For many people, choosing portable work lights is not a difficult choice. You want something capable of supplying plenty of light and power for many hours. However, for some, the environment you work in is a major concern, and you may need light specifically made for your situation, like intrinsically safe light products. However, should you invest in these products or not? Let’s look closer at the matter to see.
What Does Intrinsic Safety Mean?
Intrinsic means essential and refers to the construction or makeup of something. Intrinsic safety means products designed for safety and every feature is an important aspect of its safety design. Intrinsically safe light refers to light sources rated for use in hazardous environments and do not cause fire hazards. For example, some lights may create sparks if dropped on hard surfaces and it only takes a tiny spark to ignite a fire or cause an explosion.
What Kind of Environment Do You Work In?
Do you have fire or explosion hazards in your shop or work area? Perhaps you work as a certified mechanic, and you sometimes replace or repair fuel systems. You could have gasoline vapors near you at times, and explosion-proof lighting protects you from potential hazards. In fact, vapors are some of the most dangerous hazards in the workplace because they are not as obvious as most hazards. Here are some more situations where explosion-proof lighting is a good idea:
- Grain storage facilities
- Flour mills
- Textile manufacturing companies
- HVAC technicians
If your job puts you in confined spaces, you may want to consider special lighting products. Do you work around of near propane tanks? When you are not sure if your work area may present hazards from time to time, it’s best not to take chances and go with dependable intrinsically safe light.
