Hazardous Area Instrumentation e-learning course-get the latest version now from Abhisam Software

By Rick | Jul 12, 2010

Miami, July 11- A new version of Abhisam Software’s popular e-learning course on Hazardous Area Instrumentation has been released, which covers all the changes that have taken place in the field of hazardous area instrumentation and control especially those related to IEC standards, ATEX regulations and implementing  Fieldbus in hazardous areas.

This updated training course covers all aspects of Hazardous Area Instruments and Controls, with changes to the IEC standards and ATEX directives fully reflected in the course contents. The original Hazardous Area Instrumentation training course was very well received by engineers and technicians in oil & gas, chemical processing, pulp & paper, power and other industries, as also by engineering consultants, contractors and even regulatory authorities. The updated version of this course is even better than the earlier version. Furthermore, the updated version will be available free of cost, to all customers of Abhisam Software who have purchased the earlier version within the past one year.
This new version of the Hazardous Area Instrumentation training course consists of the following six modules.
1. Basic Concepts
2. Classification (Area Classification, Material Classification and Temperature Classification)
3. Methods of protection (including explosionproof, intrinsic safety, increased safety, pressurization and other methods)
4. Using Fieldbus in hazardous areas (covers entity, FISCO, high power trunk, amongst other topics)
5. Certification and Labeling
6. Inspection and Maintenance

Though the module names are the same as the earlier version, the content has been revised to a great extent. The changes in the IEC standards and the ATEX directives have been included in the relevant modules, so that this course is now all that you need to have for becoming a pro as regards Instrumentation and Control systems in Hazardous Areas. These modules contain several topic pages containing Flash based animations, actual photographs of hazardous area instruments and equipment, rich graphics and easy to understand text, so that the subject becomes very easy to learn. Engineers and technicians who work in the process industries are sometimes intimidated and confused by the array of standards, systems and acronyms that are used by experts in hazardous areas. This course makes it all so very easy to understand that after completing it one can easily apply the various hazardous area concepts and standards to actual workplaces to enhance the safety of assets and people. The course is also available in an online LMS based system which would be ideal for corporations, universities and training institutes, who may wish to train large numbers of people in this subject. All training reports including learner login times, modules accessed, scores obtained on tests and other data can be made available in a spreadsheet for training records and tracking. Learners can also take an online test and qualify for a certificate at no additional charge. As a limited time bonus, Abhisam Software is also giving away a copy of their popular ebook “Practical Guide to Hazardous Area Classification” alongwith this updated course. For more information about the updated course please click here .

The  most interesting aspect is that Abhisam Software says that if somebody has purchased the earlier version of the course within the past one year, then they may be eligible for a FREE upgrade.

Confined space entry-what to look out for?

By Rick | Feb 2, 2010

What are confined spaces? And why should you bother about them?

Well, confined spaces are places in your workplace that are  “confined” because their configurations restrict the activities of employees who must enter, work in, and exit them. A confined space has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, and it is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. Think underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, process vessels, and pipelines and even elevator shafts.

OSHA uses the term “permit-required confined space” (permit space) to describe a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant; has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant; or contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress.

Training in confined spaces is absolutely essential for all employees who are going to work in confined spaces, as well as for those who supervise them. It’s the law! And what better and cost effective training to get than e-learning? You control the pace of the course, the time it can be taken and it costs almost next to nothing, if you factor in the yearly refresher training. An excellent choice would be a CD based confined space entry training given below. Check it out!

Safety Training -Lessons from the US Airways Hudson river landing

By Sam | Jan 18, 2009

Again in this post, we go out of the industrial plant-into the air. Last weeks fabulous landing of the US Airways plane on the Hudson river emphasized one thing in particular, which is-the importance of the safety training. In our industrial plants, many times a new visitor or a recruit is perfunctorily shown a short “safety training” video. More often than not, this is a grainy ancient video that somebody made to comply with some XYZ regulation. The quality certainly does not show the seriousness with safety matters. (I am sure there are many of you out there who may have had a better experience, if so, please share it in the comments section). The plane landing incident only shows how important the safety training demo is. Most people on most flights sleep off/ignore/look the other way, thinking of course…”Oh that’s just a formality. It can’t happen to me!”. As this incident has shown, it CAN happen (that is why the demo includes what you should do if the plane lands on water). I hope all of you will now watch the safety demo at the beginning of the flight more seriously from now on. Also, please take down those grainy old VHS videos that are shown to new recruits and visitors to your industrial plants and replace them with something more visible, eye-catching and worth remembering. Why should it have to be a traditional video at all? It can be  snazzy Flash movie, or something that can be downloaded to an MP4 player or shown on a projector on a big screen with sound and effects. The key is not only showing the video/demo/program… it is also making the visitor to your plant feel that your management takes safety seriously enough to invest in such things. People will remember it much better and maybe it does save somebody’s life in case of some undesirable occurence.

Perhaps you can take a leaf out of Abhisam Software’s e-learning courses? These cover subjects like Hazardous Area Instruments and Gas Detectors, making extensive use of Flash/Shockwave to engage the learner.

As for the commander of the airliner, it was a fantastic performance. BTW , I hear that he is also an aviation safety expert, so this knowledge must have helped tremendously.

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