Blog

Before we upgraded our facilities, sent our tech guys to Level 3 BW Honeywell gas monitor training, and increased our factory-direct parts supply to become a BW Factory Authorized Service Center, these guys were already pretty unbearable. Sure it was handy to have someone around who could drill down to the smallest detail of monitor capabilities and explain error codes while grabbing their lunch from the company fridge. It's the calibration knowledge, the sensor life, the warranty informat …

Just after you have ordered your fall protection equipment (hopefully from pksafety.com) is the perfect time to update your rescue plan.   What?  You don’t have a rescue plan?  Well, you are not alone.  Many conscientious companies provide equipment and training for the PPE issued on site, but fail to see the scenarios through.  What happens to your workers after a fall occurs? The danger of suspension trauma – where blood flow is cut off by harness stra …

The BW GasAlert Max XT II is a humdinger of a detector, both for its ease of usage and reasonable price. In my opinion, this is the best gas detector to buy if you’re entering a confined space or septic tank. This one button unit makes it perfect for both the glove crowd and the technologically challenged. Plus, its simple operation makes tampering with its functions nearly impossible (a helpful feature if you want to ensure that you crew doesn’t decide to change any o the setting without …

Everyone knows a few things that make manholes dangerous: alligators, phantom of the opera, and C.H.U.D.s, to name a few. You’re on your own when it comes to those things, but I can offer advice on other hazardous stuff that can happen in and around a manhole. Thankfully, the right preparation can guarantee safety within this confined space. It is necessary to have a certificate that validates the safety of the confined space before entering a manhole. Don’t just test it yourself by tos …

Gravity is a harsh mistress. In a confined space, she truly plays for keeps. Petzl, a French company started by cave explorers and mountain climbers, understands the dangers of confined space jobs better than anyone else in the industry. Pksafety.com is excited to be the first company in the US to offer Petzl products solely with confined space worksites in mind. Our experts have put together kits that meet the unique safety demands of confined spaces and take the guesswork out of starin …

Gas measurement is without a doubt the most important part of confined space safety. Do it right, and you and your crew go home at the end of the day—do it wrong, and you might never go home again! So if you're a newbie (or even a little rusty), you've got to do your homework. Here's the first lesson: get the right tools! If you already have a gas monitor, take it out and look at it. Without this device you are nothing! It always has to be with you in any confined space — no excuses! But m …

Tripod systems are the norm in confined space entry and retrieval. They're excellent tools, but they don't work in every situation. Thankfully, Capital Safety's Advanced 5-Piece Hoist Davit System is an alternative that can take you where standard tripods can't. The tripod's archenemy is the square entry hatch. Regular tripods won't fit over them, so you've got to call for a bigger tripod if you encounter one in the field. However, this doesn't apply to Capital Safety's davit, which is …

Confined spaces can be very spooky places. With inhabitants like molds, creepy crawlies and deadly gases, it's easy to see why: they're among the harshest places on the planet. A rural Maine community experienced this firsthand when Winfield Studley and Richard Kemp, two workers with Stevens Electric and Pump Services, suddenly went missing on the job. The two had spent the morning draining and servicing a flooded sewage tank connected to a local inn. At some point over the cou …

What are confined space signs? Confined space signs simply warn people that an area is considered a confined space. A Confined spaces is large enough for a person to enter, but have restricted means of exit. This might be a tank, a tunnel, a sewer or some other industrial space. There is usually only one restrictive (smaller than a doorway) way in or out, and it is not designed for continuous occupancy. Lack of adequate ventilation also plays a factor. Why are they necessary? Confine …

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a deadly gas common at many industrial work sites. It must be handled carefully because its toxicity is similar to cyanide, and even slight exposure comes with a host of health concerns. Where does it come from? H2S has few industrial applications on its own, but can be used to harvest sulfur, one of the most useful and versatile elements in the industry. It is commonly sourced from natural gas and petroleum deposits for this purpose. Even if you do …