NEW ROBOTIC SAFE HANDLING SYSTEM FOR HAZARDOUS AREAS


Experts from the Manufacturing Technology Centre have developed a new system for the remote safe handling of hazardous items. The technology-enabled process uses advanced robotics, allowing operators to carry out intricate tasks safely and accurately. Engineers at the MTC, working with the nuclear


industry, have developed the “REACHER” demonstrator which brings together a range of innovative technology to demonstrate safe handling operations in hazardous environments. It has the potential to remove the need for manual processes or traditional glove boxes. The technology - developed by the MTC’s


mechatronics and robotics teams - combines robotics and virtual reality to ensure the operator gets the correct “feel” from a process with real-time haptic feedback, which makes it feel like a manual process. The control technology behind the remote


handling demonstrator can be scaled to micro- assembly operations such as those in electronics


manufacturing, as well as to large scale operations such as lifiting and positioning bodywork panels for aerospace and automotive manufacture. MTC technology director Ken Young said the


new process needed further development, but potentially had a multitude of applications across a wide range of sectors, with the advantage of scalability to volume operations. “As well as the obvious applications, such as


the safe remote handling of dangerous or radioactive items, this technology could also be used in the pharmaceutical or food sectors. It is robust, reliable and cost-effective and capable of a wide range of operations from handling samples from space to packaging food items without contamination,” he said. “As well as being safe, it is more accurate and


quicker than many conventional operations and has the advantage of being scaleable for larger scale operations. It uses off-the-shelf robotics technology, based on the principles of remote surgery and can be integrated into other


operations. With the learning they have gathered the team is going on to further develop the technology. Now, this proof of concept needs de-risking to turn it into an industrial application,” he added. In addition to the physical demonstrator the


MTC team has also created a real-time controlled virtual reality simulation platform that can be used for training purposes, further reducing the risk from hazardous operations. www.the-mtc.org


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W


elcome to the


Autumn issue of Industrial Compliance. As more workers return to the


workplace, companies need to consider the health and safety of employees more than ever. This might include ensuring that the correct PPE is available (see page 14) or even see the introduction of extraction systems (find out more on page 12). But while introducing new safety measures, it is important not to let day-to-day maintenance checks and inspection planning regimes to get lost along the way. We shine a spotlight on this on page 26.


Victoria White - Editor NEW BSI KITEMARK FOR FACE COVERINGS


As face coverings become increasingly part of our everyday lives, BSI, the business improvement company, has launched a BSI Kitemark for Face Coverings. The new Kitemark assesses face coverings to a technical specification that requires 70 per cent particle filtration and breathability tests to ensure consumer comfort whilst reducing the risk of spreading infection. Face coverings differ from PPE and medical grade face masks in that they are intended to protect those in close proximity to the wearer, not the wearer themselves. Whilst a vast number of face coverings are already


available on the market, their performance and design may differ significantly. On top of breathability and filtering, the new BSI Kitemark for Face Coverings provides independent approval of the quality of the fitting, and the instructions provided to the wearer to minimize the chances of transmission. Howard Kerr, chief executive of BSI commented:


COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL


During a time of crisis, having clear communications with employees, to keep them up-to-date and engaged, is crucial for an organisation. That was a clear message from IOSH’s latest COVID-19 webinar. Called


“Communication strategies – effective protocols for safe working in a Covid world”, the session was based on a Q&A theme, with questions submitted to a panel of three experienced experts in communications and OSH. The panel member were: Deirdre Sinnott McFeat, policy advisor in


Transport Operations Safety and Vehicle Risk Management at Ireland’s Health and Safety Authority; Amanda Coleman, a crisis communications consultant and author of Crisis Communication Strategies; and Simon Butt- Bethlendy, brand and reputation manager at IOSH. The session was chaired by Tim Eldridge, vice-president of IOSH, who asked the questions. In answering the first question on the most important things to get


right when planning for crises, Coleman said it is vital organisations don’t just throw all resources at the first phase but look at how they are going to manage it further down the line.


4 AUTUMN 2020 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE


“There is an overwhelming choice of face coverings available in the market. The challenge is knowing which claims they make are valid and whether they provide a basic level of protection to others. Face coverings that are independently assessed to schemes such as the Kitemark will allow consumers to make an informed and trusted decision.” www.bsigroup.com


“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” she said. Butt-Bethlendy added that it is


important to plan what you want to say to people and to also ensure you listen to what people are saying and respond to them. The panel were also asked how the


health and safety function should work with colleagues in communications. “Very closely,” said Sinnott McFeat, who added that communications


must be very simple and “boiled down”. She added: “Don’t overwhelm people with large emails. People are in desperate need of clarity.” Another question posed was around the importance of communicating


with workers on furlough. “You must continue communicating with the whole workforce,” said Coleman, citing apps such as What’s App for contacting staff on furlough. She said failure to keep in touch with them can lead to them losing contact with the business and difficulties in them slotting back in. iosh.com


/ INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE


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