Tag: Safety Engineering
-
6 Types of Machine Guards
What is Machine Guarding? Most machines have cutting blades or rotating/moving parts that can cause bodily harm if they come in contact with plant workers operating the equipment or working nearby. To protect workers from hazards related to machinery, machine guards are used. Machine guarding is a safety mechanism that typically comprises of a shield…
-
Residential Electrical Wiring: Key Safety Considerations
Residential Electrical Wiring Overview A residential electric power service typically consists of a three wire ac system supplied by the local power utility company. A distribution transformer with a primary and two secondaries formed with a center tap on the secondary side is shown below: The distribution transformer is located on the utility pole, from…
-
Demand Mode vs. Continuous Mode Safety Function
Demand Mode Safety Function Demand mode safety function is where a specified action is taken in response to process conditions or other demands. In the event of a dangerous failure of the SIF, a potential hazard only occurs in the event of a failure of the process of BPCS (Basic Process Control System). Demand mode…
-
What is the Safety Instrumented Function (SIF)?
The safety instrumented function (SIF) is used to monitor a selected process parameter and takes an executive action to make the process safe, if certain limits are exceeded. An illustration of safety instrumented function in a process plant is shown below: The figure above illustrates a gas pipeline which supplies a feed to a power…
-
How HAZOP Technique is used to identify Hazards in a Process
In functional safety, hazards are events which have the potential to cause harm such as personal injury, damage to the environment or the business. Hazards in the process industry might include: the pressure of liquid in a vessel (high pressure may result in loss of containment, leaks or vessel rupture), the level of liquid in…
-
Safety Function in a Machine Control System
A safety function is executed by the safety-related parts of the machine control system to achieve or maintain the equipment under control in a safe state with respect to a specific hazard. A failure of the safety function can result in an immediate increase of the risks of using the equipment; that is, a hazardous…
-
How Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) is used as a Safety Device
The function of a ground fault interrupter (GFI) is to disconnect the power if a current leakage to ground is detected. GFI is also termed to as Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). We have two types of ground fault interrupters: those designed for life protection and those designed for equipment protection. GFI used for life…
-
Methods of Protecting Instruments from Explosive Atmospheres
The protection method used in a specific hazardous location depends on the application, the technology available and the specific explosive atmosphere present. In this article, we discuss the following methods of protection: Table 1 provides the summary information for each protection method. The codes are used in the markings or labels for apparatus and enclosures.…