Abstract: A miniaturized, ruggedized, field-deployable Portable Exposure Assessment System (PEAS) is used to remotely monitor workers and provide real-time warning of exposure to musculoskeletal injury conditions via alarm and smart-phone transmission. The PEAS unit wirelessly acquires exposure data from sensors; conducts initial data analysis; triggers proximal and remote alarms; sends out text messages with abnormal data, GPS locations, and time stamps to a safety office; and saves data for more extensive assessment. Sensor technology is used in this field-deployable system to simultaneously measure and collect the body loads and awkward postures imposed by package handling as well as driving-related, low-frequency vibration exposures. Wireless technology is used to set up wireless communication links between the sensors and a data logger and between the data logger and a smart phone with GPS, date/time stamp and text messaging capabilities.

Abstract: A multipurpose ladder accessory assembly for a ladder having a top rung, a penultimate rung and a multiple of lower rungs each extending between a first elongated ladder rail and a second elongated ladder rail defining ladder rails, each ladder rail having an upper end and a lower end, said accessory assembly comprising a first and second pair of ladder accessory arms each defining a first arm connected to the first ladder rail between the upper end of the first ladder rail and the penultimate rung, and a second arm connected to the second ladder rail between the upper end of the second ladder rail and the penultimate rung, such that each of the first arms and the second arms of the first and the second pair of ladder accessory arms are independently moveable from a folded position along the ladder rails to an extended position from the ladder rails.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an electrical injury protection system for protecting individuals working on or near a power circuit. In one embodiment, the system comprises a controller that is electrically connected to a power circuit and a detector that is carried by a user working. The detector has three or more electrodes mounted on the user's body which detect the electric field induced on the body by the power circuit. The detector is operable to detect the voltage between each pair of electrodes and activate an alarm if the voltage between any electrode pair exceeds a predetermined proximity threshold. If the voltage between an electrode pair exceeds a predetermined electrical-contact threshold, the detector transmits a tripping signal to the controller to activate a tripping mechanism, which de-energizes the power circuit. In certain embodiments, the controller can be used to monitor the de-energized condition of a de-energized circuit.

Abstract: A personal electrical injury protection system is provided which can be worn by electricians, construction workers, or other individuals working around or with low-voltage lines (i.e. generally less than about 600 volts). The personal electrical injury protection system has both a proximity warning component which provides a warning of potential electrical hazards upon close approach to the low-voltage power line and an electrical contact protection component which turns off the power upon actual electrical contact with the power line. The present personal electrical protection system relies on a radio frequency transmitter attached to the worker or person to be protected and a radio receiver/controller connected to the power line. The radio frequency transmitter has a low frequency generator which is used for electrical-contact protection and a high frequency generator which is used for proximity warning.

Abstract: A personal electrical injury protection system is provided which can be worn by electricians, construction workers, or other individuals working around or with low-voltage lines (i.e., generally less than about 600 volts). The personal electrical injury protection system has both a proximity warning component which provides a warning of potential electrical hazards upon close approach to the low-voltage power line and an electrical contact protection component which turns off the power upon actual electrical contact with the power line. The present personal electrical protection system relies on a radio frequency transmitter attached to the worker or person to be protected and a radio receiver/controller connected to the power line. The radio frequency transmitter has a low frequency generator which is used for electrical-contact protection and a high frequency generator which is used for proximity warning.

Abstract: The invention includes apparatus and method for detecting defects in various barrier materials including surgical gloves and food packaging. Voltage is applied across electrodes and a barrier material and the voltage measured and compared with voltage control measurements for the same barrier material without a defect. Sensitivity of measurements is increased by adjusting partial pressure across the barrier material which is subjected to the passage of an ionized gas detected by suitable instrumentation.

Abstract: The invention relates a method and a system for membrane thickness and the correspondent area distribution measurement based on the dependency of the acoustic intensity transmission coefficient upon the thickness of the insertion membrane and the proportion of the power of the transmitted acoustic plane waves to the area of the insertion membrane. The principle of the invention is that, when the acoustic wave travels in the acoustic medium and encounters an insertion membrane with different acoustic impedance, the intensity transmission coefficient T is related to the thickness d of the insertion membrane and the frequency f of the transmitting acoustic wave. As f sweeps, maximum T occurs at a set of frequency points corresponding to a certain thickness of the insertion membrane. By confining the sweeping frequency within a certain range, T.sub.max can only occur at one frequency point corresponding to a certain thickness of the insertion membrane.