1. What is a safety torch?
A safety torch is a battery-operated hand lamp which is specially designed to be ‘intrinsically safe’. That means it is not capable, even if faulty, of causing an electrical spark sufficient to trigger an explosion in a flammable atmosphere.
In order to achieve this, safety torches are usually encased in plastic, with no exposed metal parts. They have plastic lenses, which are virtually unbreakable and are designed so that the electrical circuit is broken before the head of the torch is removed (e.g. for replacing batteries).
Remember:
- Most rubber- or plastic-encased torches which you can buy in the shops are not safety torches. They must not be used in potentially flammable or explosive atmospheres.
- The torch function on a mobile phone is not acceptable – phones should not be used in any area where an intrinsically safe torch is required.
All torches for use in flammable or explosive areas must be ‘safety torches’ and comply with either national standards for intrinsically safe electrical apparatus or the European norm.
2. How do I use them?
Safety torches are issued to all staff working in places where there is a risk of fire or explosion.
Before you take a torch into a potential danger area, make sure that:
- it is working properly;
- no parts are loose or missing;
- the batteries do not need replacing;
- only the type of batteries indicated on the certificate of approval issued with the torch are used; and
- the unit is correctly sealed.
Never attempt to unseal the torch in order to replace the batteries or bulb while you are in a danger area. If you find a fault, leave the area before attempting to repair it, or obtain a replacement which works.
3. How do I look after it?
Keep all safety torches clean and store them in a cool dry place when not in use. Remove spent batteries from the torch as soon as possible to prevent leakage and potential damage to the unit.
Remove the batteries from the torch when it is not in use and store them in a cool dry place. No more than two months’ stock of spare batteries should be held at any time, to keep them ‘fresh’.
