✕
Manufacturing covers a very wide range of industries and products. However, companies in this space have one thing in common. That means you need to protect your employees and equipment.
ESG has implications far beyond a company's individual environmental, social and governance framework and forms the central pillar around which businesses must be built. The core of this pillar is to reduce the hazards to which employees may be exposed, and often the greatest of these hazards comes in the form of air pollution.
Employers have a duty of care to protect the health of the people who work for them. Although the exact regulations may vary around the world, most regulations are generally similar and ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees to the extent practicable. Hazardous gases can pose a major health threat to employees, the environment, critical equipment, and more, and the list of contaminants found in the manufacturing sector is extensive.from colorado2From chlorine, ammonia, and chlorine to harmful particulates such as black carbon and sulfates, when a leak occurs, companies must act quickly to prevent potential disaster. Or, even better, prevent it from happening altogether with preventive maintenance.
Addressing this issue may be easier said than done. Because most gas leaks are accidental in nature and most gases are colorless and odorless, many are nearly impossible to detect without the use of custom-built monitoring equipment. But with the right information, backed by readily available technology, manufacturers can gain a clearer picture of their emissions and begin to ensure the health of their employees.
clean the air
Working is one of the most dangerous things we do. According to data from the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization, 1.9 million people died from work-related injuries and illnesses in 2016.[1] Most of these are due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, with 450,000 people recorded as having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is the same number associated with exposure to workplace air pollution caused by particulate matter, gases, and fumes.
Such toxic substances are all too common in manufacturing settings. For example, in industries where sterilization and disinfection are common practices, gases such as chlorine and hydrogen peroxide may be used to ensure that products are properly clean, but there are various health It is also a toxic irritant that can lead to negative effects on the body. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also common byproducts produced as a side effect during the manufacturing of things like inks and petrochemicals, but they are often flammable or explosive, and can be damaging to health and the environment alike. may give. The effects of exposure to VOCs vary depending on the exact source material, but can range from irritation to cancer to even death.
High concentrations of VOCs can create an explosion and combustion hazard. In the United States, health regulators recommend that confined spaces with flammable vapor concentrations of 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) should be considered hazardous. Even at low concentrations, these spaces are not necessarily safe, and even lower concentrations are considered toxic, so early identification and mitigation is essential for safety.
It goes without saying that there is a relationship between air pollution and industrial accidents. According to the World Health Organization, workplace accidents lead to approximately 360,000 deaths annually worldwide.[2] Research has shown that a one standard deviation increase in nitrogen dioxide levels increases the likelihood of a workplace accident by 45% compared to the average likelihood.[3] This situation can not only cause personal distress, but also affect productivity. The U.S. National Safety Council estimates that economic losses from workplace accidents in 2020 were $44.8 billion.[4]
Apart from the obvious impact on employee health, the potential impact on businesses of not being able to purify the air can be significant. In addition to the health implications, organizations that neglect their health and safety responsibilities can face hefty fines, criminal prosecution, and brand damage. Additionally, we may be at a disadvantage in a competitive market. Investors frequently use his ESG compliance to evaluate potential investments, but companies that are perceived to be indifferent to the environment or the health and well-being of their employees can be a PR disaster and It can be a risky investment.
Addressing this issue is critical to success against ESG frameworks. However, without a foundation of accurate data, it is often impossible to do so. Manufacturers need a deep understanding of where and how gas leaks occur, or where particulate concentrations are high, so they can take action. This will require a network of intelligent sensing solutions.
Discovery and monitoring
Gas detection equipment should be at the heart of your health and safety strategy, especially in the manufacturing sector. Reliable measurements help identify and locate potential hazards. Without measuring a problem, it's impossible to know how serious it is, where it's occurring, and how to deal with it.
Solutions may take the form of personal wearable detectors to protect staff who face the most serious risks as part of their daily work. This includes people who may encounter equipment leaks or spills, or unauthorized discharges from valves and seals. Fixed VOC monitors can also be used to ensure that your workspace does not reach harmful exposure levels and to sound an alarm if dangerous exposure levels are reached.
However, the most effective of these techniques is laser absorption spectroscopy.
Laser absorption spectroscopy allows companies to detect trace amounts of gases in the air. Although widely used for environmental purposes such as monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, it also has important applications in workplace health and safety. In other words, monitoring air pollution.
This technique relies on the unique properties of infrared light as it passes through the medium, and uses sampling chambers and filters to block certain wavelengths from reaching the detector. This detector measures the attenuation of the wavelengths it reaches in order to determine the exact concentration of gas present. By changing the filter, the operator can enable different wavelengths to reach the filter. This means that you can use this device to test a wide range of gases.
Along with performance, it is equally important to ensure the reliability of gas detection sensors. Many sensors suffer from exposure to environmental conditions such as pollution and excessive humidity. Modern gas analyzers overcome this problem by equipping a thermos electric cooler with a laser diode and tuning the laser wavelength to the specific wavelength used by a particular module. Utilizing high frequency resolution means the technique can detect more significant levels of interactions between gas molecules and light, on the order of parts per billion. This allows for better identification and eliminates the possibility of false alarms.
Importantly, such sensors provide a fast and accurate response without requiring additional gas to operate and can continuously monitor flammable gases or vapors within the LEL. It is also suitable for use in oxygen-poor or oxygen-rich areas, requires little calibration, and is not susceptible to sensor poisoning, contamination, or corrosion.
An infrared filter enables this feature and more. As a result, they are increasingly being used in manufacturing to monitor and reduce gas emissions. Enabling early detection allows operators to take precautions to address leaks and other risks before they occur, protect employees, and maintain regulatory compliance.
Non-dispersive infrared sensors that provide highly sensitive gas detection are essential for effective health, safety and welfare policies. More than that, it helps protect a company's equipment, finances, and its very reputation. While such technology may seem like a small measure, the cost of investing in detection technology is negligible when compared to the potential impact on air quality of doing nothing.
