July 16, 2019 – Safeguard Equipment’s Compass voltage and current detector, originally as large as a laptop computer, is now the size of a stick of gum and can be attached to a hard hat (example pictured), essentially becoming personal protective equipment (PPE).

Designed to enhance safety for professionals working near energized power systems, Compass provides 360 degrees of detection capability for both electrical and current fields.

“The form factor provides the ability for men and women on the job to actually see voltage and current for the first time,” says Bob Behrens, director of sales.

Once it is attached to the underside of a hard hat, Compass provides proximity alerts for voltage and current before the user comes in contact with threats. It also displays the approximate direction of the energized conductor.

The product is most frequently used in utility applications, such as when dealing with downed powerlines and assessing outages, though Safeguard explains it is not intended to be used as the primary means to determine whether voltage or current is present in a particular environment.

Safeguard’s distributors in Canada include Linestar Utility Supply and Altec Supply.