Within certain segments of the industrial sector is the propensity for onsite explosions. There are strict sets of regulations enforced by national groups that govern operations in an explosive environment. IECEX and ATEX are the European and USA regulations that control minimum requirements for ensuring the safety protection of workers and plant working in an environment where there is the risk of explosion. These standards regulate equipment and protective systems.
Regulations Covering ATEX and IECEX-Rated Devices
Safety regulations require employees to eliminate or control the risks from dangerous substances onsite. Explosive atmospheres environments include paint and chemical factories, pharmaceutical manufacturing, oil and gas rigs, underground mining, sewage plants and timber and flour mills. Risks may result from materials used onsite. Risks may also arise when using any electronic and electrical equipment including equipment with batteries or that can generate static electricity.
Project managers must be aware of areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur as zones. A zone is categorised depending on the likelihood of an explosion occurring and its persistence if it does. Zones must be protected from any sources of ignition. Equipment and protective systems used in zoned areas must meet the IECEX and/or ATEX requirements. Employees must wear anti-static clothing and must confirm before commencing initial work that the area is safe from any explosive risk.
IECEx Certification
The objective of the IECEx standard ratings is to facilitate safe global trade in equipment and services for use in explosive atmospheres. The IECEx body has reduced testing and certification costs for manufacturers, which in turn reduces the time it takes to get to market, increased international confidence in assessment of equipment, maintaining a single global database listing for certified explosive equipment and thereby ensuring international confidence in equipment certified by IECEx standards.
IECEx certification ensures that equipment used in zones categorised by risk of explosive atmospheres is fit for its intended purpose and that adequate instructional information is provided to ensure safe operating procedure. Certification must be undertaken for all goods that enter a country adopting these standards. Certification includes compliance with health and safety requirements and involves testing by a third-party certification body, accredited by the IECEx. In general, the IECEx safety standards are more stringent than ATEX standards and Australia, New Zealand and most European countries align to IECEx standards.
Protect Your Employees With Compliance
IECEx and ATEX are necessary standards to guaranteeing safety in environments characterised by risk of explosive events and apply to all personal safety devices including lone worker duress alarms and even mobile phones. In order to protect your employees, make sure your equipment is IECEx certified so that you are complying with safety regulations. This can reduce hazards which are costly and time consuming to remedy. Your workers will thank you for purchasing equipment that is not going to pose a life threatening risk to them if used in an unsafe worksite with an explosive atmosphere.
The standards cover the situation even if a device is switched off, is accidentally dropped to the ground or as the changed batteries can cause ignition of the atmosphere. Your company and your workers must understand and apply IECEx rating to all electronic equipment to be carried within the explosive areas of a site.
For more information about duress alarms, lone worker and IECEx and ATEX safety zone ratings for your site, please feel free to phone us on 1300 765 543.