Abstract: Detonators comprising a base charge of explosive material present a safety hazard for transportation and storage, especially when a plurality of detonators are packaged together. Disclosed herein are detonator protectors for the explosive ends of detonators that, at least in preferred forms, prevent ejection of shrapnel and/or explosive energy upon detonator actuation. Also disclosed are corresponding detonator assemblies, packages comprises protected detonators or detonator assemblies, and corresponding packaging methods.

Abstract: Database and method facilitating a set of information relating to a plurality of first safety equipment items produced by a producer. One of a plurality of unique identifiers is applied to each of the plurality of first safety equipment items before the plurality of first safety equipment items leave control of the producer. A database representative of information associated with a plurality of unique identifiers and a plurality of safety equipment items is established. The one of the plurality of unique identifiers is associated with a respective one of the plurality of first safety equipment items. A plurality of second safety equipment items is retrofitted by applying one of the plurality of unique identifiers with a respective one of the plurality of second safety equipment items after the plurality of second safety equipment items leaves control of the producer. The one of the plurality of unique identifiers is associated with a respective one of the plurality of safety equipment items.

Abstract: Database control system for information relating to a plurality of safety equipment items produced by a producer and method. A centrally controlled database contains information representative of information related to each of the plurality of safety equipment items, each of the plurality of safety equipment items being associated with a unique identifier and each of the plurality of safety equipment items being associated with one of a plurality of customers. Computer equipment is associated with one of the plurality of customers having the capability of accessing a portion of the information of the database associated with the one of the plurality of customers. A remote data entry device is associated with the one of the plurality of customers for data input associated with a plurality of safety equipment items associated with the one of the plurality of customers, the data input being directly updated into the centrally controlled database.

Abstract: Method and database facilitating a controlled flow of information relating to a plurality of unique safety equipment items produced by a producer through at least a portion of a life cycle of each of the plurality of safety equipment items. One of a plurality of unique identifiers is first associated with each of the plurality of safety equipment items produced by the producer. Each of the plurality of unique identifiers is second associated with a customer of at least one of the plurality of safety equipment items. A database representative of information obtained from the first associating step and from the second associating step is established, the database being controlled by the producer. A selected portion of the information related to the first association and to the second association is ported to a plurality of customers of the plurality of safety equipment items.

Abstract: Centralized database system and method facilitating maintenance of inspection information relating to a plurality of unique safety equipment items produced by a producer. One of a plurality of unique identifiers is associated with each of the plurality of safety equipment items. Each of the plurality of safety equipment items is associated with a plurality of users. A database contains information associated with the plurality of safety equipment items using the plurality of unique identifiers to identify each of the plurality of safety equipment items. The database is controlled by the producer. The database contains information associating each unique identifier associated with a respective one of the plurality of safety equipment items with a respective one of the plurality of users. The database contains information maintaining a history of inspection of each of the plurality of safety equipment items.

Abstract: A nephelometer that is insensitive to ambient light, characterized by the direction of very short pulses of energy at high frequency from an infrared laser to traverse a liquid containing suspended particles and the ability to detect, amplify and measure the peak values of pulses of energy scattered by particles traversed by the beam.