"Even without fuel material, the Dustlight was able to detect high exposures in the fuel bunker that were not visible to the naked eye."
- Marcel Rosenblatt (M.Eng.) - ESWE Versorgungs AG
Background
ESWE Versorgungs AG is a regional energy supplier that supplies Wiesbaden and the surrounding area with electricity, natural gas, water and heat. As the responsible network operator, ESWE guarantees a secure and reliable energy supply. An essential part of its work is the regular maintenance of the power plant facilities, especially during power plant inspections, when the power plant is shut down for several weeks in the summer to carry out necessary maintenance work. Marcel Rosenblatt became aware of the Dustlight through the TV series "Achtung Kontrolle" and immediately recognized the potential of the device for use in his company. During this phase, a wide range of work is carried out that requires special monitoring measures, particularly with regard to dust and gas pollution.
The challenge
During the inspection, there are rare tasks that pose particular challenges for occupational health and safety. One example is the maintenance of the fuel bunker in a biomass cogeneration plant, where fuel is normally transported to the combustion chamber via moving floors and conveyor belts. The extraction systems are also serviced during the inspection, which means that there is no active air filtration. Despite the lack of fuel, the Dustlight displayed above-threshold values in the hall during this time, which indicated an unexpectedly high dust load that would have gone unnoticed without the device.
Another use case is welding and cutting work, where the resulting welding and fumes rose from the lower levels and caused unexpectedly high levels of exposure on the higher floors. Thanks to the Dustlight, this increased exposure could be detected at an early stage, which made it possible to quickly take appropriate protective measures and ensure the safety of employees even during inspections.
Solution
The portable device is used during daily inspections and provides real-time measurements of respireable dust exposure in the various work areas. With the help of the easy-to-understand traffic light system, critical values can be quickly identified and protective measures taken.
The Dustlight is used in particular during inspections and on construction sites to monitor areas such as the fuel bunker or workplaces with intensive welding work.
The collected measurement data is documented via the Dustlight app and integrated into the inspection logs, enabling reliable tracking and analysis.
Results
The use of the Dustlight at ESWE has shown that potentially hazardous exposures can occur even in phases without active production, such as during overhauls. The device made it possible to detect high dust and gas levels at an early stage and implement suitable protective measures, such as wearing masks. The visual color display allows employees to understand at a glance when protective measures are necessary.
The Dustlight has proven to be a valuable tool for daily inspections, especially for pipe construction tasks or during inspections in power plants. Occupational safety specialists like Marcel Rosenblatt use the data collected to continuously monitor and improve working conditions.
Summary
Thanks to Dustlight, ESWE has been able to improve the safety of its employees during critical phases, such as power plant overhauls. Real-time measurements and an intuitive display of dust and gas levels make risks immediately visible and protective measures can be implemented promptly. The Dustlight has established itself as a useful tool for day-to-day occupational safety at ESWE, especially during intensive maintenance phases.
Discover more about their work on our customer's website. You can find further application examples and possible uses for Dustlight here - be inspired by how Dustlight can also make your working environment safer.
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