Association urges end-users to drive quality assurance

Quality assurance needs to be driven by end-users, as South Africa lacks uniform quality control, particularly of hose assemblies, in hydraulic systems, says South African Fluid Power Association (Safpa) chairperson Norman Hall.

Safpa has completed a set of standards, the Hose Assembly and Accreditation Scheme, based on the British Fluid Power Association’s (BFPA’s) standards, by which companies can be audited and endorsed by Safpa.

However, Hall notes that companies are reluctant to undertake the accreditation process unless this is demanded by the end-user.

He adds that many hose assembly suppliers mix and match hoses, collars and inserts, as well as use unbranded, unmarked and reworked hoses, which are potentially dangerous.

Components for assemblies must be compatible by design, size, type and manufacture. Further, compatibility must be proven through testing to the appropriate specifications.

“Hydraulic hose assemblies may have pressures of between 200 bar and 300 bar coursing through them, and because of the high pressures, when oil hoses burst, oil is injected into a person’s skin, which is called oil impregnation, and this is dangerous to the individual,” says Hall.

He adds people are occasionally burnt by the oil, not because the temperature of the oil is hot, but because the pressure with which it escapes the burst hose is so intense that it causes friction burns.

“Safety in hose fluid power is a significant priority, but many companies do not realise the dangers of burst hoses,” Hall explains.

Safpa aims to increase quality control in South Africa through its Hose Assembly and Accreditation Scheme, and to increase safety awareness through a one-day hose safety course.

This course, which was imported from the BFPA, has been developed to provide an introduction to hydraulic hoses, connectors and the safe assembly of these components for industrial use.

The course content includes basic hose principles, health, safety and environ- ment, hose and connector selection, hose assembly, important rules and two video presentations on hose manufacture and hose safety.

Hall urges end-users to demand quality- certified hose assemblies for the sake of employee safety and to decrease capital expenditure, as poor-quality hose assemblies need to be replaced more often.