Chemicals and explosives are obviously hazardous, as are industrial gases.

Cat^® Lift Trucks can confidently say that its forklift trucks are suitable for most normal materials handling circumstances, but there are situations where special treatment is necessary.

Chemicals and explosives are obviously hazardous, as are industrial gases, for example, but even everyday items such as foodstuffs or drinks can also be dangerous. In the right - or rather, wrong! - conditions, even baking powder and flour can be explosive. If you are operating in dangerous or challenging environments, then help and advice is at hand.

"There is an extensive array of legislation within the European Union that covers hazardous materials and dangerous environments, along with the measures that are required to manage them and make them safe," said Matthew Shirkie, Industrial Commercial Manager, EMEA, with Pyroban.

Other countries have their own regulations and some - such as China's - can require modifications over and above Europe's.

Hazardous area classification

The first step in avoiding disaster and ensuring a safe working environment is the completion of a 'hazardous risk assessment'. This will cover the likelihood of explosive atmospheres and any source(s) of ignition.

A systematic review will identify, and classify into zones, areas within the premises where potentially explosive atmospheres exist.

The danger with flour, for example, is that fine particles of it can be explosive if suspended in the air in a confined space. A simple spark from an electric lift truck can set off a catastrophic explosion.

"Diesel trucks are modified so that the operating temperature of the engine is reduced below the required class level," said Shirkie. "A water-cooled jacket cools exhaust gases, and temperature probes are fitted in order to monitor engine, exhaust gas and manifold temperatures."

Heat and fine dust in aluminium smelters can clog up filters.

Pyroban's modifications also include spark arrestors and shutdown valves in order to inhibit ingestion of gases, which can cause overspeed running and potentially generate exhaust flame.

"Once a truck has been modified to meet the necessarily high safety standards, the right maintenance is essential to ensure it stays that way,"" he emphasised. "Any attention by untrained engineers is strongly discouraged as procedures that are not totally compliant can compromise the explosion-proofing in a matter of seconds.""

Potentially explosive atmospheres are not the only challenges that forklift truck operators have to cope with. Heat and fine dust in aluminium smelters can clog up filters and accelerate wear in machine components.

The heat has been known to melt rotating warning lights; a solution provided by Al Bahar, Cat^® Lift Trucks' dealer in the Middle East, was to provide an LED beacon with a different lens material.

At the other extreme, Cat^® Lift Trucks has been a sponsor of a project from the University of Utrecht which sent a solar-powered vehicle to Antarctica.

Whatever the challenge, across a range of situations and temperatures, Cat® Lift Trucks has the expertise to rise to it.

For further information on Cat^® Lift Trucks, please visit www.catlifttruck.com. See them in action via www.lifttrucks.tv and follow the news on Facebook and Twitter.

Please contact:

Monica Escutia, Manager Marketing Communications:
Tel: +31 (0)36 549 4328
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