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.

Soapbox Philosophy: Tapping potential in our kids

The tread of Connor’s shoes hovered about four feet in front of me. Between the toes of his shoes I could see his chin, with the dental hygeinist tackling his teeth with that hydraulic spinning toothbrush and tiny hose.

For some reason, Connor does not fear the dentist. Then again, he’s never had a cavity, either, nor a tooth pulled. I have, and while it was unpleasant at the time, I came out all right and I’m glad its over and done.

But, a couple of weekends ago, Connor got on stage for his very first non-school, public performance. His older brother, Logan, did the same. I’ve never done that. I’ve had the opportunity, but, outside of a few school plays, I’ve never had the nerve. Public speaking takes nerve and practice, practice, practice.

At Friday’s football game in Wapello, the Bears put on a convincing display against the home team, and finished the night with a 56-8 win. At one point in the game, Coach Butch Pedersen pulled aside one player for a scolding, asking him if he was afraid. When the player answered no, Pedersen said “Then hit somebody!”

Sometimes Pedersen shouts, sometimes he heaps great praise. Sometimes he talks with players as equals, conferring with them on ways they can improve, like he’s striking some sort of a deal.

And year after year, the West Branch High School football team has one great season after another. The Bears have won 14 of the last 17 district championships because Pedersen and his assistant coaches have numerous tools for getting more out of the players than the players even think they can do. Getting over fear is one of the necessary accomplishments that makes players better.

For my kids in the play, they had to learn a script with more than 50 pages. Miss Nelson is Missing gives more lines to the teachers, Miss Nelson/Miss Swamp (same person in disguise), but the kids are in every scene but one and their dialogue is almost continuous, bouncing from one kid to the other. They had to learn their lines, cues from the other actors/actresses, blocking and more. The director, Marge Urmie, practiced with them three times a week, then five times a week, leading up to the play. It worked — they had their lines down and now were “acting” them out as well.

I was skeptical, but they did it. Urmie got them to memorize pages and pages of that script, much more than I thought possible for boys who just turned 9 and 10 years old.

Look at our other sports teams, or the Science Club, or the Drama Club, or the Show Choir. Consider the long list of students who earn scholarships year after year, or set school records, or get selected for all-conference, or all-state, or even get signed by a university.

The potential ought to put us in awe, and ought to prompt us to try harder with each and every one of them.

I am nothing but impressed with how these coaches, sponsors, directors, etc. find ways to help students overcome fear and do more than they even think they can.

The Gates Corp. donates $100,000 to aid in local relief efforts

The Gates Corp., which sustained significant damage to its Glade Spring facility in the April 28 tornado, presented $100,000 Tuesday to aid in local relief efforts.

Red Cross volunteers have been among those assisting the community ravaged by last month’s EF3 storm. The Gates plant, which employed 170 who produced hydraulic hose assemblies, was nearly leveled.

“It says a lot to me about this company that will step up and help its employees by giving this to us,” said Felisha McNabb, executive director of the Mountain Empire chapter of the American Red Cross, who accepted the donation. “They suffered a huge loss of their own, but I’ve been with this chapter for eight years – and this is the largest, single contribution I’m aware of.”

The donation is designed to “support relief and recovery efforts” and “help speed the community’s recovery,” according to a written statement issued by the company. Attempts to speak with a Gates spokesperson Tuesday were unsuccessful.

To date, the local Red Cross chapter and its volunteers have provided more than 16,400 meals and snacks during the first 10 days after the storm and is now concluding its meetings with families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged, McNabb said. About 95 homes and 35 apartments received that designation by Red Cross officials.

“We’ve completed meeting with about 90 percent of the families, but [dispensing] all the individual assistance will take longer,” McNabb said. “We’ve met with 86 families but we’ve only paid the first month’s rent on about 2 percent of those so far.”

Officials estimate up to 95 families will seek Red Cross assistance and the agency has been unable to make contact with everyone affected.

To date, the local agency has spent about $129,000 on relief efforts.

“When we start paying out first month’s rent, that adds up in a hurry,” McNabb said.

The tornado recovery effort from the storm system currently ranks as the second largest in chapter history. Local case workers processed more than 200 victims who fled the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their homes in 2005, expending more than $500,000.

While the local chapter is concluding its relief efforts, it also plans to be part of the long-term solution.

“Our assistance is meant for immediate needs after a disaster – food, shelter and clothing,” McNabb said. “There will be additional needs that come up and we want to be part of the long-term recovery efforts in any way we can.”