Working in a safe environment

Every employee wants to work in a safe environment. Althoughsafety at work seems obviously to many, there are also numeroussituations in which safety is neglected. Small details can be vitallyimportant, especially when people are working with explosive orcombustible substances. Chalmit Lighting knows all about this. For85 years now, the company has been producing light fixtures forwhat are known as risk environments.

In some sectors – the petrochemicalsector, oil platforms et cetera – the people have to be extra careful on all sides. This is certainly true for the light fixtures, because the smallest spark could cause a chain reaction.” The speaker is Archie Haughey, sales and marketing director for Chalmit Lighting. “What is special about electricity is that it can spark, and moisture can accelerate that. In some situations, an incident of this type can be catastrophic.” This means that any and every possible risk must be addressed. Not only preventing sparks, but also ensuring that the fixture does not heat up, because this could also cause an explosion. “This means that the light fixtures used in environments of this type must be absolutely safe: all possible risks must be eliminated,” says Haughey.

Protector

Chalmit Lighting supplies light fixtures of this type on a daily basis. Together with Nedap, a TL fixture named Protecta was developed. This fixture can be used without problem in areas in which explosive gases, vapours, et cetera can occur. Haughey: “Three things are needed for an explosion: fuel, oxygen and some type of ignition. Our products prevent uncontrolled ignition in an extremely safe manner.” Naturally, Chalmit Lighting’s products satisfy the most important international laws and regulations. “And those are strict, especially for areas and environments with a risk of explosion.”

Protecta is used in situations including areas classified as Zone 1. These are locations in which combustible gases and other explosion-sensitive materials can be present from ten to a maximum of one thousand hours per year. Think of oil and gas production platforms at sea, or a refinery. “The oil and gas business is our largest sales market,” according to Haughey.

With Protecta, it is impossible for an electric spark to be released when the light unit (which can be used in extremely large numbers in an industrial environment) is switched on or off. “Our products provide safety on the work floor. That is extremely important: no one wants accidents to happen.