Through my work as a member of Technology Transfer Services (TTS), I was lucky enough to spend some time in West Central Africa over the past few years, helping to improve maintenance and operations at industrial facilities. One of the issues that my team and I frequently encountered involved warehouse managers and their attempts to [...]
The Technician scratched his head and surveyed the scene. He then asked himself, “It’s dead, but what is it supposed to do?” Methodically, like a detective, he breaks down the purpose of a Motor Control Center (MCC), and how it relates to the downed HVAC unit. An MCC is a group of one or more [...]
The detective approached the scene like he always did, observing the behavior of the crowd as he stepped under the yellow tape surrounding the area. It is important to stay detached from the circumstances and evaluate all […]
If your job involves work within, or you are considering a career related to, modern industrial facilities, the odds are that you have come across the term Instrument Control Loop. This term defines a common and important aspect of modern industrial facilities. For evidence of just how important knowledge of it is, drop the term [...]
Through my work as a member of Technology Transfer Services (TTS), I was lucky enough to spend some time in West Central Africa over the past few years, helping to improve maintenance and operations at industrial facilities. One of the issues that my team and I frequently encountered involved warehouse managers and their attempts to [...]
Gases are commonly used throughout industry. These gases come in several forms and are often as dangerous as they are useful. The following article provides background knowledge of these gases. Gases in compressed form serve countless indispensable roles in modern technology. Oxygen is used extensively to produce stronger and cheaper steels. Acetylene welding and brazing [...]
In 1905, the Grover Shoe Factory boiler exploded, collapsing the building and engulfing it in flames. Fifty-eight people were killed and 150 more injured. This event led to the development of safety laws and a national code for the safe operation of steam boilers. The CB-Hawk boiler management control system (”Figure 1”) combines the functions [...]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulates workplace safety by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. OSHA officially formed on April 28, 1971, the date that the OSH Act became operative. The Occupational Safety and Health Act allows OSHA to issue workplace health and safety regulations. These [...]
Personnel safety around energized equipment is only part of the picture when it comes to electrical safety. The other part is the installation, and whether the job was performed correctly. […]
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), electrical hazards cause more than 300 deaths and 4,000 injuries in the workplace each year. Electrical accidents are ranked 6th among all causes of work related deaths in the United States. Always work safely, wearing the proper PPE for your situation and know what [...]
