BOOK REVIEW

Seventy-four accidents (under explosives legislation not necessarily involving personal injury) were reported to HM Explosives Inspectorate during 1976, an increase of 16 over the previous year's figure, states Mr Frank Ireland, HM Chief Inspector of Explosives, in his section of a recent report* He stresses that several of the accidents would probably have been avoided if the recognised operating procedures had been strictly followed. Six people died in 1976 in accidents involving explosives and a further 47 were injured. These figures include accidents involving the manufacture of fireworks; however, they do not include their use where the total remained high although there has been a steady decrease over the past five years. A total of 685 were injured during the four week period around Guy Fawkes night in 1976, of whom 362 were under 13 years old and a further 147 under 16. The number of thefts remained high, with explosives stolen on 173 occasions . Most of these were, however, railway fog signals and other small items. Summaries of accidents demonstrate the widely diverse problems in the field of interest of the Explosives Inspectorate, ranging from the crash on the M6 motorway which resulted in hydrogen from two cracked cylinders catching fire, to two incidents during re-enactments of historical battles when blackpowder (gunpowder) was ignited prematurely and five people were injured. The report, which is illustrated, has three appendices with statistical tables relating to the Factory Inspectorate including accident statistics, prosecutions, improvement and prohibition notices; the Railway Inspectorate including accident statistics; and the Explosives Inspectorate, including tables on fireworks injuries, import of explosives, explosives accidents, and proceedings involving the Inspectorate.

* Health and Safety in manufacturing and service industries 1976. From HMSO £2.50 plus postage.

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BOOK REVIE\I\'

books of interest to the petroleum officer are few and far between. With this in mind I make no apology for dealing with some volumes which have been published during the last few years and may have previously escaped a mention.

This first book is b titled "the safe Use of 1 . electronics In ha d zar ous ocatlons" and was publ -h in 1971. Its author R JlS . . ed back Redd, ng . recognised as the lead' lng - IS authorit on the subject d . eSlgn. of intr" lnSlcally y safe

A truism used to introduce the chapter states that "accid ents opening are the invasion " of the unprep d are by the unexpected. The author then d emon-strates how . the .. concept of l·nt· . rlnSlC safety IS utIlIsed to minimise the

BY BOOKWORM

chance of ignition by electrical equipment.

There are chapters covering the history and development, design. testing,

PASEEFA certification, applications and installation. Other chapters deal in detail with Zener diode barriers and other safety techniques The Zener barrier is of central importance, limiting as it does the level of power which can enter a danger area

It is of course used extensively in circuits for the modern electronic pumps as well as in instrumentation. measuring and remote control systems in areas where fire and explosion risks exist in industry

I have found the book to be most readable and of immense value in widening my knowledge of a topic on which I am far from expert. It is published by McGraw-Hi 11 at £3.80 39