Biffa Waste, one of the UK’s largest waste management specialists, has contracted Brentwood Communications to upgrade ATEX safety radios at a key chemical disposal facility.
The company, which provides a range of collection, recycling and disposal services to public sector, commercial and industrial clients throughout the UK, needed to replace an existing fleet of analogue radios at its Enviroco Holbrook Rose centre in Sheffield as they started to come to the end of their operational life.
The Holbrook Rose facility specialises in the disposal of hazardous waste from the oil and gas industry, and therefore handles large quantities of highly inflammable material. On-site safety is of paramount concern, and all electrical equipment used at the plant has to meet stringent anti-ignition standards.
ATEX two way radios comply with the EU Atmospheres Explosive Directive 94/9/EC governing safe use of electrical equipment around flammable and combustible materials. The standards cover a variety of uses with different specifications for different categories of risk. Key protections include reinforced casing to guard against accidental ignition from electrical sparks, low temperature operation and enhanced emergency alarm protocols.
Digital upgrade
With the site’s existing analogue two way radios starting to show their age, we recommended management used the opportunity to upgrade to digital handsets.
Providing the same level of protection as the analogue devices, digital ATEX two way radios offer better performance and more reliable signal coverage, providing additional peace of mind that critical communications will always get through.
The model we recommended was the Motorola DP4401EX, which we supplied on a trial basis to check it met requirements. The DP4401EX is a high performance digital two way radio that complies with the ATEX rating for gas and dust insulation as well as with specifications governing the use of equipment underground in mining. It features extra large controls to aid use while wearing gloves and has three key emergency support features programmed as standard – an Emergency Button which overrides all traffic on the network to raise the alarm, a Man Down fall detection alert and Lone Worker, a remote monitoring system which requires colleagues working in hazardous areas to check back in with the network at defined intervals.
Benefitting from Motorola’s sophisticated digital technology, the DP4401EX offers outstanding audio clarity thanks to advanced noise suppression and intelligent volume control. It has an impressive signal range which ensures ample coverage even on large industrial facilities and it comes with added-value features such as GPS, which means the movements of large teams can be tracked across site.
For more information on ATEX two way radios and other communication solutions that can enhance your safety protocols, get in touch with our specialist team today on 01245 403520.
