any health and safety gurus here?

markeymark

looking for some information please, what is the definition of red heat and do george foreman grills/toasters/microwave grills give any off

might sound strange but its a workplace issue just now

cheers

Ectophile

To me, "red heat" means it's hot enough to glow red. Do you mean infra-red? If so, then anything at all warm gives it off, including you.

markeymark

well our health and saftey experts say we cannot use our george foreman grills or toaster as they emit red heat, which is dangerous, have looked everywhere but cannot find anything to explain it

Sambucus_Nigra

Dearie me. Ask them to provide a reference for this 'red heat' so that you can take reasonably practicable steps to prevent it escaping and killing anyone.

ormus

red heat is the practice of determining the temp of hot metal before the advent of thermometers. its still used by blacksmiths.
(all temps in degrees C).

Black red (when viewed in dull light) 426 to 593
Very dark red 593 to 704
Dark red 704 to 814
Cherry red (lower critical point) 815 to 870 (critical point depends on carbon content of steel)
Light cherry red 871 to 981
Orange 981 to 1092
Yellow 1093 to 1258
Yellow white 1259 to 1314
White 1315+

welda

Do a "Risk Assessment" then hand it to said "experts" they should give you feedback, this may be the route to finding out what the real problem is?

:beer:

markeymark

thanks for all the answers, very helpful, they are trying to say it is not safe to use in one area, but ok in another!! baffling, im thinking they havent a clue, they are saying if we are caught using them we will be disciplined and health and safety HQ can close them down, i work in a prison if it makes any difference

markeymark

ormus wrote: »

red heat is the practice of determining the temp of hot metal before the advent of thermometers. its still used by blacksmiths.
(all temps in degrees C).

Black red (when viewed in dull light) 426 to 593
Very dark red 593 to 704
Dark red 704 to 814
Cherry red (lower critical point) 815 to 870 (critical point depends on carbon content of steel)
Light cherry red 871 to 981
Orange 981 to 1092
Yellow 1093 to 1258
Yellow white 1259 to 1314
White 1315+

so would a george foreman grill emit any of this? you cannot see any heat from it! unlike a toaster etc

vax2002

Its witchcraft I tell ya !

markeymark

lol..........

Sambucus_Nigra

markeymark wrote: »

so would a george foreman grill emit any of this? you cannot see any heat from it! unlike a toaster etc

What he is saying, is that when you work metal, you heat it until it is a particular colour as that's how you determine how the metal will respond when it is worked. The energy in the metal as it heats up is shown in colour form - it doesn't emit a strange 'red heat' that will damage someone - unless it is pressed against them in which case it will burn them. That's where the term 'red hot' comes from, it will glow red first and as it heats up from that, it changes colour.

Your H&S blokey - will not be working the metal on a George Foreman grill or toaster.

Ask him to show you the law or the best practice guide relating to this issue.