The incident at the Lubrizol chemical plant in Rouen, France, is a powerful reminder that the most drastic safety measures are a must in explosive (Ex) environments.
Safety and health in the workplace, also known as occupational safety, is a fairly recent concept that can be traced back to the first industrial revolution when factory owners began to consider it as a labour-related...
Natural disasters strike at regular intervals on our planet. Every year natural disasters leave huge areas totally devastated. Many experts point the finger at climate change for the increased intensity of storms...
Every year sees its share of oil spills, gas leaks or industrial explosions that could have dire consequences for human beings as well as for the environment. They can be caused by the wrong or faulty equipment, poor...
I recently attended an international conference in Barcelona. The event was about safety solutions and, among other topics, it also dealt with hazardous areas. For me, as the IECEx Chair, there were many interesting...
Explosive (Ex) atmospheres – also termed hazardous areas/locations – which can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts, are by no means restricted to the oil, gas and petrochemical industry...
Natural disasters may lead to industrial accidents but man, through non observance of strict safety measures, is more often than not responsible for damages, injuries and fatalities.
Faced with a “What-will-you-be-when-you-grow-up” question, a kid will choose rather conventional careers such as policeman/woman, astronaut, teacher, football player, actor, or singer; models and TV stars are more recent...
In just six years, the IECEx international conferences have made their mark and have become must-attend events on the annual conference circuit for the Ex industry sector. After Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2012...
The times when a degree was the ultimate stage in your educational development are long gone. And so are the jobs for life. People today are more likely to switch profession more than once in their lifetime. They may...
Every year, the IEC pays tribute to people from its organization, for their distinguished work and commitment to improving the safety, compatibility and energy efficiency of electrical products and systems, with its...
Year in, year out, the list of incidents happening in hazardous areas doesn’t seem to be diminishing. The oil and gas sector has had its share of fires and explosions, obviously, that have been widely reported both in...
Natural and industrial or accidental disasters can take many forms and have devastating human and material consequences. Some may be prevented or their impact mitigated through forecast, others not. Rescuing victims and...
IECEx, the IEC System for Certification for Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres, chose to hold the 2017 IECEx International Conference in Shanghai, China, on 11-12 April 2017.
Explosions in a wide range of industrial or other installations can be caused by the wrong or faulty equipment, and/or by poor operating procedures or mistakes. Risks can be significantly reduced if equipment and systems...
Natural and industrial or accidental disasters can take many forms and have devastating human and material consequences. Some may be forecast, others not, and there may be a range of significantly different outcomes...
When the term electric vehicle (EV) comes up, it usually brings to mind electric cars and possibly buses or other means of urban transportation. Seldom do we see the mention of industrial vehicles, although they...
Some industry sectors are automatically associated with explosive (Ex) atmospheres – oil and gas, petrochemical plants, mining and in particular coal mining. Many others won’t necessarily come to mind although the risk...
The oil and gas industry sector has faced many challenges in recent years. The severe drop in oil prices has affected companies and economies throughout the world. In parallel, the need to for developed and developing...
