Safe and health –friendly is the primary necessity in every country. In the United States, Occupation Safety and Health Association (OSHA) requires employers to ensure workplaces are safe and hazard free. All industries are under OSHA regulations. These regulations govern the chemical industry.
These are specific rules concerning use of non-sparking tools in chemical equipment industries working with acetylene. Do you want to know these tools that help acetylene plant owners to adhere to OSHA guidelines? What are the benefits of non-sparking tools?
A Brief Introduction to Non-sparking Tools
Non-sparking tools protect against fire and explosions in those environments with flammable chemicals, materials, fuels, gases, and residues. In most occasions, these tools are referred to as spark-proof, spark-resistant or spark-reduced.
These tools are made from various non-ferrous materials such as brass, bronze, copper-beryllium alloys, monel metal, and copper-aluminum alloys.
Reasons why non-sparking tools are used in Acetylene plants
Below are some benefits of using non-sparking tools in a chemical plant using acetylene equipment or acetylene gas.
- Corrosion Resistance– Most of these tools made from the fore mentioned metals; hence, they exhibit strong corrosion resistance due to the materials used to make them. .On top of that, spark-free tools are also ideal for applications where they may come in contact with acids, alkalis, and various other types of chemicals.
- Non-magnetic– In most cases, Magnetism is the main feature for ferrous metals. As seen most these tools are made from non-magnetic metals. This helps in reducing the chances of magnetic or electronic disturbances in the plants, especially where acetylene is used. Also, the set of tools is not affected when they are used in acetylene.
- Durability– Many non-sparking tools are made from copper alloys. Also, low tensile strength steels are used for this construction. However, this does not mean non-sparking tools are softer. Like regular tools, non-sparking tools are durable and robust enough to withstand regular chemical activities.
As from above, non-sparking tools are safe for those users in volatile environments. The critical aspect for the effectiveness of these tools, maintain them in good working condition.
Maintenance Tips for Non-sparking Tools
The following are easy tips that you can use to maintain these tools:
- After using the tools, you should clean them to avoid contaminants settling on their surfaces.
- Use the right tool for the prescribed task in the acetylene plant. This is very helpful because it prevents the tool from slipping and causing sparking.
- Moist acetylene is the number one enemy for these tools. Therefore, don’t store tools in an area that exposes them to moist acetylene.
- Use quality non-sparking tools. You can source these tools from a reliable supplier that have the reputation of selling quality tools.
Conclusion
Chemicals are very violent. Before you start operating in such an environment, you should know the type of compound you’re dealing with. Is it corrosive or non-corrosive? This will give an idea on how to fix your tools properly without causing any menace.
Ensure you are operating in a dry environment. This prevents you with any reaction that may occur when the tools come in contact with a moist environment. Finally, use quality and right-sized tools. This will save you from unnecessary sparking. Also, it prevents the tools from slipping while on duty. For more details, Stahlwille is there for you.
