News

StoA Cable Systems - follow-up from John the Oshman

Back in Issue 9 of TOOL Magazine I wrote an article on electrical extension leads and listed the dangers in using them on construction sites, such as cables left in mud or puddles, cable being run over by mobile scaffolds or vehicles, trip hazards with cables on the floor, etc.

The article finished with me giving a plug to the stoA cable management systems; well, today I just wanted to give you all an update on stoA.
The news is all good in relation the major construction companies, with the likes of Fletchers, Hawkins, Mainzeal and Multiplex all now using them. In fact Mainzeal has now purchased units in bright yellow with their logo on them.
Placemakers and the Mega Mitre 10 are now all stocking the product. Site Safe, the DoL and ACC are all more than happy with the product.
In all cases where the product is used, safety has improved-no trip hazards, fewer cables are damaged and mobile scaffolds are much easier to move.

So the OSHMAN is pleased to tell you that these products are starting to take the market by storm, as not only safety but also productivity is improved by using them.

Issue 9
John O'reilly, NZ Safety Council

To support or not to support your electrical extension cables seems to be the question.
But is the question relevant?

Electricity by its very nature is a danger, you cannot see, hear or smell it, but it can and does kill. Most companies have now accepted the fact that leads and electrical tools used in construction must be inspected and tagged every 3 months and in workshops every 6 months. Now the driver for the testing was the AS/NZS 3012:2003 Electrical Installations – Construction and demolition sites - an Australian New Zealand Standard. Most of us have clauses in our contracts whereby
we agree to follow all Legislation, Regulations, codes of practice and AS/NZ Standards.

Well then this may be a news flash to many of you:
AS/NZS 3012:2003 2.6.9 Protection of flexible cords or cables.
Flexible cords or cables shall not be subject to mechanical damage, damage by liquids or damage by high temperatures.

Where flexible cords or cables are more than 4m from the electrical equipment that they supply, or are not in view of the person using the electrical equipment, they shall be:
(a) provided with suitable protection against, or located where they are not subjected to, mechanical damage, damage by liquids or damage by high temperatures; or
(b) supported off the floor or ground on stands or hangers covered with material that is non-conducting and will prevent mechanical damage to the cable.

I have for a long time heard companies procrastinate on this issue, saying that once it’s law they will start to take action - well, now you know it is clearly covered by a A/NZ Standard, so lets see cables being protected correctly. As we all know we have a “duty of care” under the HSE Act, which means we have to “take all practicable steps”.

By following this standard, you have just taken another practicable step. Now I fully know at this point most companies will be saying “OK, the OSHMAN has highlighted a problem, but as usual no solutions”. Well it’s no accident that this article appears on this page as the products shown here are a tremendous solution to the problem. stoA have been supplying hangers and a tangle free Lead Management System in Australia and New Zealand for some time and I fully endorse the products.

As a side note the Lead Management System can be used with the cable wound in without risk of it causing a fire. Now that is a real bonus.

June 17th 2005

At the 2005 Fieldays we were demonstrating and selling the electrical stoA's which proved to be one of the hottest selling items at the show.

By chance we had a prototype of the new stoA washdown in our vehicle. After talking to various different people we were advised that there were spaces left available in the invention centre and we should mount our prototype on a post and display it.

We very quickly built a display and returned to demonstrating our electrical stoA's.

We had a phenomenal response about the stoA washdown from farmers through to the food industry.

Then to top it all off our stoA washdown won the 'Ingenious Method Award' in the 'Invention' category.

July 2005, TOOL (mag)

"...Since I'm writing about safety let me tell you about two great products I have found at my local tool suppliers.

The first is an electrical extension cord safety holder, this is a New Zealand invention and is brilliant.

It keeps your extension cord neat and tidy and you only need to take off the amount of cord you need as it lets air circulate around the loops of lead so it dose not over heat when looped on this holder it has many other features so check it out and support the kiwi invention."

Captain Kingston

To subscribe to this great mag, contact john@toolmad.com