Safety is an important part of any industry, and part of keeping a workplace safe is understanding how each tool is meant to be used, as well as the various rules regulating them. Here?s a bit of info on various terms you should be aware of.

Rotating Equipment: This refers to rotary powered equipment that is used throughout industrial plants. Rotating equipment can include everything from engines, to turbines, to propellers, to lathes.

Torque Wrench: This is specifically a tool used to apply a torque to a nut or bolt. It was first developed in 1918 by Conrad Bahr, who was an employee for the New York City Water Department. Torque, in itself, is the measure of the turning force of an object.

Load Cell: Also known as load sensors, a load cell converts mechanical forces into electrical output signals, making this a transducer. There are five types of load cells in total: hydraulic load cells, diaphragm load cells, spool type load cells, ring type load cells, and strain gauge type load cells. Hydraulic load cells, for example, can operate in fairly extreme temperatures; -76 degrees Fahrenheit is not an unusual operating temperature and they can withstand temperatures as low as -450 degrees Fahrenheit.

ISO 9000: This is not actually a tool but instead, a family of quality management system standards. These standards are not industry specific and instead can be applied to a wide variety of business types. Goals of ISO 9000 include having a strong customer focus, and an approach to business that fosters continual improvement. ISO 9000 requires that recalibration of tools takes place at least once every two years; this helps ensure that parts are uniform and fit the way they are supposed to.

Torque Sensors: Not surprisingly, a torque sensor is a transducer that deals with torque. Like the load cell, it is a transducer, converting torsional mechanical input into electrical output.

The link between safety and terminology may not seem obvious, but sometimes safety issues are caused by small yet significant misunderstandings, such as not knowing that ISO 9000 requires recalibration every two years.