- Coming up on this week's news,
as another electrician is diagnosed with cancer,
doctors warn apprentices
about the deadly nature of asbestos.
First, Australia said it was coming for our sparks,
now, it's Saudi Arabia
who's on the hunt for UK qualified contractors,
and an electrician who volunteered
to restore power in Ukraine is killed
as he steps on a landmine.
Welcome to "Electrical News Weekly."
Whether you're listening in the van onsite
or down at the wholesale counter, I'm Joe Robinson,
and I've been through the best
of the electrical industry news to save you the trouble.
And as always, if you think you've spotted the two words
that I've been challenged to slip into this week's show,
comment with them below for the chance to win a prize.
Apprentices and young electricians
are being warned this week
about the trade's silent killer, asbestos.
The alert goes out as yet another retired spark
is diagnosed with asbestos related cancer.
Warren Parker believes his 40 year career
of wiring in walls and ceilings
regularly exposed him to the lethal substance,
and now he's planning to take legal advice.
The health and safety executive has launched a campaign
to raise awareness of the risks of asbestos
with millennial and Gen Z electricians and trades people.
The executive is concerned
that young workers don't take it seriously,
as they may believe that the risks only affect older people
who worked before the asbestos ban in 1999.
However, 5,000 people still die
from asbestos related illnesses every year.
Asbestos was once used for insulation
and can still be found in many buildings
built or refurbished before the year 2000.
In fact, over a third of tradespeople
encounter it every month.
The problem is also
that once you inhale the tiny fibers in asbestos dust,
the symptoms may take 20 to 30 years to develop.
The symptoms of asbestosis include persistent cough,
shortness of breath, wheezing,
pain in the chest or shoulder, tiredness,
and swollen or clubbed fingertips.
If any of these symptoms appear,
you should seek immediate medical advice.
I've popped the link
to the HSE's Asbestos and You campaign
in the show notes.
In other news,
an electrician who volunteered
to restore power in villagers' homes in Ukraine
has been killed after stepping on a landmine.
The 32 year old, who has not yet been named,
was working on high tension cables
in the war-torn Kherson region
when he stepped on the device.
In the same place last month,
two employees of the local electricity company
were also killed when their car drove over a landmine.
We extend our sympathy and thoughts
to all members of the trade
killed or injured by the hostilities
in that terrible ongoing conflict.
Now, last month, we reported on a daring bid by Australia
to woo qualified British electricians down under
with the promise of high wages and a sunshine lifestyle.
This week, another country
with top salaries and a warm climate
joined the bidding war.
Saudi Arabia says it has identified electricians
as one of five key skills that the kingdom needs to attract,
and it says it has lots to offer Brits.
Unlike Australia, alcohol is off the cards,
but there are other compensations.
Incentives include zero rated personal income tax,
top beaches, excellent cuisine,
and activities such as golf and diving.
The electrical system and wiring regulations
are similar to here,
but the country uses a baffling array of sockets,
including the classic BS 1361,
and a mixture of 110 volt or 220 volt
depending on which region, city, or even hotel you visit.
So double check before you plug anything in,
as it could either not work or worse, go bang,
and be aware the supply runs at a frequency of 60 hertz,
and so your alarm clock might run a bit fast.
Still, if you like being busy as a bumblebee,
maybe the early start will help.
I've popped a link to the embassy in the show notes.
In product news, Viridian has unveiled
a special safety enclosure
for DC connectors in solar installations.
PV panels on the roofs of buildings
often have their DC connectors near combustible materials,
such as tile battens, roofing membrane,
rafters, and insulation,
and research has found that the DC connector
is the second most likely cause of a solar fire
after the isolator switch.
So the company has developed a ceramic enclosure
that simply snaps over the DC connector.
Called the ArcBox,
it ensures that if an arc ever occurs,
it is safely contained
and doesn't spread to combustible materials.
Irish firm Pro-Tray has won yet another award
for its unique trunking tools.
Cable trays in trunking are normally fixed down
to uni strip bracketing or a stretch channel
with M6 roofing bolts,
but the company says most electricians
don't have the right drivers
and struggle with improvised screwdrivers and tools.
So Pro-Tray developed a dedicated range
of M6 and M8 roofing bolt drivers.
They say they're safer, easier, and quicker.
Also new this week
is a chunky battery for home and businesses.
PowerVolt's P-4 has capacities
from eight kilowatt hours to 24 kilowatt hours,
and it's fully compatible with solar
and wind turbine systems.
The P-4 can also be multiplied to form a three-phase system
offering a hefty 72 kilowatt hour storage capacity.
Special software optimizes the device on a daily basis,
depending on the customer's tariff, power use,
and weather predictions
to ensure the most effective energy consumption.
Retrotouch has unveiled a wireless light switch
that doesn't need wiring or batteries.
The Bluetooth switch comes in a kit form
with a receiver that can switch devices such as lights.
It uses kinetic power technology from EnOcean,
so it doesn't need a battery.
You can also use the app to set up voice control with Alexa.
It's perfect for applications where it's really difficult
to install twin and earth.
And finally, a Swiss company
has come up with a clever place to install solar panels.
It's planning to lay them
in the space between railway tracks,
and it's even invented a specially built train
that can rapidly unroll a carpet of standard panels.
Baptiste Danichert, Founder of Swiss startup, Sun-ways,
says there's around a million miles
of railway lines in the world
and half of that could be equipped with panels.
The first trial installation is taking place
on a piece of track in Switzerland.
We wait with baited breath to see if it will reduce
the ongoing apocalyptic energy crisis.
Now, just before we get to your favorite bit of the show,
where I reveal last week's challenge words and winners,
we want to thank our premium partners.
We couldn't make the news without you.
First up, for all your circuit protection needs,
they're like having an Italian star striker
in your Premiership team, it's Lewden Palazzoli.
And the best thing to come out of Yorkshire
since stainless steel, it's Doncaster Cables,
the home of EV Ultra
and other groundbreaking and quality cables.
And one of the biggest lighting companies in the world,
because their capital is always Dublin,
it's Irish lighting manufacturer, ROBUS,
home of great quality and innovative lighting products.
Big thanks to you all.
We really do appreciate your ongoing support for the news.
If you think you know the words
I've smuggled into this week's show,
pop your guess into the comments,
and we'll dig out a goodie bag prize
to the first to get the right answers.
Last week's words were silhouette and zigzag,
and the first person to get both right
is obviously a super competitive fan
of classic board games off of the '70s.
Well done to you, Connect4king.
Make sure you click the link in the description
to claim your prize.
Coming up across our social platforms this week,
we've got a review of the octalinear fitting,
which is a great looking bit of kit from Luceco,
and a Q and A that may well put the cat among the pigeons
on the subject of plastic enclosures.
Keep your eyes peeled for those.
Thanks very much for listening
to this episode of "Electrical News Weekly."
Make sure you subscribe to receive the next update.
Thanks for listening,
and until next time, have a great week.
Stay safe out there.
And remember,
there's no such thing as a torque calibrated arm.