Here is a list of the specific uses for the WoodsCan Hornet rechargeable air horn that we know about so far. The applications are limited only by one’s imagination!
Construction: Drilling & Blasting
Hornets are currently being used on five continents for blast signaling in this industry. As an example, the largest drilling & blasting company in the US Northeast is using the Hornet for its 100+ crews operating in over 10 states. The cost savings alone vs. disposable air horns is in the tens of thousands of dollars per year and, unlike disposable air horns, they work reliably especially in winter. Case Study: HHS Drilling & Blasting
Emergency Stations
Whether on a construction site, in a school, or in a factory, the Hornet emergency station is at the ready to warn of an emergency, and they are reliable in cold weather.
Transportation: Railway
The largest commuter railway in North America has hundreds of Hornets deployed with track maintenance crews who work on “live track.” The spotters on either side of the crews use the Hornet to warn maintenance crews to safely move off the track when trains are approaching. Before they discovered the Hornet, they were using disposable gas can air horns but found they didn’t last long and were unreliable especially in winter conditions. The Hornet works reliably even in cold weather and pays for itself many times over in the long run.
Construction: Building Demolition
A prominent building demolition company based in the US Midwest is using the Hornet for signaling demolition blast sequences in projects they undertake.
Explosives Research
The Canadian federal government is using the Hornet in their national explosives testing facility in Ottawa.
“Dinner Bell” for Bison
The Hornet is being used to call a herd of bison to dinner in a national park in Saskatchewan in the winter when they are unable to forage for themselves in the deep snow.
Unexploded Ordnance
A Canadian federal government facility near Victoria, British Columbia, and a private firm near Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada are using the Hornet as a blast warning signal when disposing of unexploded ordnance.
Mines Around the Globe
Mines in Europe, Africa, Australia, and in North America are using the Hornet as an integral piece of safety equipment for their daily blasting operations at their open pit mine sites.
Traffic Control Crews
California D.O.T. deploys a number of rock scaling crews to remove loose rock from cliffs and steep embankments above California’s highways. Traffic control crews, working in conjunction with them, are positioned on the highway on each side of these rock scaling crews. To alert everyone of any traffic or rock scaling-related problems, the traffic control crews are using the Hornet as a warning signal that can be heard up to a mile away.
Crane Safety
The WoodsCan Hornet was used at the base of the One World Trade Center construction site in New York City to alert other workers when crane lifts were about to happen.
Animal Deterrent
Field crews working in remote locations, including geologists and biologists, and outdoor enthusiasts use the Hornet as a means of harmlessly fending-off large animals like bears and cougars when in the wild. Cottagers and campgrounds use the Hornet to warn others when a bear is in the area.
Marine Safety
The Hornet meets US Coast Guard requirements for boats up to 65′ (20 m) as a sound signaling device.
Sporting Uses
The Hornet can and is being used for the following competitions: surfing, mixed martial arts, paintball, golf (shotgun starts), golf (severe weather warning signal), soccer practices, and more…
DOWNLOAD HORNET AIR HORN USES PDF
In 2006, HHS Drilling and Blasting purchased its first WoodsCan rechargeable air horn as a blast signaling device. Prior to that, they were using compressed gas air horns, up to six cans per week, at a cost of $15-$20 per can. According to Dave Purnell, Foreman at HHS, “our decision to change was based on the fact that compressed gas air horns were an ongoing cost to the company, as much as $6,200 per year.” They now have a unit in the hands of each of their six blasting crews. The price of their six WoodsCan rechargeable air horns is less than half of what they would spend on cans of compressed gas in one year, and works out to a total net savings of $28,100 over five years.
