Five private detective must-haves for successful sleuthing

Private investigation requires expertise, intuition, and wit, not to mention a toolkit of spy essentials. Here are some of the most important devices a private eye should never be without.

Tiny video camera

A high-resolution covert digital video camera that can easily be concealed in one’s clothing or personal worn accessories or planted in a clever location in a vehicle or room is vital for surveillance in the event that some hard evidence incriminating a suspect presents itself.

Minuscule audio recorder

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A high quality, high sensitivity digital audio recorder for hiding in strategic areas such as the folds of a coat or the space between couch pillows helps a private detective gather pertinent spoken information or aural proof for nudging a case along.

GPS tracking device

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A global positioning system (GPS) tracking unit clipped to a desired subject provides the subject’s exact, real-time location. Being near watching or eavesdropping distance of a subject, or knowing his or her whereabouts can provide material that can shed light on a case.

Surveillance sunglasses

Wire-frame surveillance sunnies keep the sun’s strong glare away while providing the view from behind the wearer via keenly installed mirrors on the inside corners of the lenses.

Binoculars

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Every private investigator must have a pair of high-powered, compact binoculars on his or her person at all times. These allow one to see people and events from a distance, an ability necessary for conducting surveillance.

Following a sixteen-year career in the Narcotics and Organized Crime unit of the New Jersey State Police, Thomas Anthony Zampetti founded and ran a private investigation agency called TAZ, where, as a licensed detective, he carried out and supervised numerous criminal investigations successfully. For more information and resources on surveillance and investigation, follow this Google+ page.

Safe sandblasting matters: Measures to protect workers from risks at the workplace

There is no denying that abrasive blasting is a useful process for certain industries. It cleans sand and irregularities from foundry castings, removes paint from ship hulls and other metal surfaces, and polishes tombstones and glass frostings.

Image Source: harrisonsandblasting.co.uk

However, inhaling large amounts of dust from silica and other abrasive materials used in the blasting process poses a great health risk to abrasive blasters. The most common diseases acquired by sandblasters are silicosis and tuberculosis, lung conditions that result in difficulty in breathing, scarring on and blocking of air passages, and death.

Responsible owners of sandblasting companies know there are measures to ensure health and safety in the workplace, such as the following:

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Provide PPEs. Require workers to wear protective gear such as the following at the site:

- Open- and close-circuit self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA)
- Airline respirator
- Protective coveralls
- Face shield
- Gloves that fully cover the forearm

Also, post signs to warn workers about the hazards to encourage them to wear protective equipment.
Have engineering controls in place. The best thing employers can do to reduce the exposure risk is putting engineering controls, which address the hazards at the source. Some of the controls that can prevent silica exposure include the following:

- Wet abrasive blasting or wet cutting
- Dust control additives
- Installation of dust collection system and local ventilation hoods; and
- Usage of alternative equipment like vacuums or dry sweeping to remove dust and debris

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Maintain safe levels of exposure. Keep exposure as close to zero as possible. Better yet, use alternative abrasive media such as glass beads, pumice, sawdust, steel grit, and walnut shells, that do the job as effectively.

Retired entrepreneur Thomas Anthony Zampetti ensured workplace safety as a former owner of a professional abrasive blasting business. Visit this Facebook page for more information about Mr. Zampetti and the sandblasting industry.