Segnut F.I.R.S.T.
The development of Segnut FIRST and its application in mobile plant GET applications continues to garner interest and support in the mobile plant sector, where the use of rattle-guns is being phased out but where the awkward nature of reactions arms brings its own safety issues.
Infrastructure Magazine has highlighted the development, which is now in its final stages of testing with BHP.
WorkSafe Victoria recently posted a story highlighting the hazards presented by hot works used to remove seized nuts on a quarry site. While the recommendations in the article on the authority’s website are all useful, all are about risk mitigation rather than hazard elimination.
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, known as HAVS, is a very serious condition that is caused by vibration transferred to the hand and arm through the use of power tools, or other vibrating machinery. If left untreated, it can even result in finger or hand amputation. While there are some existing products on the market designed to minimise the effects of hand arm vibration, eliminating or reducing exposure to vibration is the most efficient and effective way of minimising the risk. Segnut is designed to do just that.
After nearly two years of close cooperation including technical trials, laboratory tests and rigorous field trials, Segnut has been officially accepted by BHP for use in its WA Iron Ore operations. In 2017, the screen house at Mount Whaleback mine caught fire as a result of hotworks being used to remove a seized nut. In Segnut, BHP found a means of removing the need for hot works to remove seized fasteners, that requires no special tools, nor changes to the design of the chutes, wear liners or other equipment. By replacing common hex nuts on wear liners and hard skirts on conveyors, BHP aims to remove the risk of a hot works (spark–ignited) fire in areas of high fuel load, such a screen houses and car dumpers.