The glass making company NSG Group has R&D sites around the world and a European Technical Centre and product assembly plant in Lathom near Ormskirk, Lancashire. In eight purpose built laboratories scientists develop new glass and glazing products, online coating, photovoltaic glass substrates, fire protection glazing, and glass quality inspection.
Their work usually involves hazardous chemicals that could harm in an accident. Often single scientists are lone-working for long periods. If something happens to incapacitate a scientist, other staff at the facility must be alerted to act.
To provide safety, NSG Group decided on a new personal protection product for its scientists and other lone workers. Dave Evans, Senior Design Engineer, was given the task of finding one. He says: ‘I had heard positive reports about Cooper Security’s lone worker protection systems and made contact to get some advice about what would be most suitable for us. The specialist sales team couldn’t have been more helpful and they were able to make a visit to the site just a few days later.’
Luke Turton, security systems specialist at Cooper Security, visited and after assessing the various options, he configured a system. He says: ‘Each scientist can now wear a Cooper Security 706r lone worker transmitter, which can be worn on a belt, as a wristband or as a lanyard. As well as being robust and reliable, they are powered by a lithium manganese dioxide battery and can give at least 75,000 operations over a seven-year period. The effects of chemical inhalation can be immediate and the 706r has an integral tilt switch, which means that the button does not need to be pressed to send an alert, as it can tell if a person falls to the ground unconscious.’
Once transmitted an alert is sent to one of the Scantronic EXP R10 radio receivers in the building, which in turn sends data to a Scantronic i-on160EX alarm panel. This sounds an audible alarm and displays on the keypad which unit has been activated, which can save time in a potentially life threatening situation.
Turton adds: ‘The added advantages of using the i-on160EX alarm panel are its greater radio range, remote display keypad and excellent future flexibility, all which will allow the system to be expanded in years to come. The system has also been configured to monitor other laboratory equipment such as freezers, boilers and test equipment and sends a signal to the office area if there is an operational fault.’
On Cooper Security’s advice, Dave Evans ordered the components, and he and his electricians installed the system themselves. He says: ‘The system was relatively straightforward to configure, and the few minor problems encountered were resolved quickly with the help of Cooper Security’s team of experts. They even offered to do an additional site visit to help us commission the system if we needed it – just one example of the excellent service and support we received throughout the entire process.’
Although the system has not been called into action yet, this added layer of security provides NSG Group’s scientists with peace of mind.
Visit www.coopersecurity.co.uk
About Cooper Security
It’s a business unit of Eaton’s Cooper Safety Division, part of the electrical business of Eaton. Eaton acquired Cooper Industries plc in November 2012. The 2012 revenue of the combined companies was $21.8 billion on a pro forma basis. Eaton has 103,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.
About NSG
NSG Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of glass and glazing systems. Founded in 1918, the company acquired the UK-based glass manufacturer, Pilkington, in June 2006 and now boasts manufacturing in 30 countries, sales in 130 countries and 28,000 employees worldwide.
