Feb 07 2018
Never underestimate the risk of explosion in a freight and logistics warehouse
UK – EUROPE – One of the greatest fears in a freight warehouse is that of an accident but for the average cargo handler the risk of an explosion is one that is rarely, if ever, considered. Apart from the obvious risks in many a logistics operation, an expression of liquid gas when changing a fork lift truck bottle, an accidental spillage of fuel, and similar occurrences which spring to mind, and exactly the type of incident which should normally countered by proper Health and Safety protocols, most warehousemen will have never encountered a serious explosion, and indeed given it much thought.
Whilst the hazard may be an irregular one for most handling general freight, for many working in a specific warehouse environment however the risk of explosion is a constant possibility, and the Zone 2 hazardous areas concerned can be some which most outsiders might consider innocuous, a whisky distillery for example, besides the more obvious chemical and paint stores. The EN 1755:2015 is a European standard that supersedes EN1755:2000 and became mandatory from November 2017. The new standard changes affect any manufacturing or logistics business using a system to alert lift truck drivers to the presence of an explosive atmosphere.
Fork lift trucks need to be ATEX compliant and the new changes affect the technical makeup of all ATEX 2014/34/EU truck conversions. It has led to changes to any device or controller carrying out a safety function, which includes the gas detection systems that alert the driver. In addition to the systems that alert the driver, EN1755 changes have affected tyre, seat, battery and other ancillary product requirements. Service engineers also need to be trained for the new requirements. Brief details of the changes can be seen on this video.
Such handling equipment needs to comply to the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU of the European Parliament and the companies which manufacture such detection equipment, such as UK headquartered Pyroban, which can trace its roots to 1969 when the accidental release and ignition of a flammable vapour by a diesel engine at an ICI plant led on to the original company being established 3 years later. The new rules mean the company’s safety systems have had to evolve to fulfil the latest requirements. Pyroban’s Rob Vesty, explains:
“In Zone 2 hazardous areas, an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation. If it does occur, it will persist for a short time only, possibly due to an accident, which is why forklift driver awareness is so important.” Read more
Source: HANDY SHIPPING GUIDE