The Toxgard 2 Gas Monitor is an incredible piece of instrumentation. From the unit's main gas monitoring feature all the way down to the construction, it's about as reliable as any piece of technology can get.
This unit is designed to detect a buildup of combustible gases, the presence of toxic gases, and even a deficiency of oxygen. The sensor that comes with it allows gases to permeate through, activating the alarm. Depending on the setting it's used in, one can choose the gas they want to monitor for. The two main gases that we monitor for in my work area are cyanide and sulfur dioxide, and it does an excellent job at alerting us whenever either one of these is present and in what amount (measured in parts per million). The Toxgard can also be connected to the digital network system so that the control room will be notified if any alarms are present. So far, we have never had this interconnected system fail us.
The design of this unit is also rugged enough to be used in an outdoor setting, but can still be used indoors. The sensor is placed on the outside of the enclosure so replacement is easily performed by unscrewing the sensor and putting a new one in it's place. Even though the sensor is placed on the outside of the enclosure, it is still protected with a special guard that shields it from dirt, water, wind, etc. The units we have installed have been around for a number of years, so they are definitely sturdy.
One of the last key features that the Toxgard 2 can be equipped with is an impressive audible alarm. A 95 db horn can be selected to be put on the unit, so it's about as loud as having a motorcycle go off whenever there's any dangerous gases present. Since we are not constantly walking by our Toxgard unit to check the level, having a loud horn alert us whenever cyanide is present is literally a lifesaver.
This piece of instrumentation is incredibly beneficial to employees working around dangerous chemicals. The Toxgard monitors we have spread around our plant have been tremendously reliable so long as we keep up with the routine maintenance on them. So friends and families can rest assured that their loved ones will not be harmed by an unexpected presence of a dangerous gas. I believe this is a worthwhile investment.
I dont live near a mining community and until I moved to Las Vegas never even thought about mining unless I heard of something terrible happening somewhere in a mine. Im sure the family and friends of the men and women that do work in the mines are pleased to know that there is equipment available to help protect the workers. The technology available to help ensure the workers are being protected against the dangerous gases makes the job just a little bit safer.
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with the mining industry at all. I have heard of the dangers that people face in your line of work and I must admit, it sounds very scary. I normally hear more about being trapped, collapse, etc. But is the most hazardous aspect of the job the toxic gases you encounter? Great post, thank you!
ReplyDeleteNice job on the review. I would love to learn more about what happens when the alarm is set off. How often, on average, does the alarm go off in a month? Would the alarm going off shut down work for the day? How is the toxic gas cleared from the area after it is detected? Thanks for educating us on this important device.
ReplyDeleteWhen a preset level of gas is detected, the alarm goes off and the control room is notified. The workers are cleared out of the building in which the gas was detected. This is a rare occurrence though, seeing as how it may only go off once every several months. The way the process is run ensures a very safe operation, so the monitor is seldom set off.
DeleteHello Marcos, I found your blog very informative about gas monitors. I feel that mining can be a very dangerous occupation. When companies show this kind of commitment for employees safety, they reflect not only the employees concerns but also that of their families. Nice Job
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