Management of Lifting Operations
Lifting operations are not limited to large cranes on construction sites, but can occur in a range of industries and activities.
The Human Side of Investigation
Fire investigation goes beyond science. Investigators interact with people in crisis, using empathy to gather evidence. The job is emotionally demanding, with pressure to solve cases and exposure to tragedy. Mental health is crucial, and investigators need support to cope with the emotional toll.
The Science Behind Flooding Investigations
Approximately one in six UK properties is at risk of flooding, and the annual cost of flood-related insurance claims in the UK averages £200-300 million.
Bulk Coal Cargoes
Common problems associated with the transportation of coal in bulk include self-heating and methane production.
Liquefaction
Cargo liquefaction may occur if the material properties of ores or other bulk cargoes are not investigated sufficiently prior to loading, or the IMSBC requirements are not met.
Avoiding Leaks From Heating Oil Storage Systems
Hawkins is often instructed to investigate escapes of oil products such as kerosene heating oil and diesel from storage tanks, and pipelines in domestic and commercial situations, as well as within and on the roofs of buildings.
Arc Mapping
Our research involving compartment fires explored the reliability of a technique called “arc mapping” which uses the electrical wiring in a building to establish the origin of a fire. The analysis of three-dimensional data collected during the research indicated a high probability that localised melting on electrical conductors known as ‘arcing damage’ occurred in close proximity to the fire’s area of origin.
Fireworks: The Science Behind the Show
As you ooh and aah at the dazzling explosions of a fireworks display, there are three things going on that you probably wouldn’t guess: the chemists who made those pyrotechnics designed most of them so they wouldn’t explode, you’re actually seeing the conservation of energy, and most peculiar of all, when things are at their brightest, you’re actually seeing the fireworks as they’re cooling down. The products of pyrotechnic chemistry have been refined since the 800s, when the Chinese began filling bamboo shoots with black powder and exploding them at the New Year with the hope that the sound would scare away evil spirits.
Stainless Steels
Iron is one of the most common and important metals on earth and forms the basis of the most widely used group of metallic materials, steels. Steels can be manufactured cheaply, in large volumes, and provide a range of useful mechanical properties; hardness, strength, ease of machinability, heat resistance, corrosion resistance etc. The properties of steel can be altered by the addition or removal of chemical elements or by heat treatment. Hence, the performance and longevity of steel components often relies on correct property specification and manufacture. If, for instance, a steel application requires exemplary corrosion resistance, but the steel has been incorrectly manufactured or specified, the component will be unlikely to perform effectively and may fail prematurely.
Fires Caused by Hold Lights in Bulk Carriers
In the last few years there has been a change in bulk cargo ship design relating to Australian ladderways. The ships we have seen were all built in China, with the Australian ladders built as partially enclosed box sections.