Editorial

First Laser Open Path H2S Gas Detector for safety related applications

Gas detection and monitoring

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection is unveiling its GD1 laser-based gas detector with full SIL2 3rd party approval. This ground-breaking development means that the GD1 SIL2 is the market´s first open-path gas detector for hydrogen sulphide (H2S) safety-related applications

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The global importance of SIL (Safety Integrity Level) has grown substantially in the oil, gas, petrochemical and other process industries over the past 10 years. It makes sense, therefore, that devices such as gas detectors demonstrate their suitability and competence in line with the latest SIL2 third-party certification. The GD1 from Teledyne GFD first entered the market in 2011, with well over 1600 units since deployed at oil and gas exploration and production (Onshore & Offshore) companies throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.

With its new certification, the GD1 is now suitable for use in systems with SIL2 requirements. To provide some context, a typical SIL1 ATEX-certified gas detection device/system will come complete with the functional approval according to IEC 60079-29-3 and require regular maintenance. The step from SIL1 to SIL2 requires built-in automatic self-testing of hardware components and this means reduced maintenance intervals for sensors, and reduced downtime. GD1 complies to the latest standard for IEC 60079-0:2017 (IECEx).

Teledyne GFD´s innovative GD1 will prove attractive in SIL2 applications for several reasons, not in the least its unique customized tunable laser diode that eliminates environmental effects from sun, rain or fog. In fact, the GD1 can operate with up to 98% obscuration, boosting overall site safety. This capability is possible because light emitted by the detector travels as a cone from one point to another, rather than as a conventional straight beam. In other words, the beam expands after transmission and is almost a meter in diameter when it reaches the receiver mounted 75m away.

It can therefore penetrate harsh environments that competitor solutions may find difficult. With its fast and fail-safe laser, the GD1 performs real-time dual automatic calibration and automatic proof testing, thus eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing maintenance costs. Further advantages include low power consumption (15W), very long lifespan and a high sampling/detection rate of 8000 times per second thanks to its ultra-stable optomechanical construction. All these added-value characteristics mean the GD1 can replace multiple standard detectors to cover the same risk, making it an economic solution that typically demonstrates real cost savings within two years. 

 

 

What Is a Gas Detection Wearable? Frequently Asked Questions About Connected Safety Technology

Gas detection and monitoring

The number of workplace injuries remains nearly unchanged year-over-year, with more than 2 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by provide industry employees in 2019.[i] And up to 90% of workplace injuries can be attributed to human error.

While PPE has not traditionally had the technological capabilities to help prevent worker injury due to human error, the latest safety innovations, such as gas detection wearables, can help provide the visibility and data-driven insights to help your organization create an adaptable, proactive safety program and establish a culture of behaviour-based safety. Connected, wearable technology is leading the way for gas detection programs to evolve and enhance both their approach to worker safety and their approach to record-keeping, compliance, and fleet management.

But transforming your organisation to a connected program does not happen overnight. The first step is understanding the benefits of wearable technology and how a connected program can work for your organisation.

To start, what is a gas detection wearable? What are the benefits of connected safety technology? Here are answers to those top questions:

  1. What is a gas detection wearable?

A gas detection wearable is designed to be worn by each individual worker, on his/her person, while on the jobsite. With a wearable detector that can simply clip directly on to apparel or other PPE, such as a fall harness, lone workers can be monitored in real-time to help provide critical data points about on-site workers to off-site safety managers, including emergency monitoring.

A wearable device can be a useful way to monitor workers’ safety, location, and behaviors; however, it may not always be enough to help build a proactive, adaptable gas detection safety program over time.

But a wearable gas detector that comes with automatic connectivity can be much more impactful in terms of driving transformation, efficiency, and reaching long-term safety and productivity goals of a gas detection program.

  1. What does the term “connected” mean for gas detection hardware?

The term “connected” not only means a connected device – one that comes with out-of-the-box, cutting-edge cellular connectivity through leading national networks – but also a comprehensive solution inclusive of hardware software. It’s not necessarily enough to simply have cellular connectivity; hardware should also be connected to software, so that connectivity can provide the real-time data and insights to help drive adaptable, proactive safety programs.

This connectivity transforms hardware from traditional PPE to a technology-based, future-forward solution.  Successful integration of this advanced technology requires that not only are devices smarter and capable of providing visibility and insights to help curb risk, boost productivity, and simplify compliance, but also that they continue to perform with the durability and functionality to maintain their first and foremost mission of helping to protect the worker. As a wearable device, the detector should maintain the IP-rating, sensor technology, and battery life expected of today’s most durable portable gas detectors.

A wearable device that comes with automatic connectivity right out-of-the-box allows for quick and seamless implementation, no IT required.

  1. How can wearable, connected technology help improve worker safety?

The most common industries for lone workers include oil and gas, telecommunications, utilities, construction, and industrial contractors. With wearable devices, safety managers can help ensure these lone workers are not completely alone. By digitally assigning a wearable device to individual workers at the start of each shift, safety managers can gain insight into key individual worker data including:

  • Compliance of device use and faulty safety behaviours, including turning off an instrument or changing settings
  • Workers’ locations, gas readings, and alarms
  • Safety behaviours in the field, and whether new training specific to individuals is needed

A connected work program for gas detection can provide the visibility that is needed to manage large teams of workers and help establish a behaviour-based culture of safety. With real-time visibility of lone workers, safety managers can help make sure those workers are protected, with instant alerts. And  connected hardware and software solutions can provide real-time data such as worker location and how the detector is being used by each worker – which can all help inform safety training to both drive worker safety day-to-day and enhance an organisation’s safety culture over time.

  1. How can wearable technology improve worksite safety?

 

It can be difficult to difficult to manage assets across different worksites and keep remote teams safe and productive. Connecting worksites with wearable, connected technology gives safety managers visibility into:

  • Teams and assets, including worker position and activities and which devices require maintenance
  • External and environmental factors, such as temperature or humidity
  • Equipment status, maintenance, and asset management information across all worksite locations
  • Centralized reports and data logs for automated compliance
  • Intelligent mapping and zone segmentation, automated digital follow-ups, alarm sharing, and heatmapping to help drive operation-wide safety

With notifications available on both desktop and mobile devices, safety managers can get alerts when alarm exposure or SOS event occurs. Other details such as GPS location, gas readings, and compliance data are readily available within these immediate notifications provides safety managers with the visibility needed to manage safety and productivity across multiple worksites at once, all from remote, off-site locations.

 

  1. How can wearable technology improve compliance and accountability across an organization?

Since a non-compliant detector can lead to potentially disastrous outcomes, it’s essential to ensure that every device is optimised. In other words, every device operates and protects the worker as it should. Technology not only makes this possible, it also makes it seamless. Advanced features that wearable technologies for gas detection should include are:

  • Automatic bump tests and calibration when devices need it
  • Visual indicators with green, yellow, and red lights representing “compliant,” “non-compliant,” and “in alarm,” respectively
  • Device lock out to ensure that non-compliant devices are not inadvertently used
  • Real-time historical data into specific workers
  1. Can wearable devices help improve compliance and overall workflows?

Connected wearable devices allow you to connect workflows across your organization by providing insight into compliance and productivity issues. This information, coupled with connected cloud-based software, can allow you to:

  • Automate compliance and help to reduce false alarms, remove asset-related risks, and lower the cost of downtime
  • Determine if instruments have been configured correctly and are compliant in testing and while in use
  • Create comprehensive reports in an industry standard format
  1. What type of investment should an organization anticipate for implementing new wearable and connected technology across their workers and worksites?

 

With the latest technology, often comes newer business models to help drive your organizations’ transformation to a connected safety program. Subscription models that include both detector hardware and software options can help enable faster implementation, along with increased warranty coverage and ongoing software and firmware upgrades.

The right partner can help support your organisation’s connected safety journey with the right solution to fit your needs, from the number of wearables to various software options and features capabilities, giving you flexibility.

A seamlessly integrated solution of connected wearables and cloud-based software can provide visibility of your workers, worksite, and workflows that can make all the difference and help organizations drive a proactive safety culture over time.

Find out more about the latest innovations in connected gas detection wearables here.

 

What Is a Gas Detection Wearable?

Gas detection and monitoring
 
     
 

 

  
     
     
   
     
     
 

The number of workplace injuries remains nearly unchanged year-over-year, with more than 2 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by provide industry employees in 2019.[1] And up to 90% of workplace injuries can be attributed to human error.[2]

 

While PPE has not traditionally had the technological capabilities to help prevent worker injury due to human error, the latest safety innovations, such as gas detection wearables, can help provide the visibility and data-driven insights to help your organization create an adaptable, proactive safety program and establish a culture of behaviour-based safety. Connected, wearable technology is leading the way for gas detection programs to evolve and enhance both their approach to worker safety and their approach to record-keeping, compliance, and fleet management.

 

But transforming your organisation to a connected program does not happen overnight. The first step is understanding the benefits of wearable technology and how a connected program can work for your organisation.

 

To start, what is a gas detection wearable? What are the benefits of connected safety technology? Here are answers to those top questions:

 

  1. What is a gas detection wearable?

 

A gas detection wearable is designed to be worn by each individual worker, on his/her person, while on the jobsite. With a wearable detector that can simply clip directly on to apparel or other PPE, such as a fall harness, lone workers can be monitored in real-time to help provide critical data points about on-site workers to off-site safety managers, including emergency monitoring.

 

A wearable device can be a useful way to monitor workers’ safety, location, and behaviors; however, it may not always be enough to help build a proactive, adaptable gas detection safety program over time.

 

But a wearable gas detector that comes with automatic connectivity can be much more impactful in terms of driving transformation, efficiency, and reaching long-term safety and productivity goals of a gas detection program.

 

  1. What does the term “connected” mean for gas detection hardware?

 

The term “connected” not only means a connected device – one that comes with out-of-the-box, cutting-edge cellular connectivity through leading national networks – but also a comprehensive solution inclusive of hardware software. It’s not necessarily enough to simply have cellular connectivity; hardware should also be connected to software, so that connectivity can provide the real-time data and insights to help drive adaptable, proactive safety programs.

 

This connectivity transforms hardware from traditional PPE to a technology-based, future-forward solution. Successful integration of this advanced technology requires that not only are devices smarter and capable of providing visibility and insights to help curb risk, boost productivity, and simplify compliance, but also that they continue to perform with the durability and functionality to maintain their first and foremost mission of helping to protect the worker. As a wearable device, the detector should maintain the IP-rating, sensor technology, and battery life expected of today’s most durable portable gas detectors.

 

A wearable device that comes with automatic connectivity right out-of-the-box allows for quick and seamless implementation, no IT required.

 

  1. How can wearable, connected technology help improve worker safety?

 

The most common industries for lone workers include oil and gas, telecommunications, utilities, construction, and industrial contractors. With wearable devices, safety managers can help ensure these lone workers are not completely alone. By digitally assigning a wearable device to individual workers at the start of each shift, safety managers can gain insight into key individual worker data including:

  • Compliance of device use and faulty safety behaviours, including turning off an instrument or changing settings
  • Workers’ locations, gas readings, and alarms
  • Safety behaviours in the field, and whether new training specific to individuals is needed

 

A connected work program for gas detection can provide the visibility that is needed to manage large teams of workers and help establish a behaviour-based culture of safety. With real-time visibility of lone workers, safety managers can help make sure those workers are protected, with instant alerts. And connected hardware and software solutions can provide real-time data such as worker location and how the detector is being used by each worker – which can all help inform safety training to both drive worker safety day-to-day and enhance an organisation’s safety culture over time.

 

 

  1. How can wearable technology improve worksite safety?

 

It can be difficult to difficult to manage assets across different worksites and keep remote teams safe and productive. Connecting worksites with wearable, connected technology gives safety managers visibility into:

 

  • Teams and assets, including worker position and activities and which devices require maintenance
  • External and environmental factors, such as temperature or humidity
  • Equipment status, maintenance, and asset management information across all worksite locations
  • Centralised reports and data logs for automated compliance
  • Intelligent mapping and zone segmentation, automated digital follow-ups, alarm sharing, and heatmapping to help drive operation-wide safety

 

With notifications available on both desktop and mobile devices, safety managers can get alerts when alarm exposure or SOS event occurs. Other details such as GPS location, gas readings, and compliance data are readily available within these immediate notifications provides safety managers with the visibility needed to manage safety and productivity across multiple worksites at once, all from remote, off-site locations.

 

  1. How can wearable technology improve compliance and accountability across an organisation?

 

Since a non-compliant detector can lead to potentially disastrous outcomes, it’s essential to ensure that every device is optimised. In other words, every device operates and protects the worker as it should. Technology not only makes this possible, it also makes it seamless. Advanced features that wearable technologies for gas detection should include are:

 

  • Automatic bump tests and calibration when devices need it
  • Visual indicators with green, yellow, and red lights representing “compliant,” “non-compliant,” and “in alarm,” respectively
  • Device lock out to ensure that non-compliant devices are not inadvertently used
  • Real-time historical data into specific workers

 

 

  1. Can wearable devices help improve compliance and overall workflows?

 

Connected wearable devices allow you to connect workflows across your organisation by providing insight into compliance and productivity issues. This information, coupled with connected cloud-based software, can allow you to:

 

  • Automate compliance and help to reduce false alarms, remove asset-related risks, and lower the cost of downtime
  • Determine if instruments have been configured correctly and are compliant in testing and while in use
  • Create comprehensive reports in an industry standard format

 

 

  1. What type of investment should an organisation anticipate for implementing new wearable and connected technology across their workers and worksites?

 

With the latest technology, often comes newer business models to help drive your organisations’ transformation to a connected safety program. Subscription models that include both detector hardware and software options can help enable faster implementation, along with increased warranty coverage and ongoing software and firmware upgrades.

 

The right partner can help support your organisation’s connected safety journey with the right solution to fit your needs, from the number of wearables to various software options and features capabilities, giving you flexibility.

 

A seamlessly integrated solution of connected wearables and cloud-based software can provide visibility of your workers, worksite, and workflows that can make all the difference and help organisations drive a proactive safety culture over time.

 

Find out more about the latest innovations in connected gas detection wearables here.

What Is a Gas Detection Wearable?

Gas detection and monitoring
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What Is a Gas Detection Wearable?

  
     
     
   
     
     
 

The number of workplace injuries remains nearly unchanged year-over-year, with more than 2 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by provide industry employees in 2019.[1] And up to 90% of workplace injuries can be attributed to human error.[2]

 

While PPE has not traditionally had the technological capabilities to help prevent worker injury due to human error, the latest safety innovations, such as gas detection wearables, can help provide the visibility and data-driven insights to help your organization create an adaptable, proactive safety program and establish a culture of behaviour-based safety. Connected, wearable technology is leading the way for gas detection programs to evolve and enhance both their approach to worker safety and their approach to record-keeping, compliance, and fleet management.

 

But transforming your organisation to a connected program does not happen overnight. The first step is understanding the benefits of wearable technology and how a connected program can work for your organisation.

 

To start, what is a gas detection wearable? What are the benefits of connected safety technology? Here are answers to those top questions:

 

  1. What is a gas detection wearable?

 

A gas detection wearable is designed to be worn by each individual worker, on his/her person, while on the jobsite. With a wearable detector that can simply clip directly on to apparel or other PPE, such as a fall harness, lone workers can be monitored in real-time to help provide critical data points about on-site workers to off-site safety managers, including emergency monitoring.

 

A wearable device can be a useful way to monitor workers’ safety, location, and behaviors; however, it may not always be enough to help build a proactive, adaptable gas detection safety program over time.

 

But a wearable gas detector that comes with automatic connectivity can be much more impactful in terms of driving transformation, efficiency, and reaching long-term safety and productivity goals of a gas detection program.

 

  1. What does the term “connected” mean for gas detection hardware?

 

The term “connected” not only means a connected device – one that comes with out-of-the-box, cutting-edge cellular connectivity through leading national networks – but also a comprehensive solution inclusive of hardware software. It’s not necessarily enough to simply have cellular connectivity; hardware should also be connected to software, so that connectivity can provide the real-time data and insights to help drive adaptable, proactive safety programs.

 

This connectivity transforms hardware from traditional PPE to a technology-based, future-forward solution. Successful integration of this advanced technology requires that not only are devices smarter and capable of providing visibility and insights to help curb risk, boost productivity, and simplify compliance, but also that they continue to perform with the durability and functionality to maintain their first and foremost mission of helping to protect the worker. As a wearable device, the detector should maintain the IP-rating, sensor technology, and battery life expected of today’s most durable portable gas detectors.

 

A wearable device that comes with automatic connectivity right out-of-the-box allows for quick and seamless implementation, no IT required.

 

  1. How can wearable, connected technology help improve worker safety?

 

The most common industries for lone workers include oil and gas, telecommunications, utilities, construction, and industrial contractors. With wearable devices, safety managers can help ensure these lone workers are not completely alone. By digitally assigning a wearable device to individual workers at the start of each shift, safety managers can gain insight into key individual worker data including:

  • Compliance of device use and faulty safety behaviours, including turning off an instrument or changing settings
  • Workers’ locations, gas readings, and alarms
  • Safety behaviours in the field, and whether new training specific to individuals is needed

 

A connected work program for gas detection can provide the visibility that is needed to manage large teams of workers and help establish a behaviour-based culture of safety. With real-time visibility of lone workers, safety managers can help make sure those workers are protected, with instant alerts. And connected hardware and software solutions can provide real-time data such as worker location and how the detector is being used by each worker – which can all help inform safety training to both drive worker safety day-to-day and enhance an organisation’s safety culture over time.

 

 

  1. How can wearable technology improve worksite safety?

 

It can be difficult to difficult to manage assets across different worksites and keep remote teams safe and productive. Connecting worksites with wearable, connected technology gives safety managers visibility into:

 

  • Teams and assets, including worker position and activities and which devices require maintenance
  • External and environmental factors, such as temperature or humidity
  • Equipment status, maintenance, and asset management information across all worksite locations
  • Centralised reports and data logs for automated compliance
  • Intelligent mapping and zone segmentation, automated digital follow-ups, alarm sharing, and heatmapping to help drive operation-wide safety

 

With notifications available on both desktop and mobile devices, safety managers can get alerts when alarm exposure or SOS event occurs. Other details such as GPS location, gas readings, and compliance data are readily available within these immediate notifications provides safety managers with the visibility needed to manage safety and productivity across multiple worksites at once, all from remote, off-site locations.

 

  1. How can wearable technology improve compliance and accountability across an organisation?

 

Since a non-compliant detector can lead to potentially disastrous outcomes, it’s essential to ensure that every device is optimised. In other words, every device operates and protects the worker as it should. Technology not only makes this possible, it also makes it seamless. Advanced features that wearable technologies for gas detection should include are:

 

  • Automatic bump tests and calibration when devices need it
  • Visual indicators with green, yellow, and red lights representing “compliant,” “non-compliant,” and “in alarm,” respectively
  • Device lock out to ensure that non-compliant devices are not inadvertently used
  • Real-time historical data into specific workers

 

 

  1. Can wearable devices help improve compliance and overall workflows?

 

Connected wearable devices allow you to connect workflows across your organisation by providing insight into compliance and productivity issues. This information, coupled with connected cloud-based software, can allow you to:

 

  • Automate compliance and help to reduce false alarms, remove asset-related risks, and lower the cost of downtime
  • Determine if instruments have been configured correctly and are compliant in testing and while in use
  • Create comprehensive reports in an industry standard format

 

 

  1. What type of investment should an organisation anticipate for implementing new wearable and connected technology across their workers and worksites?

 

With the latest technology, often comes newer business models to help drive your organisations’ transformation to a connected safety program. Subscription models that include both detector hardware and software options can help enable faster implementation, along with increased warranty coverage and ongoing software and firmware upgrades.

 

The right partner can help support your organisation’s connected safety journey with the right solution to fit your needs, from the number of wearables to various software options and features capabilities, giving you flexibility.

 

A seamlessly integrated solution of connected wearables and cloud-based software can provide visibility of your workers, worksite, and workflows that can make all the difference and help organisations drive a proactive safety culture over time.

 

Find out more about the latest innovations in connected gas detection wearables here.

New Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection website launch

Gas detection and monitoring

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, a global leader in gas and flame detection solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, featuring updated informational content and a user-friendly interface.

The website is designed to provide an enhanced experience, including improved accessibility and mobile compatibility. It introduces new content on a range of gases, including H2 , CO, O2 , NH3 and more, helping users understand the potential risks associated with each gas and how to detect them. In addition, the site includes detailed information on the company's range of gas and flame detection products, such as detectors, controllers and alarms, making it easy for users to find the right product or service for their specific needs. The new website is designed with a responsive layout, ensuring that it looks and functions seamlessly on all devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Moreover, it is further improved with intuitive filtering options, allowing users to easily find the products they need without wasting time scrolling through irrelevant items.

We are thrilled to launch our website, providing our customers with efficient navigation. With proven reputations for quality and reliability, our dedication to safety now goes further.” said Marion Defasques, Global Digital Communication Developer of Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection. “With our updated comprehensive content and smart design, we are confident that our users will find the information they need quickly and easily, creating a more pleasant and productive browsing experience.” Visit Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection's new website to learn more about gas and flame detection solutions, and to take advantage of informational content and intuitive filtering options

Gas Detection Systems - Flame and gas detector, hazardous gas detection monitors | Teledyne GFD (teledynegasandflamedetection.com)

Measurement accuracy depends on more than just the gas analyser

Gas detection and monitoring

Levels of uncertainty in gas measurements can be increased, for example, by calibration gases that offer poor levels of accuracy. For this reason, Signal Group manufactures gas handling and calibration equipment as well as gas analysers. “The linearity check is particularly important,” explains Managing Director James Clements. “Our Model 821S Gas Divider, for example, has been tested independently against our main competitor globally, and found to be dramatically superior.”

Conducted in North Carolina, USA, the trial found the slope accuracy for the Signal 821S to be just 0.25% for a NO/N2 gas mixture, whereas the competitor gas divider offered 1.6% slope accuracy. Similarly, for a SO2/N2 mixture Signal’s slope accuracy was 0.74% and the competitor’s was a disappointing 2.5%.

“Sources of uncertainty are incremental,” Jamesexplains, “so it makes no sense to introduce extra error unnecessarily, which is why the 821S Gas Divider is popular with both our customers and with other gas analyser manufacturers.”

The European standard EN14181 describes the quality assurance procedures for Automated Measurement Systems (AMS) installed to measure emissions to air. Under this standard, an analyser’slinearity must be checked using five different reference concentrations, including zero. The reference concentrations should be approximately 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the range of two times the emission limit, and the test concentrations should be applied in a randomised sequence.

It is common practice to employ a gas divider to create the different reference concentrations, however, it is of course also necessary to be able to validate the gas divider. To protect accuracy and reliability, the Signal Group Model 821S Gas Divider does not use mass flow controllers. A manifold block with ten identical capillaries and a precision pressure balance regulatorensure the high levels of accuracy demonstrated in the USA trial.

The procedurefor checking the accuracy of the 821S Gas Divider is simple. Users connect the zero and calibration gas to the opposite connections and repeat the test, and if the gas divider is operating correctly, the gas analyser will show exactly the same readings.

Summarising, James Clements says: “Bottles of calibration gas have a fixed ‘use-by’ date and can be expensive to purchase and store, so it makes sense to employ a gas divider to conduct multi-point calibrations. However, purchased calibration gas itself incurs a level of uncertainty, so we designed the 821S Gas Divider to minimise increases in uncertainty, and I am grateful to the researchers in North Carolina for highlighting this technical superiority.”

Is real-time data important for Gas Detection programs? 

Gas detection and monitoring

 

  
     
     
   
     
     
 

There’s been a lot of talk in the world of safety about the need for real-time data with gas detection systems. Although most will agree that real-time data benefits safety programs by providing information that leads to better decision-making, some may wonder if real-time data is as crucial as they’ve heard. 

 

The short answer is yes, and here’s why.

 

A properly calibrated and bump-tested gas detector is a powerful personal protective device. By itself, however, it’s simply not enough to help ensure the highest level of safety. 

 

That’s where a connected work platform comes into play. 

 

A connected work platform combines real-time data, connected PPE/gas detection wearables, and advanced software solutions, so you can have the best possible visibility across these areas of concern:

 

  • Workers
  • Worksites
  • Workflows

 

In fact, connectivity enables the kind of visibility that can lead to a stronger safety program and improved safety outcomes. 

 

Even better? A strategic connected worker-worksite-workflow platform helps simplify safety, curb risk, and boost productivity all at the same time. Plus, it sets you up for a scalable and adaptable safety program for today – and tomorrow.

 

Consider these three reasons why real-time data via a connected platform is a must for worker and worksite safety:

 

1. Real-time data enables real-time visibility for safety teams.

 

By their very nature, remote workforces leave safety managers disconnected from what’s happening on the job. So, what’s a disconnected and physically distant safety manager to do in the event of an unsafe incident, especially when every second counts? 

 

Here’s what they can do. They can ensure that lone workers are not alone, thanks to the visibility provided by a connected platform. If workers, worksites, and workflows are not connected, there’s likely going to be too much lag time between incident and information – lag time that’s costly to both worker safety and infrastructure.

 

With connectivity-enabled real-time data, safety managers can have continuous situational awareness. That means seeing the state of workers and monitoring their safety behaviours in the field. It means you’ll get gas exposure alerts, man-down alarms, panic button presses, and device concern warnings in real-time so you can act as swiftly as possible. Plus, it means simplifying compliance and improving productivity to help reduce risk and costly downtime.

 

Real-time data gives safety managers real-time visibility and awareness into what’s happening, so they can respond to incidents – and help improve safety of workers, worksites, and workflows – much faster.

 

The key to leveraging critical real-time data is having your hardware or gas detection devices connected to both the right software and to the cloud through a seamlessly integrated solution. While the device does its job of collecting data, the software does its job of empowering safety managers with information and insights that let you drive a more proactive safety culture. Even better is that this creates a more unified and streamlined workflow. No relying on cumbersome file transfers and downloads. No more time spent on the arduous and complicated task of piecing together information for incident reporting. 

 

A comprehensive hardware-plus-software connected gas detection solution gives the entire safety team a single, go-to place (accessible anytime, anywhere with an internet connection) for the data and support required to support operational efficiency and enhanced worker and worksite safety. 

 

2. Real-time data helps improve operational efficiencies.

 

Gas detector check-ins and check-outs can be extremely slow and inefficient. They are, however, crucial to ensuring that workers use their PPE devices correctly – and that the devices are properly returned to the fleet. Based on our work with clients across a variety of industries around the world, MSA estimates that roughly 20% of gas detection devices never make it back to the fleet. Not only are the devices lost, but in a disconnected program, the data is also gone forever.

 

Thanks to a connected program, safety managers can assign a device to a worker, enabling real-time, worker-specific data. That, in turn, can lead to significant operational efficiencies, including:

 

  • Automated check-in and check-out for daily, project-specific, and long-term use 
  • Increased worker accountability for the device and its whereabouts
  • Faster understanding of what’s happening with the worker, including the type and level of exposure
  • Easier identification of noncompliant workers (those that ignore alarms and remain in a hazardous environment) so they can be trained or re-trained on proper safety procedures and protocols

 

3. Real-time data better safeguards lone workers for better peace of mind.

 

There are more than 50 million lone workers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, most of whom are found in the oil & gas, telecommunications, utilities, construction, and industrial industries.1 It’s no secret to lone workers or their safety managers that their working conditions are uniquely and inherently fraught with a variety of potential hazards, including accidents, emergencies, and illnesses that require trained, capable, and properly equipped workers to do their jobs under such conditions.2

 

Connected workers, on the other hand, can be better kept free from harm. Compliance, fleet manager, or live monitoring services extend visibility, helping ensure that critical data points are delivered in real-time from on-site workers to off-site safety managers. Not only does this help protect the lone worker from gas exposures, but it also connects them to real and tangible help when needed.

 

As any lone worker can attest, working alone is not the same as being alone. Thanks to in-the-moment monitoring and real-time data, lone workers can have the peace of mind that comes from knowing their safety team has their back whenever and wherever they’re on the job.

 

What safety teams can do

 

A connected work platform can seamlessly integrate connected workers, connected workflows, and connected worksites to help you build and maintain a flexible and proactive safety program that only gets better with time. Now that you know the benefits of a connected gas detection program, the next step is to take a deeper dive into understanding where you are on your connected journey and identifying the right partner to help support your organisation’s safety, productivity, and compliance goals.

 

Learn more about connected work, real-time data, and more: https://gb.msasafety.com/connected-work

 

 

References

 

1 https://www.ishn.com/articles/104413-how-to-protect-remote-lone-workers

2 https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Hazards/Lone_Workers/

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