Does this switch exist?

[Sidewinder]

It seems to be all I am doing these days Rob, everything else has dried up, maybe because its keeping me very busy, its almost as if everyone wants to be up to scratch with PUWER & CE before we BREXIT!

Been working for guys who are ex-NB, for NB's, global end users, global OEM's and UK system integrators.

Working on a report tonight for a UK SI, for a global end user in Ireland.

PUWER & 13849, but no validation yet, the SI is doing the validation if they get the remedial works from the end user.

Do you use SISTEMA?

 

[Rob.]

It seems to be all I am doing these days Rob, everything else has dried up, maybe because its keeping me very busy, its almost as if everyone wants to be up to scratch with PUWER & CE before we BREXIT!

Been working for guys who are ex-NB, for NB's, global end users, global OEM's and UK system integrators.

Working on a report tonight for a UK SI, for a global end user in Ireland.

PUWER & 13849, but no validation yet, the SI is doing the validation if they get the remedial works from the end user.

Do you use SISTEMA?

We do use that, along with the pilz pascal software, just need to keep the libraries up to date. Pascal is easier to use but clunky, SISTEMA is quite easy if you don't understand the data your entering to get incorrect outcomes, garbage in garbage out. For our larger jobs we have a custom software package designed for us. Now safety PLCs are becoming better in price I see a lot more used, 95% of the time wrongly as they never separate the SIL loops from ordinary functionality. 

It amazes me how many companies blatantly don't follow rules, however as you well know the HSE have been given a new set of teeth this year with it being a lot easier for them to prosecute and the fines have now become unlimited. 

I personally don't so much deal with legacy or existing kit as I tend to be kept busy with new projects. When we get quiet i will pick up on some of these jobs, I've noticed more larger companies aren't as put off at the price of doing it properly as they see the true cost of being caught out. Spent a lot of time recently in the world of UL and the US standards as I've spent probably 3 months out on projects over there this year. In fact I'm back over there in a couple of weeks for another stint. 

 

[Sidewinder]

We do use that, along with the pilz pascal software, just need to keep the libraries up to date. Pascal is easier to use but clunky, SISTEMA is quite easy if you don't understand the data your entering to get incorrect outcomes, garbage in garbage out. For our larger jobs we have a custom software package designed for us. Now safety PLCs are becoming better in price I see a lot more used, 95% of the time wrongly as they never separate the SIL loops from ordinary functionality. 

It amazes me how many companies blatantly don't follow rules, however as you well know the HSE have been given a new set of teeth this year with it being a lot easier for them to prosecute and the fines have now become unlimited. 

I personally don't so much deal with legacy or existing kit as I tend to be kept busy with new projects. When we get quiet i will pick up on some of these jobs, I've noticed more larger companies aren't as put off at the price of doing it properly as they see the true cost of being caught out. Spent a lot of time recently in the world of UL and the US standards as I've spent probably 3 months out on projects over there this year. In fact I'm back over there in a couple of weeks for another stint. 

I did a job on a US built panel recently!

It was so far of CE compliance I got them to lock it closed so that it could only be accessed with special arrangements!!!

It was absolutely dire.

I don't know much about UL & the NEC, and don't want to!

I find it so sad that there are so many companies that are willing to flaunt the law and put workers who are only interested in earning an honest wage at risk of injury and worse death, just so they can make a bigger profit.

We are going back to the work house days, and pre-Victorian times.

I despair for the younger generations the way things are going.

Its not as if these rules are new!

LVD 1973, MD 1989 IIRC!

Pilz pascal is expensive!

 

[Rob.]

I did a job on a US built panel recently!

It was so far of CE compliance I got them to lock it closed so that it could only be accessed with special arrangements!!!

It was absolutely dire.

Pilz pascal is expensive!

They truly are, I tend to find our panels although built to UL standards follow EN standards too, the yanks love them though!

The most glaring difference when you open one is they don't believe in everything  being IP2x inside the panel, their view is, if you're working in there it's either isolated or you know what you're doing.

An pascal is expensive, we have a  deal with them. Not sure on the ins and outs, but we get heavily discounted training including the TUV accredited courses through them. 

 

[Sidewinder]

I've done the TUV accredited CMSE® course with them Rob, paid for it myself, and passed first time.

Looking for the next step now.

Working with the guy that developed the TUV-SUD "equivalent" courses, so not sure if there is any benefit from them.

 

[Rob.]

I've done that course. I recently did the process safety expert course with the TUV in Feb. They're running another in November in manchester. Only tend to do a couple of sessions a year in the UK.

It's quite intense though, and the 4 hour closed book exam isn't a walk in the park. However if you're not dealing with process safety regularly, as in experienced in it there's no chance of passing. It would be far too much information to take in over a short amount of time.

 

[Sidewinder]

Not interested in Process Safety Rob, machinery is my bag.

You are going to have to PM me and tell me who you work for now!...

 

[Rob.]

Sent.

I'm more process, need to be up to scratch with both as you know they often overlap

 

[Sidewinder]

They do, but, I steer clear of the COMAH type process jobs, did a machine job last week @ a Tier 1 COMAH site, but it was machine only not process.

I hate process, and then there is the machinery side where we go for SIL4, if we can, & the process guys because of the LOPA and stuff aim for SIL1!

 

[Friedandcrispy]

Thanks for all the replies Gents, I'll relay the suggestions back to my customer but he will have to get someone qualified to take a proper look, anything more than a switch is out of my remit. 

After reading through the comments I dread to think about the red tape you all must deal with, I think I'll stick to mechanical instead.

 

[Lurch]

Don't forget Lurch, many OEMs get it wrong

I said exactly that in the post you quoted.

 

[phil d]

I've seen exactly the switch you are talking about, and they do indeed exist,in fact I used one recently though not for the use you want one. However I won't go any further than that, as others have said modifying machinery has safety implications and I wouldn't want to be in any way responsible for someone getting hurt.Hydraulic powered machines are especially dangerous, in most cases hydraulics are only used because you can get a lot more power out of a machine in a smaller package by using hydraulics.

Think of a small hydraulic bottle jack, something less than a foot tall can provide a lifting force of about 10 tons, try lifting that with a wind up jack!

 

[Friedandcrispy]

Thanks Phil, I was sure I'd heard of them before. In terms of the hydraulics, I work for a hydraulic engineering/fluid power company so you're preaching to the choir, I've had 25 ton jacks that size.