The growing industrialization across the globe has forced tech companies to invent new products for the safety and betterment of people and organisations, as a whole. The petro-chemical and oil and gas industries are considered high-risk work environments as the atmosphere can be highly-combustible due to the presence of flammable materials and gases.
Safety is a major concern, especially for such businesses that run in hazardous environments. One of the most obvious risks of low lighting in an industrial setting is the potential for accidents and injuries. Poor lighting can make it difficult for workers to see their surroundings, leading to slips, trips, and falls. It can also make it challenging for workers to see hazards and other potential dangers, such as machinery or chemicals. In addition, due to low lighting, workers often fail to accurately gauge the distance between themselves and other objects, increasing the risk of collisions or other accidents. This can lead to low productivity and inefficiency. Poor lighting can make it difficult for workers to see what they are doing, leading to errors and higher risk of equipment manhandling and accidents.
Conduct regular lighting assessments: It is essential to regularly assess lighting conditions in your industrial setting to identify areas that may be poorly lit. This can help you identify areas where additional lighting may be needed and allow you to take steps to improve lighting conditions.
Use natural light whenever possible: Natural light can be a great source of lighting in an industrial setting, primarily if it can be directed to where it is needed most. Consider using skylights or other methods to bring natural light to your facility.
Use task lighting: In some cases, it may be necessary to supplement natural light with artificial lighting. In these cases, it is essential to use task lighting designed to provide the right amount of light for specific tasks. This can help workers see what they are doing more clearly and reduce the risk of errors and fatalities.
Upgrade lighting systems: If your facility's lighting system is outdated or insufficient, it may be time to upgrade. Investing in a new, energy-efficient lighting system can improve lighting conditions and save money on energy costs in the long run.
Without optimising the safety levels, the company might show poor work efficiency and higher business costs. The infrastructure in these locations is highly customised, right from lighting to high-tech equipment to minimise the risk of danger. Investing in safety equipment in the potentially hazardous environment does more than thwart the risk of explosions. They boost the operational efficiency, increase productivity, and generate higher ROI in the long run. This is why explosion-proof lighting has become a crucial asset of the industrial setup, as these lights are responsible for providing adequate illumination in low light areas and maintaining the integrity of the work safety.
The term “explosion-proof” is often misunderstood as the technology that makes these lights capable of resisting fires or explosions and remaining intact. Instead, these lights are designed to contain and prevent any spark arising from a short-circuit inside that framework escaping, and mixing with some flammable material outside, which could have triggered an explosion.
These lighting solutions are designed to prevent catastrophic incidents in hazardous petro-chemical environments and oil and gas rigs. Choosing a traditional light over an explosion-proof light can be quite dangerous as the former is not designed to function in challenging and volatile working environments.
Explosion-proof lights are quite different from the standard lights. The robust design consists of a thick metallic or steel frame with strong lenses. Additionally, the entire encasing obstructs internal spark from coming in contact with the inflammable sources in the nearby atmosphere. Further, stainless steel has the lowest thermal conductivity, which means fewer chances of emitting heat. This reduces the risk of accidents and improves the overall safety of the workers, as well as, the expensive assets in the premises.
OSHA recommends ATEX-certified explosion-proof lights for use in hazardous locations. These areas include flammable vapours, combustible dust or fibres, and liquids or gases. Below are the zone classifications stipulating the environmental and safety hazard requirements:
This area covers the combination of highest risk industrial areas of Zone 0 and Zone 1:
Zone 0
This region encompasses the location where high concentrations of flammable vapours, gases, liquid or dust are always present for extended periods during operations.
Zone 1
This area might have combustible dust, liquid or gases present at any time during the regular day-to-day operations.
Also known as Zone 2, these locations do not have flammable by-products present during usual operations. However, concentrations of combustible materials might be present or suddenly occur under abnormal circumstances such as an unexpected leak. Under a general rule, these abnormal conditions should not exceed more than 10 hours a year.
Apart from these, several unclassified or non-hazardous locations belong neither in Class nor Division 1 or 2, or any other combination of these. For example, the various commercial setup uses aerosol sprays that might have combustible gases, but are still not considered as a high risk to trigger an explosion.
It goes without saying that several industries, such as oil refineries, gas plants, chemical processing, explosives, mines, etc., have to regularly deal with the challenges of managing work in these dangerous environments. And if the process or operation is in confined spaces, then the challenge becomes even bigger. Below listed are some important benefits of Explosion-Proof LED Lights:
In low-light or dark conditions, the workers with roles like cleaning or inspecting a massive tank that contains combustible gases, not only need protective equipment but also a good lighting source assuring safety from an explosion. Here the explosion-proof light can be a valuable and safest option to minimise the chances of an accident during the cleaning and inspecting operation, thus preventing damage to the life of the worker and the property.
Another benefit of choosing explosion-proof lights over traditional lights is their energy-efficient characteristics. The presence of LEDs assures 90 per cent less power consumption than the regular lights. And the highly robust design and durability make sure they return as much as 100,000 hours of service without interruption. High durability and efficiency also minimise the maintenance cost, which in turn contributes to improved ROI.
The term "ATEX" applies to atmospheres that are potentially explosive due to the possible presence of dusts, vapours, or gases that are likely to ignite or explode. ATEX is a European directive that certifies certain products to be used in an inflammable working atmosphere, such as zone 1 and zone 2 categories.
The ATEX certification makes explosion-proof LED lights different from the standard fitments. The certification for ATEX LED lights means these lights are specifically made for hazardous working environments where there are chances of combustible material present in the atmosphere. Investing in ATEX-certified safety technology ensures that your industry is compliant with the safety standards outlined by OSHA. This helps the companies avoid hefty fines and legal fees resulting from non-compliance, especially in the case of accidents.
The explosion-proof ATEX LED Lights are made from stainless steel or coated with aluminium, which makes them comparatively stronger than traditional lights. These LED luminaires are designed with tempered-glass and heat-resistant materials for optimum performance in hazardous zones.
LED explosion-proof lights have dramatically lower maintenance costs, as compared to traditional lights, because their robust build makes them extremely durable. In large industrial areas, accessing and replacing light-fittings at various locations can be a complex and painstaking process. In terms of time and cost, the unmatched longevity of LED explosion-proof lights will eventually cut down the maintenance budget significantly, further contributing to the improved ROI.
Read More : Importance of Explosion-Proof Cameras for Onshore and Offshore Operations
Choosing the right lighting that meets your unique requirements could save several lives and protect assets. Moreover, the solid and energy-efficient design can make your business really profitable. SharpEagle has a range of explosion-proof lights that are tailor-made to always keep your staff safe and provide value to your business. Visit our website to explore the complete range of our explosion-proof lighting solutions or book a free consultation call for customised recommendations for your work site.
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