLink technology include real-time, contextual diagnostics and sensor health data, to significantly improve troubleshooting. The technology also offers automatic device reset, and seamless integration into Rockwell Automation EtherNet/IP architecture. Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 8. Guardmaster smart safety devices from Allen-Bradley, part of Rockwell Automation, feature technology that delivers information, advanced functionality, and flexibility. Courtesy: Rockwell Automation