Archive for June, 2011
Total Safety Acquires S&H Services
Posted by admin in Industrial Safety Services & Equipment, Specialized Safety Personnel on June 27, 2011
Total Safety recently acquired S&H Services, providers of safety cosultants to the oil and gas industries, with a concentration in pipelines.
This acquisition allows Total Safety to provide high-quality safety solutions and products in a measurable, cost-effective manner, without compromise. Total Safety has the people and processes to ensure that only the highest caliber of Specialized Safety personnel (SSP) is assigned to each of your projects. Whether you rely on our Safety Attendant or Safety Technician services, you can trust that our high standards increase safety and efficiency and reduce your costs.
For more information on our Specialized Safety Personnel, visit our website at TotalSafety.com.
Industrial Hygiene is a Must in Pipeline Operations
Posted by admin in Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health and Safety on June 20, 2011
Accidents involving pipelines have jumped from 9 in 2008 to 22 in 2010
By Mandy Sunderland, Senior Industrial Hygienist
Pipeline accidents and fatalities have been on the rise, jumping from nine in 2008 to 22 in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. There is a growing recognition that America’s aging oil and gas infrastructure may be playing a part in this increase.
Major overhauls may be required to prevent events such as the September 9, 2010, natural-gas explosion that devastated a neighborhood in Northern California. In this case, a 50 year old pipeline ruptured at a defective seam weld and the ensuing explosion killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in early April 2011 an initiative to repair and replace the nation’s pipelines. Texas alone has about 16% of the nation’s gas transmission lines and more than half of these lines were laid more than 40 years ago, which makes them more vulnerable to failure. In Texas, there are roughly 46,000 miles of gas transmission lines that pipeline employees must cover on a regular basis. The increased activity to support the anticipated pipeline repair and replacement initiative will require a large number of people working together to conduct repairs that present significant exposure potential to hazardous activities not encountered during normal operations.
Given the nature of the business, exposure monitoring in pipeline operations presents some real logistical challenges, and it may be hard to conduct monitoring in a cost effective manner. As these projects become more numerous, the regular work force may be unable to handle the increased load, and thus, less experienced workers may be used, which presents additional hazard potential.
Potential risks may include exposures to acetone, and alkylates, to benzene, butadiene, hydrogen sulfide and kerosene depending on your operations. Exposures may be encountered during pipeline activities and by tanker, rail car, ship and barge operations.
As we all know, a Work Place Exposure Assessment (WEA) is at the heart of any successful industrial hygiene program. A comprehensive WEA takes a fresh look at tasks, materials, exposure potential and controls through a systematic approach and associated process. It results in a clearly prioritized list of actions that help ensure the well being of workers. Along with reducing incidents, benefits include reduced liability, increased productivity and safety awareness, and conformance with regulations and industry standards.
A facility without a current WEA may sample unnecessary materials, bringing with it a false sense of security. This can occur when changes in operations, processes or materials are not recognized and evaluated. A well conducted WEA will identify the necessary medical surveillance and training, as well as the specific control equipment and personal protective equipment that are suited to the specific pipeline maintenance task and the non-routine exposures that might occur during replacement or renovation. Most companies recognize the benefits of conducting WEAs, but when it comes to pipeline operations, completing the process sometimes slips off the radar, partially due to the highly mobile and dispersed work force. While it is tempting to put WEAs on ‘the back burner’ during business planning and budgeting, this can be a costly and even a deadly mistake.
Since 2002, the DOT has been required by law to identify the highest risk lines and mandate repairs. So this might be you! So hear it through the pipeline and complete your WEA ASAP to avoid potential risk, reduce your liability and increase employee safety and morale on the job!
If you would like additional information regarding Work Place Exposure Assessments or creating a custom industrial hygiene program, call us at 888.44.TOTAL or email us.
Total Safety – The Best Minds in the Business!
The FCC Narrowbanding Mandate
Posted by admin in Communications Solutions on June 17, 2011
Frequency Wave
There is a critically important Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate phasing in soon that can greatly affect your organization’s overall radio communications. The mandate is designed to benefit radio users in the VHF and UHF frequency bands. If your organization currently uses two-way radio communications, you must pay particular attention to narrowbanding. Failure to comply with the FCC’s Narrowbanding Mandate may result in loss of FCC license, or large fines.
The Narrowbanding Mandate refers to the requirement by the FCC that all existing licensees in the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Part 90 VHF 150-170 Megahertz (MHz) and UHF 421-512 MHz spectrum band use equipment designed to operate on channel bandwidths of 12.5 kilohertz (kHz) or less or which meets a specific efficiency standard. 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands are not affected by this mandate. Licensees must convert their existing wideband (25 kHz) systems to narrowband (12.5 kHz) operation, and operate in a 12.5 KHz efficiency standard. Any equipment not capable of operating on channels of 12.5 kHz or less must be replaced. If FCC licenses are not modified for narrowband operation by the end of 2012, the license will expire.
Below are some myths and FAQs:
- Does narrowbanding require me to implement digital equipment? No. Licensees can operate in either analog or digital formats as long as you operate at 12.5 kHz efficiency.
- How do I upgrade my existing 12.5 kHz capable equipment? In most cases, radio programming software can be used to reprogram the subscriber and base station radios to operate at 12.5 kHz. Typically, infrastructure site equipment does not require any changes.
- Will migration to 12.5 kHz change my system coverage area? Possibly — conduct tests during conversion to ensure your system continues to provide similar coverage.
- Does narrowbanding require me to change frequencies or obtain new channels? No. Licensees migrating from 25 kHz channels to 12.5 kHz channels stay on the same channel centers. You only reduce the bandwidth of your current channel and change the emission designator on your license.
- Will I receive two 12.5 kHz channels when I change from my currently licensed 25 kHz channel? No. As noted above, you remain on the same 25 kHz channel center, not splitting the channel into two 12.5 kHz channels. If you need additional capacity, you will need to apply for additional 12.5 kHz channels to the FCC through your frequency coordinator.
- Has the FCC established a schedule for mandatory migration to 6.25 kHz efficiency? No. The FCC has not set any date by which licensees must operate in 6.25 kHz efficiency. The current mandate only requires users to migrate to 12.5 kHz efficiency by Jan. 1, 2013.
Now is the time to prepare to meet mandate
The deadline is approaching quickly — the mandate will be in effect at the end of next year. Your license must be modified for narrowband, and your equipment must meet the 12.5 KHz efficiency standard.
Please take these steps:
- Complete an inventory of your radios to assess what equipment is capable of operating in 12.5 kHz and what equipment will need to be replaced. The FCC required all radios certified since 1997 to include a 12.5 kHz efficiency mode, so most new equipment likely is dual mode 25/12.5 kHz that can be converted via software. Radios may need to be reprogrammed. Others may need to be replaced.
- Consider that operational coverage may diminish after analog narrowbanding. Conduct tests during conversion to ensure your system continues to provide similar coverage.
- Establish a funding plan, as well as a conversion and implementation schedule.
- Coordinate your conversion with neighboring agencies or facilities to facilitate continued interoperability if needed.
If you are unsure that your communications equipment will be compliant, contact us today at 888.44.TOTAL and schedule an assessment with our experts.
Total Safety - The Best Minds in the Business!
Total Safety’s Essington, Pennsylvania Office Moves to Aston
Posted by admin in Industrial Safety Service Centers on June 6, 2011
We have relocated our Essington, Pennsylvania office to Aston, Pennsylvania.
You can now find us at:
20 McDonald Blvd., Suite 100
Aston, PA 19014
Phone: 610.521.3323
Toll Free: 866.375.0200
Fax: 610.521.3299
We will still offer the same top-of-the-line industrial safety products and services, just from our new facility! For additional locations, please visit our Industrial Safety Service Centers page
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