A Variety of Hazards

Working in confined spaces can be dangerous due to a variety of hazards, including:

• Atmospheric hazards: Confined spaces may contain hazardous atmospheres, such as oxygen-deficient or flammable atmospheres, or toxic gases.
• Engulfment hazards: Confined spaces may contain materials that have the potential to engulf a worker, such as liquids or granular solids.
• Entanglement hazards: Confined spaces may contain machinery or other objects that could entangle a worker.
• Fall hazards: Confined spaces may have uneven surfaces or drop-offs, which could cause a worker to fall.

The Right Equipment

A variety of products are available to help increase the safety of workers working in confined spaces. Some of the most important products include:

• Ventilation equipment: Ventilation equipment is used to remove hazardous atmospheres from confined spaces and supply fresh air to workers.
• Respiratory protection equipment: Respiratory protection equipment is used to protect workers from breathing hazardous atmospheres.
• Fall protection equipment: Fall protection equipment is used to prevent workers from falling when working in confined spaces.
• Communication equipment: Communication equipment is used to keep workers in contact with each other and with personnel outside the confined space in case of an emergency.

Allegro Industries specializes in protection and safety products for all industrial applications. We have a variety of ventilation blowers that supply clean air to workers in confined spaces. Allegro also supplies respiratory protection equipment to many construction companies across the nation.

If you want to increase the safety of your workers when they operate in confined spaces, check out our confined space products or contact us to find out more.

Here is a closer look at the various product categories Allegro offers:

AEDs Storage

Allegro’s AEDs storage selections are designed for easy operation, portability, and safety, from standalone units to complete packages. In addition, you can choose from a variety of wall-mounted plastic and metal cabinets with and without visual and audible alarms to ensure quick access to your AEDs in an emergency.

Blowers and Fans

Allegro offers an extensive range of blowers for controlling dust and hazardous materials in confined areas. A proper air movement system is vital for any hazardous environment, and Allegro has the blowers to meet your needs. So whether you need an industrial-grade blower for a large area or a portable blower for spot cleaning, Allegro has the right solution. We also offer High Output Fans with adjustable speed settings for proper air circulation in various environments. 

Confined Space Products

Allegro is your one-stop shop for all your confined space needs, whether on a construction site around manholes or in tight, isolated, confined spaces. Offering everything from Manhole Guard Rails and Lid Lifters to Tents, Umbrellas, and Dewatering Pumps, anything you will need on the job site can be found at Allegro!

Knee Protection Pads

Knee pads are essential for safety regardless of the environment you’re working in. Allegro’s knee pads protect against scrapes, bruises, and other minor injuries common in risky environments.

Respirators

The dust, fumes, and other hazardous materials found in many workplaces can be dangerous if inhaled. Allegro offers a complete line of NIOSH-approved respirators that filter out contaminants and protect your workers while comfortable enough to be worn for extended periods of time. Our experts can help you pick the suitable respirator for your environment and provide training to ensure proper use. 

Seasonal Climate Control

Working in large or confined spaces during the hot season is challenging and uncomfortable and can put your workers at serious health risk. Allegro offers cooling products that keep your workers safe and comfortable, improving productivity.

Lens Care Products 

Keeping your workers safe includes making sure their vision is not impaired. Allegro offers lens care products and fans to help clean the air in hazardous environments. Our lens care products are designed to protect lenses from dust, dirt, and other contaminants. 

Keep Your Workplace Safe

Don’t let hazardous environments jeopardize the safety of your workers. Allegro can help you protect them with our comprehensive line of safety products and personal protective equipment. Please browse our selection today and get started on keeping your workplace safe. Contact us if you need help creating a safe and healthy work environment for your team. 

The PN 9406 Series Manhole Safety Cross is designed to minimize the risk of accidentally falling into a manhole by restricting access to the manhole opening.

A simple two-bar apparatus that fits snuggly into manholes from 18 to 36 inches interlocks in the center, forming a cross that reduces the chance of a manhole accident.

Let’s take a look at the features of the 9406 Series Manhole Safety Cross

Features of The Manhole Safety Cross

• The two-bar construction is painted in bright safety yellow, affixed with warning stickers, and numbered for easy installation
• Adjustable:
  • The Small Safety Adjustable Cross fits manholes with 18, 21, and 24-inch openings
  • The Large Safety Adjustable Cross fits Manholes with 26, 30, and 36-inch openings
• Reduces the size of the manhole opening
• Easy installation and storage when not in use

Construction of The Manhole Safety Cross

• Quality steel construction
• Strong 1 1/2-inch square tube center construction
• Strong 1 1/4-inch square tube adjustable arms
• 1/4-inch steel street-level brackets
• Strong and durable powder-coated finish
• Safety yellow is highly visible
• Stainless steel plunger pull ring
• Labeled for safety and for installation

Available in Two Sizes

• 9406-24A Adjustable Small Manhole Safety Cross
• 9406-36A Adjustable Large Manhole Safety Cross

If this item is not in your jobsite toolbox, it should be!

Allegro Industries has been in the business of preventing construction site accidents and providing solutions to those needs since 1987. Allegro Industries is always on top of the latest safety devices being offered to the construction industry, and the 9406 Series Manhole Safety Cross is a prime example of that.

For more information on the Manhole Safety Cross or any other Allegro Industries product, feel free to call or go by our website today.

You can’t control when or where disasters will strike, but there are steps you can take to prepare for them. That way, you’ll be ready to deal with its consequences quickly and efficiently so that they don’t damage what’s important: keeping your company afloat.

However, there are some items you may need in your disaster relief kit that you may not have thought about:

Carpet Dryers

Carpet dryers can be very helpful in a disaster situation. They’re great for drying out carpets, which is essential because wet carpets can cause mold and mildew to grow. This makes your home or office smell terrible and poses a health risk to you and your family or employees. Carpet dryers are also great for drying items soaked by flood waters, such as furniture, and electronics.

You can also use a carpet dryer to help with fire cleanup. For example, if a fire has damaged your home or office, you may need to remove smoke and soot from the building’s interior walls, floors, and ceilings. A carpet dryer is a great way to do this because it doesn’t leave behind any residue as traditional cleaning products would.

Dewatering Pumps

You can use a dewatering pump to remove water from your basement, crawlspace, or any other area where you need to dry out the ground. Dewatering pumps are also helpful during a flood cleanup because they can remove water from places difficult for a human worker to reach. Flood cleanup dewatering pumps are available in various sizes and configurations, so you can find one that’s right for your needs.

These pumps use centrifugal force to pump water out of flooded areas and other areas you need to clear water. Because they don’t rely on electricity, these pumps are also useful in remote locations where power is unavailable, making them an ideal choice for disaster relief efforts.

Pump Discharge Hose

A pump discharge hose is a long rubber tube that connects the pump to the area where you want to pump the water. The hose will typically have a filter on one end and a nozzle on the other, allowing you to control how much water you are discharging from your flooded area.

In a disaster, you’ll want to ensure that your pump discharge hose is in good condition. When you pump the water out of your flooded area, you’ll need to be able to direct it where you want it. A damaged or broken discharge hose can be especially problematic because it will prevent you from directing the water where you want it.

Blowers

A blower is a powerful machine that uses air to push water out of your flooded area. This is especially useful if you’re dealing with a large amount of water that needs to be removed quickly. Blowers can be used with other pumps, such as submersible or diaphragm pumps, to remove water faster than you would achieve using just one pump.

The key to using a blower is being able to direct the airflow. Without proper control, you could blow the water back into your house or damage your home’s walls. When using a blower, ensure you have a water vacuum on hand to catch any water that gets blown back out of your flooded area. If you don’t have one, use towels or rags to soak up any excess water before it has time to blow back into the house.

Conclusion

Disaster management is a difficult task. But with the right tools and knowledge, you can help people get through even the worst situations. There’s a lot to learn about flood damage cleanup, and you don’t want to make any mistakes that could cost you time or money. Following these tips and using the right tools will help you get through even the worst situations.

If you have found yourself in a situation where disaster has struck, we’re here to help. Allegro can give you the tools and knowledge you need to get through the worst conditions. Visit our website today to learn more about our products and services.

Before entering any confined space and tackling any application, you must ask yourself several questions:

• Where will the blower be used?
• What is the size of the confined space?
• Is the confined space hazardous or nonhazardous?
• How much CFM from the blower is needed?
• How many times should the air in a confined space be circulated per hour?

The majority of confined space ventilation issues, and even deaths, can be prevented with education and the use of proper equipment.

Picking the Best Fan or Blower for the Job

When selecting a fan or blower, all ventilators have two characteristics:

• Air pressure– Force of air volume is measured by inch of water gauge (WG)
• Airflow– Air volume delivered and measured by cubic feet per minute (CFM)

Axial Blowers

Axial blowers create high airflow, but the blade design develops lower pressure. When used with ducting, the ventilation duct creates air movement resistance, therefore, making the axial fan inefficient at longer distances, especially with multiple bends in the ducting. Axial fans are designed with several large paddle blades that develop a large volume of airflow (CFM).

When to use Axial Blowers

They are lightweight, low cost, and best when working in smaller confined spaces and short distances with minimal ducting (preferably 15 to 25 ft. of flexible ducting).

NOTE: We also offer an Air Bag Blower, which is a metal axial blower system with ducting built into a heavy-duty polyester bag for an all-in-one unit for ease of operation and portability.

Centrifugal Blowers

Centrifugal blowers use a “squirrel cage” designed with numerous forward-curved blades on a circular wheel. The blades create significant volume (CFM) and very high air pressure (WG).

When to use Centrifugal Blowers

They are typically heavier and cost more than axial fans due to the motor required to run the blades efficiently. These blowers are used to move air a long distance, using long or multiple lengths of duct. A big advantage these blowers have over other blower types is that the air does not cross over the motor minimizing the chance of contaminating the motor.

In-line Axial Blowers

In-line Axial Blowers are used by themselves or with an additional fan/blower as a velocity accelerator for long duct distances over the 15-to-25-foot standard duct length.

When to use

When ventilating at a long distance, simply add an in-line fan to the ducting to increase or maintain airflow. In-line fans can be used with axial or centrifugal blowers to extend longer ventilation distances.

Venturi Blowers

Venturi Blowers operate with a pneumatic air hose without moving parts or blades, minimizing maintenance. Tremendous CFM is created by using a hollow hub that creates a vortex, spinning air similar to a jet engine.

When to use

With no mechanical blade, Venturi blowers are not specifically designed to force air through flexible ducting. You must have high-pressure compressed air to power these blowers. They are primarily used as a suction or push device on a tank and can be used in conjunction with an axial or centrifugal fan to remove gases from a tank rapidly. Venturi bases are designed to fit American Petroleum Institute (API) standard tanks.

Pneumatic Jet Fans

Pneumatic Jet Fans operate with a pneumatic air hose to ventilate tanks or other large areas.

When to use

This fan is designed to push air in or remove air from tanks or other large areas to rapidly remove gases. The jet fan bases are designed to fit American Petroleum Institute (API) standard tanks.

Allegro Confined Space Blower Selector Tool

We understand choosing the correct blower for your confined space site could be confusing and burdensome, and that’s why we’ve developed our Blower Selector Tool making the process as painless as possible! It’s available on our website or as a standalone app for your mobile device. So try our selector today and select the perfect Allegro blower that meets all of your confined space needs!

Allegro also offers a wide variety of blower accessories, such as our patented 8″ and 12″ Manhole Ventilation Passthrus (MVPs), Duct-to-Duct connectors, Ducting Reducers, Ducting Storage Bags, Filter Boxes, and more!

Allegro Industries has content on social media, including blog posts, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, which helps us keep our customers up to date with our products. As a result, our customers can learn about and purchase our products from the comfort of their homes.

You can reach us through our website to learn more about our high-quality Blowers and/or Fans or find sales representatives and sales managers in your area.

• Proper ventilation procedures should be followed in accordance with all Federal, State, and Local laws. For work in hazardous locations, follow ANSI/API 2015 and 2016 procedures.

• Always test the confined space for hazardous gases and sufficient oxygen with a calibrated multi-gas monitor prior to ventilating the space. After ventilating for a sufficient amount of time, re-test the confined space before entering the space. Ventilation must remain in operation while the confined space is occupied. If the space cannot be properly ventilated, be sure to use explosion-proof products! Allegro offers a wide variety of explosion-proof blowers ideal for instances such as this:
  • 8″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Metal Blower
  • 8″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Plastic Blower
  • 8″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Plastic Blower w/ Compact Canister & Ducting
  • 12″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Industrial Plastic Blower
  • 12″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Metal Blower
  • 12″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Plastic Blower
  • 12″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Plastic Blower w/ Canister & Ducting
  • 12″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Inline Booster Plastic Blower
  • 16″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) High-Output Metal Blower
  • 16″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Industrial Plastic Blower
  • 16″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Metal Blower
  • 16″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Plastic Blower w/ Canister & Ducting
  • 20″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) High-Output Metal Blower
  • 20″ Axial Explosion-Proof (EX) Metal Blower
  • Centrifugal Heavy Duty Explosion-Proof (EX) Blower
  • Centrifugal Standard Blower System with MVP
  • Explosion-Proof Extension Cord
  • Explosion-Proof Socket
• Use a purge time chart provided on Allegro blowers (see below) to calculate purge times prior to entering a confined space. Each 90º bend in a section of an 8” duct will reduce flow by approximately 15%.

• If toxic/combustible gases or low oxygen levels are encountered, increase ventilation purge times by 50% and re-test the air quality.
• When ventilating a manhole or tank, always set the blower back from the opening a minimum of five (5) feet. This should prevent any hazardous gases that may be purged from the confined space from being drawn back into the intake of the blower and forced back into the confined space.
• Never block or restrict entry and egress to or from a confined space opening. Always use Allegro’s Manhole Ventilation Passthru (MVP) placed in the opening of the manhole or tank to allow continuous ventilation without restricting entry and egress to the opening.
• With gases being heavier than air, the ventilation duct should be placed at the bottom of the confined space allowing the blower’s air to push the gases out the top of the confined space.
• Always use non-sparking tools in and around a hazardous worksite.
• When using a Venturi-style pneumatic blower on a steel tank, make sure the aluminum base is not dragged along the surface of the steel tank; this may cause a spark where rust is forming. Always make certain that the Venturi blower has been properly bonded to the tank prior to ventilating and assure the tank is properly grounded.
• Always have proper respiratory equipment for the ventilated workspace and emergency rescue.
• The build-up of static electricity is more prevalent during cool dry conditions, typically below 50% relative humidity. Depending on the work environment, anti-static clothing and special static removal devices may be necessary to prevent the ignition from static electrical discharge.

The Brewers Association has written a Best Management Practice Guide for Confined Space to communicate the importance of dealing with confined spaces.

What confined spaces typically exist in a brewery?

• Bright tanks
• Fermenters
• Grain bins
• Silos
• Mash tuns
• Kettles
• Yeast propagation tanks
• Liquor tanks, and
• Trailers used for fresh or spent grain.

In addition, larger breweries may have:

• Sump pits
• Utility vaults
• Water treatment tanks, and
• Other confined spaces.

What are the dangers in these confined spaces?

During the fermentation process, a lack of oxygen can occur. There may be a possibility for dangerous levels of carbon dioxide to be present. This can cause an exposed employee to collapse – creating an emergency situation. Forced ventilation can also cool a vat down faster, reducing the downtime before the vat can be entered for inspection, cleaning, or maintenance. The atmosphere inside the vat remains stable by continually forcing fresh air in during the entry procedure.

How can Allegro Industries assist breweries in creating a safe working environment?

We offer numerous ventilation solutions for confined spaces including the brewery industry!

• Masks
• Cooling Respirator Systems
• Ventilation Blowers
• Ducting
• And more!

Contact us today to learn more about our confined space solutions, or visit us online to see all our products. Allegro Industries remains committed to providing the best safety equipment products.

QUALITIES OF ALLEGRO’S MAGNETIC LID LIFTERS

The new series of Magnetic Valve Box Lid Lifters are lightweight, ensuring that anyone will be able to use the equipment. The lifter features a powerful rare earth magnet, which has a lifting capacity of fifty pounds. If you need a bit more lifting capacity, there’s also a deluxe version of the lifter available, which has a lifting capacity of seventy-five pounds. For increased safety, there’s a locking on/off handle. The magnet itself is also on/off, streamlining the user experience.

WHY DO YOU NEED THEM?

Every time you bend down at work to pick something up, you’re putting strain on your back and your neck. Over time, this strain can have extremely harmful consequences on your health. Symptoms such as persistent back pain, headaches, and stiffness can arise, preventing you from performing at your best.

These Magnetic Valve Box Lid Lifters eliminate this strain by allowing you to pick up heavy pieces without bending down. The magnet at the bottom of the tool penetrates textured surfaces, allowing the lifter to be used with a wide variety of materials. Additionally, Allegro’s lifters reduce the number of finger injuries experienced in the workplace by keeping vulnerable fingers away from areas where they can be pinched.

Providing the best safety products for your industry is our priority at Allegro! Contact us to receive more information about our Magnetic Valve Box Lid Lifters and similar products that will maximize your workplace safety.