Laura Griffiths, Author at Carroll Technologies

Posted on February 9, 2023July 4, 2024 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

Industrial Material Handling Equipment

Reliable conveyor belt systems will require high-quality accessories, including rugged conveyor idlers that support the belt and conveyed material to prevent it from stretching and sagging, as well as impact beds built to absorb shock loads. An accurate conveyor belt weigher will also ensure that feed rate is regulated.

When it comes to safe transportation using cranes and trucks, facilities are investing in collision avoidance systems that can track vehicles and machinery. PBE’s collision avoidance system uses EM (electromagnetics), RFID, GPS and bi-directional radar at the same time for accuracy. It can be configured to recognize different groups (such as vehicle types or personnel), and the dash-mounted PAS-Z Proximity Alert System alerts drivers to the presence of personnel, vehicles and obstacles.

Conveyor belt maintenance for industrial material handling

For facilities relying on conveyor belts to transport good between locations, effective maintenance is essential to ensure that operations are not interrupted. This includes choosing from a wide range of primary, secondary and specialty belt cleaners on the market, as well as carefully selecting rugged components such as sheave wheels, cable clamp stops, and v-plows. Industrial facilities must also make informed decisions when choosing which belt fasteners, belt clamps and belt cutters are best suited for their application.

Safe material handling with Carroll Technologies

With more than 40 years of experience serving industries such as mining, oil & gas, and construction, Carroll Technologies can assist industrial facilities in finding the best equipment for efficient material handling.

From Advanced Urethane, Carroll Technologies can provide a range of customized belt cleaning solutions, including:

Replacement Blades for Richwood Belt Cleaners (Primary and Secondary)
Replacement Slider Blocks for Richwood Impact Beds
Complete and Replacement Impact Beds
Spring Tensioned Primary and Secondary Cleaners (Complete)
V-Plows
Shiv Wheel for Shuttle Cars
Cable Clamps for underground mine cable
12” Rubber pads for transfer points on belt line
Water Blades for wet vulcanized belts
Cable Clamp Stops
Wear Liners

From Mato, Carroll Technologies provides a range of conveyor belt fasteners and accessories tailored to your application, this includes:

Mechanical Belt Splices (Heavy Duty) Underground Mining
Bolt Plate Fasteners (Usually Surface Rock Quarries / Recycling Plants)
Conveyor Belt Maintenance Accessories

Posted on November 10, 2022April 19, 2023 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

Ski Area Safety Equipment

Carroll Technologies supplies safety solutions from the best manufacturers in the industry including MSA, Northern Light Technologies (NLT) and ICOM.

Lighting solutions for ski slopes and resorts

Carroll supplies a range of both personal and site safety lighting solutions from some of the world’s leading lighting suppliers.

Northern Light Technologies (NLT)

NLT’s lighting solutions, such as the Polaris and Rebel cap lamps are the ideal lighting solution for snow makers and ski resort personnel. NLT lights penetrate through darkness, fog and heavy precipitation, which is especially important for ski resorts where conditions often lead to poor visibility. They also offer a hands-free solution.

Illumagear HALO lights for personal lighting

Halo cap lights are another superb lighting solution for ski area personnel. The lights fit to any hard hat and offer a ring of light extending up to a quarter of a mile around the hat, providing lighting not only for the wearer, but making the wearer visible to others from any angle.

X-glo industrial lighting solutions

X-glo provides customized temporary or permanent industrial grade lighting solutions and systems that are purpose built for the environment of the area they are lighting. They are dedicated to improving safety of personnel and guests by providing high visibility in poor conditions with their standard and long-range solutions.

Vision X

Vision X supply advanced lighting systems to ensure safer and efficient work environments, including commercial lighting, vehicle lighting, spot and flood lights, specialty lighting and LED work and accessory lights.

Carroll’s team will work with you to identify your lighting requirements and find the best solution.

Radio communications

Radios and communication systems are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment for ski areas to effectively manage operations and ensure communications are consistent and available across all areas. ICOM radios are rugged and reliable, ensuring all personnel are connected, whether it is as part of a wider system across a site for general operations or a specialised system for use in emergency situations. ICOM radios have a wide range, making them ideal for use in multiple industries including forestry and ski areas.

Samson rope

Samson rope is lighter, more durable, safer, and easier to use than other synthetic ropes, chains, or wire ropes, making it ideal for ski areas. It can be used for numerous safety applications including for use in snow mobiles, rescue vehicles, climbing, lifting and winching. Carroll Technologies supplies the full range of Samson rope solutions and will be able to help determine the best rope for your safety needs.

Ski resort safety signage

Ski resorts have a responsibility to display safety signage with up-to-date responsibility codes, as well as trail signage that features colored symbols to indicate the difficulty of a trail. Other safety signage may include warnings for danger zones and areas with a risk of avalanche. Carroll Technologies can provide standard generic signage as well as customized signs which incorporate your company’s name, logo, or anything else needed.

Safety helmets for ski resort employees

Whist OSHA does not have a specific policy regarding ski helmets, 29 CFR 1910.132(a) states that protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for the head, shall be provided, used, and maintained “wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment…encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment. According to the NSAA, helmet usage has grown considerably over the last twenty years. Since 2002, helmet usage has risen from 25% to 90%. Head protection can drastically reduce the severity of head injuries and almost completely prevent lacerations should an accident occur. Carroll Technologies is an approved supplier of MSA hard hats for numerous industrial safety applications. Carroll Technologies can help to provide the right product for the right application.

Carroll Technologies also supplies a number of other industrial safety solutions, including working at height, fire protection and personal protection equipment. Speak to us today to discuss your unique requirements.

Posted on October 20, 2022July 1, 2024 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

Commercial Vehicle Collision Avoidance Systems

Fleet proximity detection for commercial vehicles

An effective collision detection system at any industrial location will include area proximity warnings and an automatic collision avoidance system for vehicles. This will include being able to configure tracking methods to recognise different groups, such as vehicle types, personnel, or obstacles.

PBE provides a rugged and reliable fleet driver collision avoidance system that utilizes electromagnetics, RFID, GPS and bi-directional radar. In partnership with Carroll Technologies, PBE supplies customized commercial vehicle collision avoidance systems specifically designed for your site. Experts at Carroll Technologies can visit sites and work with customers to design effective safety systems, from proximity detection to radio communication. Holistic services are increasingly popular, with companies such as Carroll offering tracking and communication services using the same technological base, which significantly reduces the likelihood of collisions.

Customizing Vehicle Collision Avoidance Systems

According to Carroll Technologies president Allen Haywood: “Systems can be customized for a lot of different types of operations and programmed to set the parameters that they need. We can also incorporate remote opening gates and doors, as well as recordings of travel so that they can look back through history via mobile or desktop software. It can record everything that has been travelling, what speeds they have been travelling at, and any near misses.”

Customizations can incorporate tags, so drivers will be notified if they get close to people, objects, other vehicles, or heavier pieces of equipment. This can include tractors with safety sensors for collision avoidance, proximity detection for pickup trucks and loaders for big operations, and warning systems for forklifts in handling facilities.

Collision Prevention Systems in Industrial Applications
Collision Avoidance: Systems, Devices & Equipment in the Mining Industry
Forklift Collision Avoidance and Proximity Detection Systems
Collision avoidance systems for cranes

Posted on September 29, 2022July 1, 2024 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

Collision Avoidance Systems for Cranes

Cranes in close proximity poses a collision risk

Crane collision avoidance sensors can ensure that cranes do not come into contact with personnel or other machinery. Utilizing electromagnetics, RFID, GPS or bi-directional radar (or in the case of PBE’s system, all four), facilities can configure these tracking methods to recognize different groups, such as vehicle types, personnel, or obstacles. Both overhead crane collision avoidance systems and tower crane anti-collision warning systems are not a “one size fits all” solution, so Carroll Technologies works with its customers to customize a warning system that is ideally suited for the application, from mines and tunnels to construction facilities of all sizes.

The Importance of Crane Collision Avoidance Systems

The U. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 22% of fatal injuries occur when the worker was operating a crane, and 23% occur when the worker is engaged in construction, assembling, and dismantling activities. With a crane proximity warning device, workers will be alerted to the risk of collision, and any near misses can be assessed to ensure that risk is mitigated in the future. Holistic services are increasingly popular, with companies such as Carroll offering tracking and communication services using the same technological base, which could significantly reduce the likelihood of collisions.

Further reading:

Proximity Warning Systems & Proximity Detection Devices for Mines
Forklift Proximity Detection Systems
Collision Prevention Systems in Industrial Applications
Collision Avoidance: Systems, Devices & Equipment in the Mining Industry

Posted on September 8, 2022January 12, 2023 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

Railway Safety Equipment

Safety culture in the railway industry has seen a decline in railroad worker injuries, with non-fatal worksite accidents falling from almost 9,000 in 2000 to below 4,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Carroll Technologies has more than 40 years of experience providing safety equipment to various industries, including mining, tunneling and construction. Carroll has searched the railway safety equipment market to find the most reliable safety solutions.

Railway safety equipment suppliers

Personal protection equipment

Personal protection equipment (PPE) is one important aspect of keeping workers safe. Carroll Technologies supplies a wide range of PPE for any application, including rugged hard hats (with safety visors, cap lamps, ear protection, and a number of other safety features).

Protective Industrial Products (PIP USA) has an extensive railway safety product portfolio, in addition to custom-made safety solutions. Products include hearing protection, protective clothing, respiratory safety, warning beacons, welding protection, electrical safety and fall protection, as well as eye, foot, hand and head protection.

According to Allen Haywood, president of Carroll Technologies: “PIP supplies just about anything that is a personal protective device. It’s a good company that we’ve been relying on for protective equipment for many years.”

Gas detection

When it comes to gas detection, Carroll Technologies supplies industry-leading handheld devices from MSA. The Altair 4X is a durable gas detector that can measure up to four gases simultaneously from a range of XCell(R) sensor options, while the Altair 5X is capable of measuring up to six gases simultaneously and is available with an integrated photoionization detector (PID sensor) for VOC detection. Carroll Technologies is a factory authorized repair and certification centre for these MSA gas detection devices.

Fire prevention

In addition to gas detection equipment for railways that can prevent the risk of fire, Carroll supplies fire suppression systems from Honeywell, which include sprinklers, deluge and water curtain systems, foams, and dry chemical powders suitable for water-averse sites.

Fall protection

OSHA fall protection standards dictate that workers who are required to be on any surface more than 6ft high with an unprotected edge must have fall protection equipment. Carroll supplies industry-leading harnesses, hooks and shock-absorbing lanyards from MSA and Honeywell Safety for railway worker fall protection, as well as customisable signage for unsecure areas.

Safety equipment

Even with the best safety equipment, communication still remains key. Carroll provides fully customised radio communication networks in collaboration with Icom, which has been supplying rugged two-way radio products across the world for more than 50 years.

According to Allen Haywood, president of Carroll Technologies: “Icom is a strong company internationally. The services they provide can meet just about anyone’s radio needs.”

“We’re seeking to be a complete communications provider for our customer base, no matter what their communications needs are, whether it’s underground, confined space, tunnelling or above ground in large buildings and factories.”

Posted on September 1, 2022July 4, 2024 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

Substations for Mining, Tunneling and Dredging Applications

Underground mining substation

Underground mining substations present some additional challenges. Extra considerations have to be taken into account to ensure that the roof is reinforced, and the area must be fireproof. Substations used underground will need to be flameproof and may need to be galvanised to protected against corrosion.

Portable substations for mining

A mobile or portable electrical substation is a self-contained trailer/container equipped with the necessary high and medium voltage components of a full substation, such as the power transformer and switchgear. These are used when the installation of a permanent mine substation is not economical or to quickly restore electrical services during an outage.

Rugged mining, tunneling and dredging substations

Line Power, a division of Electro-Mechanical, specializes in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and control for a range of industries, including oil and gas, mining, and electrical utility.

Line Power’s portfolio of electrical solutions includes high-voltage switchgears and substations for mining, tunneling and dredging applications. Its range includes 5 MVA substations, portable substations for phosphate mining, dual output 5 KV trailer-mounted portable reclosers, 1000 kVA portable substations with a walk-in aisle and built-in HVAC, skid-mounted portable substations with aluminum enclosures, bore hole substations, 10 MVA caterpillar-track mounted substation, and completely enclosed portable substations with heavy insulation. It also includes an array of other substations designed for specific applications or sites, such as surface mines or gold mines.

Where to buy Line Power substations

Carroll Technologies supplies Line Power products in addition to providing a complete design and installation service, specifically tailored to your needs. Building on more than 40 years of industry experience, Carroll also ensures that installation is integrated with systems operated by other technology brands.

Post-purchase, Carroll Technologies offers a complete installation, servicing and repair service with 24/7 technical support.

Posted on June 16, 2022July 4, 2024 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

Fall protection equipment for the energy, power and utilities industries

Energy industry worker wearing fall protection for working on wind farm

GlobalData insights state that renewable energy held a 19% share of the US’s total power capacity in 2020, and this is expected to increase to 48.4% by 2030. This means that over the next decade, more money is expected to be invested in constructing and maintaining these energy, power and utilities industries, including wind and solar farms.

Workers in these industries will face several of the same safety hazards than other industrial sectors, including the risk of falls and slips. For Carroll Technologies, providing workers with the best fall protection equipment is a key priority.

Wind turbine fall protection

OSHA fall protection standards require that any personnel working on a surface more than 6ft high with an unprotected edge must have fall protection equipment.

For offshore wind farms, good practice guidelines from the G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation state that sites need to have collective protection (such as fixed guardrails), and personal protection (such as fall prevention or restraint systems).

Both onshore and offshore wind farms will require guard rails, safety nets, and personal fall protection equipment (such as lanyards and harnesses) to keep workers safe when they are required to climb turbines.

Fall protection for solar installers

Solar installation and solar panel maintenance will typically take place on roofs, so it is essential that workers are kept safe. Workers installing solar panels above a height of 6ft will require fall protection equipment such as lanyards and harnesses, as well as adequate safety anchors.

Alternative energy companies and fall protection

Carroll Technologies has searched and tested the market to find the best fall protection equipment for energy, power and utilities industries.

Carroll supplies rugged, energy-absorbing lanyards that keep fall arrest forces below 6 kN. MSA’s restraint lanyards are designed to be placed between the anchor point and the harness, which prevents workers from dropping into the fall area.

Honeywell’s Miller brand provides a high-quality range of full protection solutions, including its harness and fall limiters. The Miller AirCore harnesses are lightweight and made from corrosion-resistant aluminium and breathable open-core padding to allow for optimal airflow, as well as reduced heat and moisture entrapment.

Fall protection equipment available through Carroll Technologies includes:

MSA retractable lanyards
MSA vest-style harnesses
MSA full-body harnesses
MSA lanyard restraints
MSA trauma prevention
MSA lanyards with hooks
Honeywell Miller AirCore harnesses
Honeywell personal fall limiter

Posted on November 24, 2021July 1, 2024 by Laura Griffiths — Leave a comment

How Does a Collision Warning System Work in Mining Operations?

Collision warning systems in mining operations involve tracking vehicles, moving equipment and personnel using tags and sensors in order to establish safe zones, trigger collision alerts, and provide operators with proximity awareness without distracting them from their task.

Information from tags and sensors is fed back to a data control centre, which is often integrated with information from other Internet of Things (IoT) networks, such as gas detection devices and operations management. From these control centres, mining operations can customize safe zones for workers and machines, as well as tailor how alerts function depending on where they are in the mining network.

Collision Warning System Technologies

A number of technologies can be used for proximity detection, including RFID tags, geofencing, GPS, radio and satellite, and can be integrated into a mining operation’s Wi-Fi/Leaky Feeder systems. Robust and reliable collision avoidance for mining operations, such as PBE’s PAS Proximity Alert System, utilize multiple technologies for a redundant system so that collision avoidance is always connected if one fails.

With tags assigned to different machinery and personnel to determine their risk, as well as with various technologies being employed to know their location, collision avoidance systems in mines can be set up to trigger alerts when two tags get too close. Similarly, geofencing can establish safe zones that will trigger a warning if it is breached. For large-scale mining operations, satellite tracking systems are useful for incorporating multiple systems into a single operation, including communication systems.

As experts in mining safety, Carroll Technologies supplies collision avoidance solutions that can be customized for your mining operation, offering a range of products such as PBE’s dash-mounted collision avoidance system. Find out more here about how products supplied through Carroll Technologies can keep your mining operation safe, along with the company’s repair and installation services. Speak to one of our collision avoidance safety consultants today.

MSHA-Certified Mining Equipment and Training

The MSHA Approval and Certification Center (A&CC) tests and certifies mining products, providing operators with confidence in equipment, instruments, and materials by ensuring compliance with Federal regulations. This testing and certification makes MSHA-certified mining equipment incredibly valuable for modern mining operations.

Through Carroll Technologies, customers can be supplied with a wide range of MSHA-certified machinery and safety solutions such as Northern Light Technologies (NLT) cap lights, MSA multigas detection, MPS hard hats, and Miner and Equipment Tracking Systems (METS) from Matrix Design Group.

MSHA Accident Prevention

As part of its ongoing dedication to preventing accidents involving machinery and equipment, MSHA standards require operators to maintain control of moving MSHA mobile equipment by enforcing speeds restrictions that are consistent with the conditions at a mining site. When mobile equipment is not in motion, it is essential that it is stored in a safe location that prevents it from moving and becoming a hazard.

MSHA Powered Haulage Safety Initiative

Powered haulage equipment such as shuttle cars, locomotives and front end loaders are one of the leading causes of injuries for surface miners. In response, MSHA has provided safety guidance and collision avoidance rules to help keep mine workers safe. This includes traffic controls, training, and avoiding distractions, as well as collision warning and avoidance systems for mobile equipment. The organisation also provides guidance for safety issues such as seatbelt usage and conveyor belts.

MSHA Safety Training

In addition to MSHA accident prevention solutions, it is required by federal law that mineworkers receive adequate safety training and annual refresher courses from the administration.

It is not enough for mine operators to secure the best products; operational staff must be kept up to date on proper operational techniques and regulatory requirements. Carroll Technologies Group provides a full suite of technical mining training courses, including comprehensive training courses for all of the major products in its portfolio. Staff are introduced to safe work practices and precautionary techniques with materials and guidance provided by MSHA itself.

Posted on October 4, 2021July 4, 2024 by Laura Griffiths

Miner Cap Lights Provide Underground Workers with Hands-Free, Efficient Lighting Solutions

Miner wearing hard hat fitted with cap light

Strapped on to the top of a helmet, these portable light sources allow miners to experience hands-free illumination of their surroundings and use a simple turn of their head to light up even the darkest corners of the mine.

Miner cap lights eliminate the need to carry a cumbersome torch and reduce the need for expensive fixed lighting solutions. Cap lights also provide the added bonus of ensuring the wearer’s head is protected from any low-hanging tunnel ceilings or falling debris, as they will not be able to utilize the cap light without their helmet being properly secured.

A miner’s cap light is an essential piece of their everyday arsenal which will be supplied by all responsible mine operators. Miner cap lights can be purchased through Carroll Technologies Group, a leading supplier of mine safety solutions operating across North America.

Carroll Technologies Group have provided supplies to over 800 operations across the continent. Carroll’s customers can rely on the company to provide them with MSHA-approved products, with a 90 day warranty as standard.

They can also rely on Carroll Technologies Group’s MinerCare 24/7 team, who are always just a phone call away for any technical support needs they may have. Carroll Technologies Group is also an authorized service center for complete repair and service after the sale of a product.

Which miner cap lights are available through Carroll Technologies Group?

Carroll offers two miner cap lights from Northern Lights Technologies, both of which are cordless, all-in-one pieces of equipment.

The Polaris NLA0M1 comes with a fixed clip, while the Polaris NLA0M3 supports an adjustable clip.

The cap lights use a high-capacity lithium ion battery with a 12-40 hour operational time to power an LED light. When the battery runs out, it can be easily recharged in just ten hours.

This promotes comfort and ease of use as the wearer can recharge their cap light at the end of a shift instead of carrying around an external battery pack.

The lights of the NLA0M1 and NLA0M3 are housed in plastic casings built to resist dust, water and debris. They offer a minimum illuminance of 5,000 LUX, with typical brightness clocking in at 6,500 LUX – brighter than many existing cap lamps available on the market.

The lights also offer the option to enable a flashing beacon mode. In the event of an emergency, the wearer can trigger this setting and alert their colleagues to any potential danger they may face.