Electrician turns inventor to make the workplace safer

Crown Point resident Jeff Oostman is hoping to make the workplace safer and easier with his invention, the Catch-All Safety Cup.

A journeyman electrician employed by Hyre Electric, Oostman designed the cup to attach magnetically to the opposite side of a drilling site and catch whatever may fall.

"The cup is used for drilling into electrical equipment where there is any type of wiring or sensitive material. It reduces the possibility of metal shavings contaminating equipment inside the cabinet. Anything that falls, goes into the cup," he said.

The cup comes with a metal stopper that can be attached to the drill to ensure the cup is not disengaged. Oostman said the product will greatly improve safety.

"Loose metal shavings could get inside the equipment," Oostman explained. "When we energize things, if it crosses, it could blow up. It could arc out, and could hurt personnel. The cup is not going to eliminate the danger, but it greatly reduces the risk of it happening."

Oostman said he created the cup three years ago, simply out of necessity.

"I developed it because it is one thing we don't have a tool for. I looked all over and couldn't find anything. People would shove cardboard boxes in the cabinet, and I figured there had to be a better way. I thought I might as well give it a shot," he said.

The product sells for $17.99, and is available online at javistool.com, as well as a number of local supply companies.

"Right now, it's for sale at City Electric Supply in Portage and Southlake Electric Supply in Schererville, as well as the IBEW Local 697 in Merrillville."

"I'm trying to get it to a bigger company, but one of the problems I am having is that people don't know what it is. Once I explain it, they say ‘oh yeah, I could use that'," he said.

Oostman patented his product last year, and said anyone can make use of it. He has developed other products as well, but has not yet marketed them.

"This is the only one I've followed through on. The process is expensive. But I guess if I can get one to work, I may be able to get others to work too," he said.

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