Believe it or not, thermal imaging technology has been around for almost a century now. It was first discovered way back in the 1920s when it was used exclusively for military purposes.

In this day and age, a thermal imaging camera can be utilized for so many different things. You can use a thermal imaging camera to do everything from carrying out electrical wiring maintenance to responding to the scene of an active house fire.

If you’re going to buy a thermal imaging camera soon, you should give thought to how you’ll use it first. This will play a huge part in helping you pick out the best thermal imaging camera.

You should also take the time to learn about some of the factors that separate good thermal imaging cameras from not-so-good ones. Find out about a few of the factors that will help make a thermal imaging camera great below

Temperature Range

Different thermal imaging cameras can capture different temperature ranges. For this reason, it’ll be important for you to give thought to which temperatures you’re going to be capturing in most images.

You’ll want to search for a thermal imaging camera that’s going to be able to provide you with images at your desired temperatures. It’ll be one of the very first things you should consider when you’re looking for a thermal imaging camera.

Resolution

The vast majority of the thermal imaging cameras on the market today will provide images that have much lower pixel counts than the images taken by regular cameras and even some of the best smartphones. Even still, you will need to factor resolution into the equation when you’re trying to track down a good thermal imaging camera.

The size of the things you’ll be targeting with a thermal imaging camera should be taken into account. The smaller these objects will be, the higher the resolution of a thermal imaging camera will need to be.

Accuracy

The best thermal imaging cameras are going to be capable of doing more than just detecting differences in temperature when you’re using them. They’re also going to be able to calculate these differences in temperature for you.

Because of this, a good thermal imaging camera is going to need to be extremely accurate. The best thermal imaging cameras of the bunch can typically provide ±2% accuracy or better.

Durability

More often than not, you’re probably going to be using a thermal imaging camera in situations that could subject it to wear and tear. As a result, you’ll want this camera to be as durable as it gets.

A good thermal imaging camera like this EVOLUTION® 6000 Xtreme from MSA is going to stand up to almost anything you might throw at it. It’ll also continue to set you up with accurate readings no matter what might be going on around it.

Go Shop For a Thermal Imaging Camera

If you believe you could benefit from buying a thermal imaging camera Electrogas in Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton has plenty of options for you to choose from. All our thermal imaging cameras will check the right boxes for you.

We welcome you to shop around on our website for a thermal imaging camera for your specific purposes. We also invite you to reach out to us with any questions you might have about our cameras.

Touch base with us now to get the answers you need.

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Do you know what to do if someone in your workplace suffers cardiac arrest? It can be a panicked situation, especially if you don’t know the signs of one. It’s even more dangerous if you’ve never personally dealt with that kind of situation in the past.

Not many people know how to use a defibrillator, but it can be a crucial tool in an emergency situation. Automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, can dramatically increase a person’s survival rate.

Here are some of the first steps you should take when using an AED unit.

Call for Paramedics

First, and foremost, you’ll want to call the paramedics. Using an AED unit is not a replacement for medical assistance or care. The main purpose of an AED is to increase someone’s survival in the first few minutes of their cardiac arrest. It analyzes the heart rhythm of a victim and shocks it to try to reset that rhythm. This way, blood can continue flowing into all the victim’s vital organs. A professional medical team will be required to stabilize the individual while they recover. You can find a list of emergency numbers online for any location you’re in. There are different numbers for each service, but they can all redirect you to the appropriate one.

Check the Victim’s Breathing

While you’re on the phone, you’ll also want to check the victim’s vitals. Are they still breathing and do they have a pulse? If they’re not breathing, then you may need to give them some chest compressions before using the AED. You can check a person’s pulse by feeling at their neck, the inside of their elbow, or their wrist. It may be easier to detect in certain areas depending on the person. As for their breathing, see if their chest is rising and falling. Put your ear to their mouth and nose to check for airflow. You may also feel their breath against your face.

Follow the AED Prompts

Once you’ve located an AED, you’ll need to place the electrode pads onto the victim’s bare chest. One pad goes on the upper right side while the other goes slightly below the armpit on the left side. The defibrillator will automatically analyze the person’s heart rate. You should stop CPR at this point. If the victim’s heart is in some kind of cardiac arrest, then the device will let you know if they need a shock. You can then manually press the shock button on the AED to do so.

Keep an AED Around for Emergencies

You never know when someone will have a cardiac arrest episode and need emergency care as soon as possible. Without assistance, they may pass away long before the ambulance even arrives. An AED allows you to jumpstart the heart and help it regain a normal rhythm. Electrogas in Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton area has all the supplies you need for gas detection, safety on the job, and more. We also offer servicing, software, and online training. Contact us to learn about our products.

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A confined space is a space located inside a structure or system where work is done. But not all internal spaces fit the definition of a confined space—the inside of an airplane hangar, for instance, would not be considered a confined space. Alberta’s OHS Code defines a confined space as:

A confined space means a restricted space which may become hazardous to a worker entering it because of

• an atmosphere that is or may be injurious by reason of oxygen deficiency or enrichment, flammability, explosivity or toxicity,

• a condition or changing set of circumstances within the space that presents a potential for injury or illness, or
• the potential or inherent characteristics of an activity which can produce adverse or harmful consequences within the space.

Communicating and monitoring when working in a confined space should be constant. Environmental elements can change unexpectedly, which makes communicating with workers outside the confined space difficult. It is also essential to use products designed to maintain safety and communication in any confined space situation.

Develop the Code of Practice

It is essential when dealing with confined space entry to develop and employ a code of practice to ensure worker safety. A code of practice for confined space entry contains more than just procedures for doing the entry itself. The code of practice must also include the following:

• Description of confined space(s) at the work site
• Reasons for work involving entry into confined spaces
• Identification of hazards that may be present in the confined space(s)
• Worker training requirements
• Entry permit system
• Procedures for each type of confined space entry and the work inside the confined space
• Testing the atmosphere
• Ventilation, purging and inerting
• Isolation of hazardous substances and energy
• Emergency response

Product elements of successful confined space management

For over 25 years, Electrogas has been an Alberta-based safety supply company servicing several industrial, commercial, and Governmental sectors within Western Canada. As we have continued to diversify our portfolio – we continue to add products essential for safety and effective confined space entry.

1. Instrumentation – safety devices such as gas detectors and lone worker solutions are used to monitor and report on any potential hazards in an environment. These items are designed to detect potential hazards within a confined space such as depleted oxygen levels or life-threatening toxic gas levels.

View Electrogas Instrumentation Products >>

2. Ventilation – safety devices designed to ensure adequate ventilation, points of fresh air supply and exhaust must be provided. These openings for confined space entry allow for the exhaust of air and be replaced with clean or fresh air.

View Electrogas Ventilation Products >>

3. Respiratory Protection – Respiratory protection is important in locations with potentially hazardous gases, or a lack of oxygen. Respirator types include air-supplied respirators (which bring in breathable air from another source), air-purifying solutions that remove contaminants from the air, particulate respirators (that filter out dust, fumes and mists), chemical cartridge or gas mask respirators (which use replaceable cartridges or canisters that remove the contaminant) and self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) (which provide clean air from a portable air tank).

View Electrogas Respiratory Protection Products >>

4. Fall Protection – Selecting fall protection equipment for confined space entry, exit, and rescue involves three main components: an anchorage (SLR, Tripods, PFL); body support (harnesses); and a connector. In rescue procedures, it is often necessary to use lifting equipment to carry an injured worker to safety. This type of equipment must be attached to a full-body harness when lifting a worker out of vertical space. Electrogas has access to MSA’s industry-leading portfolio of fall protection equipment to ensure the safety of all your workers.

View Electrogas Fall Protection Products >>

5. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) – It is important for workers in hazardous locations to understand what PPE they need to wear. A simple piece of safety gear–such as a hard hat–can save a life. The PPE you use and your access and rescue equipment can mean the difference between getting in and out safely or running into trouble.

View Electrogas Head & Face Protection Products >>

Contact your Electrogas representative today and learn about how our extensive portfolio of safety equipment can assist in the development and deployment of your Code of Practice.

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There were 38,941 non-fatal injury and illness incidents in Alberta workplaces in 2020. Such a high number proves how common workplace accidents are. With this in mind, you should want to keep your workplace safe. Read on to learn some tips for safety in the workplace.

1. Review Safety Procedure
   Employees can’t stay safe if they don’t know how to be safe. Some workplace safety tips are obvious, but not all of them. Be sure to regularly train your employees on safety procedures.
2. Put Up Signs
   Signs can also be a handy way to remind employees to stay safe. You should be able to find simple, easy-to-understand designs related to your workplace’s safety procedures.
3. Take Regular Breaks
   Tired workers are far less coordinated and focused. This state makes them highly vulnerable to making mistakes. Some of these mistakes can cause them to injure themselves.
4. Lessen Workplace Stress
   Stress can also reduce an employee’s ability to perform tasks safely. Learn the signs of stress and figure out what’s causing stress for your workers.
5. Use Proper Clothing
   Make sure your employees know what they need to wear during certain tasks. Have someone check each employee before they start work.
6. Don’t Reward Unsafe Practices
   Skirting certain safety rules can seem productive. Employees may try to push themselves too far, for instance. You should scold them for this and make sure they value safety above all other things.
7. Reward Safe Practices
   Try to encourage following workplace safety procedures by rewarding those who follow safety procedures. You can give them bonuses, trophies, and/or other rewards.
8. Communicate with Employees
   You can’t be everywhere at once. Tell employees to report unsafe practices to you. Then listen to them and fix anything that they mention.
9. Assign Employees to ‘Safety Patrols’
   You can also assign employees to safety patrol teams. These can perform safety checks around your workplace.
10. Keep Things Clean
    Slipping and tripping are often causes of business injuries. You can avoid incidents like these and similar ones by asking employees to keep things clean.
11. Adjust Workplace to Employee Needs
    All employees have physical requirements that need to be met. Make sure that your business equipment and tools are adjusted to reduce strain. For example, make sure that desk chairs are at the right height for each employee.
12. Research Previous Accidents
    When accidents do happen, find out what caused them. Then adjust your workplace practices so that they don’t happen again.

We’ll Help You Maintain Safety in the Workplace

Keep in mind that the results of your efforts for safety in the workplace will be invisible. It’s impossible to know all the accidents you prevented. If this is demotivating, try to remind yourself of all the consequences an injury could bring your business.

Also, consider making your workplace safer with our equipment. We at Electrogas., provide western Canada with gas detection and safety supply equipment. Take a look at our variety of products. You’re sure to find something your business can use.

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Too many workplace accidents occur every day in Canada. That’s why it is essential that businesses make workplace safety a priority. Owners and upper management must take the necessary steps to protect their employees.

Safety equipment can help reduce the number of workplace incidents by protecting your staff. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of maintaining equipment in the workplace.

Need for Safety Equipment

Safety equipment is designed to help you avoid getting injured on the job. Due to its durability and layering, it helps to minimize or eliminate the physical impact if a workplace accident occurs.

With safety precautions in place, employers can offer protection to their personnel. Gloves, safety helmets, glasses, and hearing protection are all parts of work safety equipment.

Operating Consistency

Proper safety gear keeps you safe and makes your job easier and more efficient. This is especially true if you engage in high-risk activities and tasks.

Regular equipment inspections and replacements guarantee a proper level of quality. Many jobs require a precise degree of accuracy, precision, and speed.

Meet Compliance Rules

All active worksites have to meet compliance rules of employee safety set forth by the CCOHS. These regulations are designed to protect your business and employees. If employers fail to meet the rules and regulations set forth by CCOHS they will be charged with legal fees and fines.

Business owners can safeguard the assets and reputation of their company by adhering to regulations. Building trust with clients, potential clients, and suppliers takes time. A significant part of your ability to build trust is determined by your ethical conduct.

Boost Employee Morale

Equipment maintenance directly affects worker morale, workplace safety, and production. Over time, seemingly trivial details can cause tension and worry. If the operator doesn’t maintain their equipment, workers are less likely to treat it properly and responsibly.

If employees suffer from an injury there will be a company-wide drop in morale. Employers can work to improve and maintain employee morale by assuring their staff that their safety is a priority. They should also reassure their staff that they will be cared for in the event of an accident.

Lower Replacement Costs

Some companies misguidedly postpone their maintenance to evade up-front costs. Performing routine maintenance on your safety equipment can save you from hefty repair costs.

Investing in routine equipment maintenance of your safety equipment can protect your finances. If you fail to maintain your equipment when something breaks you will have to stop operations. You will also have to pay out of pocket for replacement equipment.

Maintain Your Safety Equipment

An unsafe work environment can be detrimental to your business. As a business owner, you are responsible for maintaining your safety equipment and keeping your employees safe.

Contact us at Electrogas Monitors Ltd. in Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton for all your gas detection and safety needs.

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That’s why a functional gas monitoring system is vital to human safety in any industrial workplace.

Unfortunately, monitoring systems lose their efficacy over time, which can potentially put your employees at risk from a lack of protection.

Are your company’s gas detection devices up-to-date?

Importance of Gas Monitoring

Gas monitoring saves lives. Even if it seems like the risk is low, gas detection sensors are mandatory in the Canadian oil and gas industry.

Federal and provincial laws require managers to install gas monitoring devices in certain confined spaces. They also require gas monitoring devices when engaging with specific environments (like waste management).

For more information specific to your industry, refer to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety’s guidance.

How a Gas Detection Monitor Works 

A gas detection monitor detects gas with a sensor. Typical sensor technology includes:

• Infrared point or imaging sensors
• Photoionization detectors
• Metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) sensors
• Electrochemical/catalytic sensors

Infrared sensors trigger alarms when specific wavelengths of light are absorbed. Molecules of the target gas (but not air) absorb those lengths of light. Or, they trigger over certain backscatter patterns of the light.

In contrast, MOS sensors sound an alarm when a harmful gas triggers a chemical reaction.

Some sensors are capable of reacting to multiple harmful gasses. Most target a specific, known gas, or they note oxygen depletion.

Trigger Alarm

Systems can incorporate an alarm and a sensor into the same device. A chemical reaction of the wire itself may trigger the alarm.

Other systems use electrodes in a sensor. When the sensor detects a dangerous gas, the electrodes transmit a signal through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or RFID to trigger the alarm.

Why Gas Monitoring System Updates Matter

A gas monitoring system’s sensitivity and accuracy will decrease without regular calibration.

In a system that requires the gas to trigger a chemical reaction to sound the alarm, the reactive compounds degrade over time.

Infrared sensors’ perception of backscatter or wavelength absorption can worsen if the temperature or humidity changes significantly. Water vapour in the air can absorb or reflect wavelengths, which throws the system off.

Gas Detection System Maintenance (Calibration)

Calibration sets your monitor’s reference point. It typically uses a docking station to expose the monitor to a known quantity of gas. Reset the sensor based on that quantity.

Calibrate your system every 1-3 months. For best results, keep a maintenance log.

Bump Test Your Gas Monitoring System: Does It Still Work?

A bump test is a functional test. You can do it with a docking station or manually.

This test exposes sensors to a concentration of gas higher than the alarm. If the alarm doesn’t sound, your system failed the test.

Troubleshooting or Replacing Your Gas Detection System

Any component of a gas monitoring system may be broken. Troubleshoot to determine if the problem is with:

• The sensor
• Tubing
• Alarm mechanism
• Environmental disruption

Once you’ve honed in on the issue, you can repair or replace your system.

Gas Detection Systems and Solutions

Industrial work carries risks. But gas poisoning shouldn’t be one of them.

At Electrogas Monitors Ltd., we carry a wide selection of industry-leading gas detection monitors and equipment for businesses throughout Western Canada. Our certified technicians can also service and repair gas detection products.

Ensure your gas monitoring systems are up to date and protect your employees. Contact us today at our offices in Calgary, Sherwood Park (serving Edmonton), and Red Deer to learn more about our gas detection monitors and services.

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Here’s why a lone worker safety system is both an asset and a necessity for your workplace.

It Makes Provisions for Workplace Safety Hazards and Risks

When deploying safety systems for employees, you’re investing in your people, who are the most critical members of your company. A lone worker safety system is a software system that has an intuitive dashboard, monitoring, alerts, and analytics to help keep people safe. It keeps track of where people are working and gives live access to information when hazards are present.

These systems also let you know that your fall protection safety equipment is in order. When you have an active lone worker safety system, you will have extra eyes and ears for workplace hazards that are seen and unseen.

A Lone Worker Safety System Keeps You in Compliance

As a company, you need to follow the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards to remain in compliance. Alberta has its own set of standards regarding what defines a lone worker and what provisions must be in place to protect them. Employers have an obligation to protect employees working alone by assessing the hazards, eliminating or reducing risks, providing an effective communication system, and training employees.

Meeting these compliance standards will not only help you prioritize safety but also avoid fines and penalties from the government.

Your Employees Will Appreciate a Safe Work Environment

Putting the necessary safety measures into place for lone workers helps your employees feel cared for and appreciated, even when you don’t see them every day.

This builds equity in your company that you can’t put a price tag on. You’ll love the fact that everyone you work with is coming in with high morale and good energy.

You Cut Down on Liabilities

Finally, it’s important that you understand how these systems help you from a legal standpoint.

There are always several workplace injury liabilities at risk when your job involves any sort of manual labour. You cut down on the likelihood of lawsuits and settlements when you control these variables.

Start Improving Workplace Safety Today

The points above explain exactly how a lone worker safety system can help your company by leaps and bounds. Do your due diligence and start shopping for a system that can help you out.

Electrogas Monitors Ltd. has more than four decades of experience helping companies operate safely while mitigating risks. We’d be happy to help you with lone worker solutions in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and throughout Western Canada. Contact us today to learn more about our products.

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Fall Protection Equipment Inspection Guidelines

Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) regulations cover a lot of mandatory guidelines governing the care and maintenance of equipment. This includes the timeframe and frequency of equipment inspections.

All fall protection equipment must be officially inspected annually. This includes safety harnesses, as well as other PPE.

OH&S recommends that fall inspection equipment, and other PPE, be inspected before every use. Canadian workers need to ensure that all harnesses and other equipment are in good, working order every time they work at height or in dangerous locations.

As far as an official inspection, that only needs to occur once a year. According to the CSA, this inspection needs to be conducted by a qualified inspector.

What Inspectors Look For

In order to certify your fall harness and other safety equipment, you need to conduct a thorough inspection. The process starts out with a visual inspection by a qualified inspector.

They will look for any nicks, cuts, or tears in the fabric of your harness. They’ll also look for fraying or any stitching that looks like it’s beginning to come loose.

Certain things, like discolouration, may still allow you to pass inspection. The inspector will want to discover the cause of the defect and make sure that it doesn’t compromise the integrity of the harness.

Inspectors will also look at the tag on your harness. They’ll use that to verify the model, age, limitations, and warnings of your harness. If you don’t have a visible tag on your harness, this could set you up for failure of your inspection.

In regard to other PPE and fall equipment hardware, the inspector will look for a different set of criteria. They’ll want to make sure there’s no rust or corrosion. They’ll also make sure that all springs, bars, and other components are in working order and aren’t showing rust.

Requirements for Inspecting Fall Protection Equipment

When it comes to fall protection equipment, the CSA and OH&S regulations are instrumental in determining when it is required by workers. They also set the standards for how strong and safe it must be.

According to OH&S safety code, fall protection equipment needs to be used when a worker is working from a vehicle or structure 3 meters above the ground. Those requirements change if the surface below where the worker is working is deemed “dangerous”.

A dangerous surface is any flat, hard surface that has a higher likelihood of injuring a worker if they were to fall on it. In those cases, where a worker is working above a dangerous surface, fall protection equipment must be used at heights under 3 m, as well.

These requirements are especially important for lone workers. With no one around to help them, they need to take every precaution to ensure they finish their job safely.

Providing Your Fall Protection Equipment

We know what it’s like for general industry and construction workers. You’re out there every day in the elements, relying on fall protection equipment, lone worker solutions, and gas detection solutions to help you get the job done.

Electrogas Monitors Ltd. has a large selection of quality fall protection equipment available throughout Western Canada. Contact us today at our offices in Calgary, Sherwood Park (serving Edmonton)  and Red Deer to learn more and find the right equipment for the safety of your employees

The post How Often Should You Inspect Your Fall Protection Equipment? appeared first on Electrogas Monitors Ltd..

As such, businesses hire overseers who take responsibility for ensuring the company uses up-to-date equipment. However, businesses often face a critical question. Buying vs. renting personal safety equipment: which is better for business?

Several factors play into this decision, and the answer may vary according to your business needs. In this article, we’ll guide you through the pros and cons to decide which option will work best for your company!

Buying Safety Equipment

There are several benefits to buying personal safety equipment. Companies that buy their equipment receive an assurance of long-term value. These personal safety tools become an investment that pays for itself over repeated use.

Another clear benefit of purchasing equipment is its availability. When you buy safety equipment, your crew can access it as needed. If you rent equipment, there’s always a risk that another company has rented the same gear.

Since you know your crew has access to their tools whenever they need them, you can also avoid downtime. Your workers can work uninterrupted, knowing they won’t need to give up their equipment to other renters.

Lastly, buying safety gear gives you more control over it. You can know where it is, who used it last, and its condition at all times. There should be few surprises in this regard.

Renting Safety Equipment

While buying your safety equipment may seem like the best route, renting offers valuable benefits to your business. When you rent safety equipment, you save money with its reduced initial investment. If you don’t plan to use the equipment regularly, renting can be an ideal solution.

Renting also provides updated equipment, allowing you to choose between the most recent brands and models. If you buy your equipment, there’s always the risk that it could become outdated.

If you rent, you also receive access to a broad selection of products. Because renting costs are much lower than those of purchasing, you can afford to experiment with different tools to see what works best for you.

Buying vs. Renting Personal Safety Equipment: What’s Right For You?

To decide which of these choices is most beneficial to your company, consider a few factors. First, what does your budget allow? Can you afford to purchase satisfactory equipment?

Second, how frequently will you use this equipment? If you don’t rely on it to carry out your daily tasks, renting may prove a better choice. However, if renting could slow you down, it’s probably better to buy safety equipment.

Find Your Optimal Personal Safety Equipment!

The choice of whether you rent or buy personal safety equipment remains up to your business. Whichever you choose, make sure it will benefit your purposes in the long term.

When you look for safety equipment, search for companies that service many types of industries. Electrogas Monitors carries safety gear and equipment for a variety of industries. We serve all of Western Canada, with 3 locations in Red Deer, Calgary, and Edmonton. Contact us today to learn more about our rental safety equipment to protect yourself or your workers.

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