July 2022 VISION!
Published 16 Aug 2022
Welcome to our industry bulletin – VISION.
So what is VISION?
VISION is our monthly round-up of industry news, projects, videos, technical tips, training information, webinars and career opportunities from Thorne & Derrick. Take a moment to Follow Us on LinkedIn to receive future VISION.
In The News
DISCOUNT RETAILER B&M HAVE BEEN HIT WITH A £1MILLION FINE AFTER A HORRIFIC INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
A horrific industrial accident at B&M’s headquarters saw an electrician’s body swell to four times its normal size.
Workman Shahenur Rahman was set ablaze during the industrial accident at the firm’s base and distribution centre at Estuary Commerce Park in Speke and remained in a coma for two weeks after.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that B&M was advised by Leep Utilities in June 2018 that maintenance work was required on the high voltage switchgear at its HQ. The retailer hired two generators from supplier Aggreko in order to maintain the supply and “allow some core functions” to remain in operation while the power was being cut. Aggreko suggested Bolton-based company Daker be contracted to connect these generators.
Shahenur Rahman was connecting a generator to B&M’s mains voltage distribution board. The board was in close proximity to the high voltage equipment which was energised while Rahman was wiring up the generator. It is believed that the spanner which he was holding came into contact with a live high voltage busbar, causing an instant blast and fireball. The 35 year old sustained serious burns to his arms, hands, thighs, legs and face. Rahman was rushed to hospital where doctors later placed him in an induced coma for 2 weeks. He then had to undergo a serious of skin grafts and was unable to work for five months.
The HSE found a “series of failings” by both B&M and Daker in the planning and execution of the job.
“Unfortunately, they failed at the very first hurdle by putting a man in charge of overseeing the work who, at his own admission, was wholly unqualified to fulfil such a role. It was a role he simply wasn’t capable of fulfilling, and one that he should never have been asked to undertake by his employer.”
B&M Retail Limited admitted two health and safety breaches, while Daker Limited pleaded guilty to one. Neither defendant has previous convictions for such matters.
The retailer was fined £1m and told to pay £4,978.30 in court costs plus a £170 victim surcharge. Daker would have faced a £12,000 fine, but this was reduced to a “nominal” amount of £100 due to its “dire financial straits”.
Ensuring you have the right systems in place when working with electricity is critical to the wellbeing of your employees and your Company. Electricity can be extremely dangerous and hazards such as an arc flash and electric shock could result in death.
Suggested PPE & electrical safety equipment includes: insulating gloves, arc flash clothing, voltage detectors, insulating matting and portable earthing
Electrical Safety Equipment for Cables, Conductors, Substations & Overhead Lines
Read more about how to keep employees safe:
Beirut grain silo Collapses Two Years After Devastating Explosion
Date: 31st July, 2022
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Facility: Beirut Grain Silo
Beirut grain silo fire, explosion, and collapse.
Part of Beirut’s port grain silos, severely damaged in a 2020 explosion, has collapsed after a fire that lasted more than three weeks.
The initial explosion on August 4th 2020 occurred after a huge stock of ammonium nitrate, inexplicably left in storage at the port for years, caught fire.
So far, no senior officials have been held accountable over the blast and a judicial investigation has been stalled for eight months. There has been widespread political interference in the probe and two sitting MPs charged in connection with the investigation have refused to attend hearings.
The devastating explosion killed more than 215 people, injured thousands and destroyed large parts of the capital.
Now, there has been a collapse of the silos; with clouds of smoke and dust spreading across the port from the ruined site captured on video. The collapse came only days before the two-year anniversary of the explosion.
The fire at the silos has been blamed on fermenting wheat stocks and the summer heat.
INDUSTRY EVENTs
Thorne & Derrick To Exhibit At Tank Storage 2022
VISIT US AT STAND 21
We are delighted to announce that will be exhibiting at Tank Storage Association’s 2022 Conference – the UK’s leading event for the bulk liquid storage sector.
The event which will be held at the CBS arena on the 22nd September has a proven track record of successfully bringing together people who care about safe and effective bulk liquid storage operations.
Where: Coventry Building Society Arena
When: 22nd September 2022
Register To Attend HERE
Thorne & Derrick will be showcasing a variety of products and solutions that will help ensure all your bulk liquid storage operations run smoothly. Including a range of specialised equipment such as lighting, power, heat, ventilation & portable gas detection providing protection for workers in a range of different applications.
Keep an eye on our blog and social media accounts for further updates from what to expect when you visit our stand.
A VIEW FROM SITE
Illuminating Store Rooms
The following application and photos have been used with kind permission from Brad Adams of Indacon Ltd
“Sometimes people don’t see the planning involved with even the smallest jobs. Planning is what can make or break a job!”
This was a small lighting job in a store room, with a few days spent on the project. Involved was the installation of standard and emergency Raytec light fittings, new containment, isolators, cabling and both ATEX and non-ATEX Hawke cable glands.
A Raytec Generation 2 Emergency Light Fitting
Although it’s not the nicest of environments to work in the team wear the correct PPE at all times.
“With Raytec LED linears and Raytec Emergency Bulkheads, this is an install that we have done a number of times, but Raytec always continue to update the generations and always look good!”
A brief overview of the components used on the project:
- 2 x Raytec Generation 2 linear fittings
- 1 x Raytec Generation 2 Emergency Linear
- 1 x Raytec Bulkhead
- Unistrut 41 x 41 5 Lengths
- 10 x Hawke 501/453 ATEX
- 2 x Hawke standard glands
- Isolator
PROJECTS & NEWS
Let’s Meet
It was great to catch up with Andy Horsford from Wolf this month who popped into our offices for a visit. Thorne & Derrick’s latest apprentice Dylan, benefitted from a product overview of the wolf portable and temporary lighting solutions suitable for use in hazardous areas to help build his knowledge.
We are looking forward to seeing you at Tank Storage Association later in the year!
Supporting an OEM with security and access solutions
Thorne & Derrick have been working with a manufacturer of Specialist Door Solutions to design a suitable security solution to be installed with the end user.
The client required a fail-safe solution to be used in conjunction with the doors; to prevent unauthorised access to the area. We supplied the customer with our range of maglocks and door contacts from Securex to meet the specification requirements:
- 12v
- -40°C to +60°C
- 25m of cable on both Maglock and Contact
The SX EX Electromagnetic Lock (Maglock) has been designed as the first truly ‘Ex Certified’ door locking product, providing an unrivalled security solution for access control.
The ATEX magnetic lock has been designed for use on a wide range of door configurations including use of both inward and outward opening doors. Each lock is provided as standard as a two part set comprising the Electromagnetic Lock and The Armature Plate (Keeper).
The range incorporates door status monitoring with changeover contacts as standard when used as part of an integrated access control solution – enhancing both safety and security.
TrIal Of Heating JAckets Proven Successful
Thorne & Derrick are experts in the design and provision of an extensive range of heating jackets for a variety of applications, including for both non-hazardous and hazardous areas. With experienced and trained technical sales engineers, we expertly design our solutions together with clients and conduct heat loss calculations to ensure that our bespoke heating jackets maintain high efficiency.
Our client required a custom heating solution to fit a transformer oil tank on a wind farm, to prevent the oil temperature falling below 5ºC. In cold weather, the low oil temperature can cause a false low level alarm which is safety critical and causes the isolation of multiple turbines. The atmosphere was non-explosive.
The intention was to design a heating solution that will prevent the drop in oil temperature during winter months and when the turbines are not spinning. Heaters will not need to be energised in low ambient temperature if the turbines are spinning, as the heat generated by the transformers is sufficient to maintain acceptable oil temperature.
Following a consultation and site survey Thorne & Derrick were able to design an effective heating jacket to fit the specified dimensions and meet the heating requirements, which are now to be installed across the site following successful trial.
Thorne & Derrick’s bespoke solutions offer versatility in design that can be specifically tailored to fit a multitude of different containers, valves and equipment; suitable for virtually any size and specifications. Produced in house, bespoke heating jackets can be made to order in a 2-3 weeks delivered UK & worldwide.
➡ Request A Trial Or Discuss Your Requirements
An Example Of An Electrical Heating Jacket Customised for Hazardous Area Vessel Heating
Terminology Explained
Every industry has its own language, terms and acronyms. Below is a selection of the common terms in use in the Explosion industry today and how they are employed in current directives.
This month we focus on Apparatus Groups and Temperature Classes for Common Flammable Dusts and Fibres – Group III
When considering installations that are at risk of a potential explosion due to dust ignition, the equipment used is classified in much the same way as with gases. No equipment should be installed where the surface temperature of the equipment is greater than the ignition temperature of the given hazard. Below are some common dust hazardous and their minimum ignition temperature.
| Ignition Temperatures for Common Flammable Dusts and Fibres | ||
| Material | Ignition Temperature | |
| Cloud | Layer | |
| Coal Dust | 380°C | 225°C |
| Polythene | 420°C | (melts) |
| Methyl Cellulose | 420°C | 320°C |
| Starch | 460°C | 435°C |
| Flour | 490°C | 340°C |
| Sugar | 490°C | 460°C |
| Grain Dust | 510°C | 300°C |
| Phenolic Resin | 530°C | > 450°C |
| Aluminium | 590°C | > 450°C |
| PVC | 700°C | > 450°C |
| Soot | 810°C | 570°C |
VISION! BY,
EXPERTS IN EQUIPMENT FOR EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES
LEADERS IN ATEX INNOVATION TO THE HAZARDOUS AREA INDUSTRIES
Thorne & Derrick are leaders in the development and distribution of Product Innovations that deliver significant improvements to clients plant, people and operational safety in the explosive atmosphere industries.
Your proactive problem solvers experienced in succession planning for the replacement of obsolete, non-conformant and legacy equipment in hazardous areas.
Your first-choice provider of innovative and competitive solutions to ensure ATEX & IECEx Compliance for Hazardous Area Electrical, HVAC & Process Instrumentation Equipment to UK and international projects.
Control Panels | Plugs | Isolators | Enclosures & Junction Boxes | Lighting | Control Stations | Motor Starters | Heat Trace | Gas Detection | Flame Detection | Process Instrumentation | Process Heating | Ventilation Fans | Security Access Control
