Industrial Scientific’s Connected Safety Solutions | Air-Met Scientific

What is Connected Safety

In the last decade, we have seen a rise in the application of Internet of things (IoT) technology, with many organisations and businesses embracing digital transformation to their operations. The IoT has also made developments in the OHS and safety management industry through connected safety solutions.

While traditional gas detectors and personal protective equipment (PPE) can help protect individuals from potential gas hazards, connected safety solutions enable businesses to create safer environments for workers by providing safety personnel with real-time data and actionable insights across your entire site to improve your safety program.

With a connected safety gas detection program, you can:

• Act in the moment by tracking worker exposure to safety hazards in real-time
• Respond immediately in an emergency with real-time alerts that show who needs help, why they need help and pinpoints where they are located
• Make informed decisions based on data-driven insights and historical trends
• Streamline gas management programs and increase productivity

Connected Safety Solutions for a Connected Workforce

Connected safety solutions like Industrial Scientific’s iNet Platform are designed to connect workers, places, and equipment to create a data-sharing infrastructure, enabling organisations to utilise analytics to protect workers, facilities, and communities.
Apart from considering the appropriate connectivity method for each site, there are two essential components that are required for a Connected Safety Program. These components are:

Equipment and Hardware

Every successful connected safety gas detection program begins with reliable devices and hardware. Devices such as the Ventis Pro5 Multi-Gas Monitor, the Radius BZ1 Area Monitor and lone worker safety devices with geolocation tracking capabilities not only monitor and protect the worker but also monitors the environment around them to collect data and insights in real-time.

Connected PPE deployments will then deliver the information collected to a centralised software portal where safety professionals can monitor conditions on the ground with instant updates on alarms, gas readings, and real-time location as well as gather historical data to improve safety practices.

Management Software Solutions

While gas detection equipment can provide workers with awareness of potential hazards, gas detection management software and live monitoring software solutions work together to provide the ultimate level of protection in your gas safety programs.
Management software such as Industrial Scientific’s iNet Control not only provides unparalleled visibility into gas detection programs based on historical data but also allows safety personnel to easily track and mitigate hazards and gain insights to how gas detectors are being used to allow for corrective action. iNet Control easily maintains your gas detection fleet and compliance with software update alerts, reports on bump tests, alarms and provides bump test and calibration certificates on demand for easy auditing.

Live monitoring solutions like the iNet Now adds real-time monitoring capabilities to traditional gas detection programs allowing safety professionals to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations with immediate alerts on worker location, status, alarms, panic and even man-down situations.

Improving Worker and Site Safety with Industrial Scientific

There are many software and hardware providers that have attempted to capitalise in this growing niche. But few have as rich EHS innovation history as Industrial Scientific. Industrial Scientific has been partnering with businesses for more than four decades to deliver safety equipment that protects workers and preserves the bottom line. Here are some ways industries can use Industrial Scientific’s connected safety solutions to provide a safer work environment and increase operational efficiency:

• Confined Spaces – Working in confined spaces such as pits, drains and structural voids pose several risks to the worker as hazards may not always be obvious and can change while in the confined area. Poor ventilation in confined spaces enables dangerous vapours and flammable gases to build up quickly and can become extremely dangerous for workers in the space. It is essential for workers entering confined spaces to minimise the risk by sampling the atmosphere in the confined space using a personal gas detector like the Ventis Pro5 with optional slide on pump prior to entry. With LENS Wireless peer-to-peer connectivity capabilities, the Ventis Pro5 can also ensure workers outside the confined space know what is happening inside and be alerted to panic and man-down situations inside the confined space. Pairing the Ventis Pro5 with iNet Now Live Monitoring can also enable remote site managers to monitor entries in real-time and provide support in emergency situations.
• Hot Work – Any work that produces a source of ignition or involves burning, welding, or using fire or spark-producing tools is called hot work. This makes it imperative for a hazard assessment to be conducted using a personal gas monitor prior to commencing and continuously monitoring using personal and area monitors as the work is being performed. Area monitors like the Radius BZ1 with LENS Wireless connectivity can provide early detection of dangerous conditions and alert nearby workers when placed upwind of a hot site, allowing workers to take preventive measures.
• Lone Worker – Ensuring the safety of lone workers has always been challenging for businesses. These workers are faced with greater risk should incidents occur. The ability for businesses to be notified of man-down situations, gas alerts, incident locations and other important data by Industrial Scientific’s iNet Now live monitoring solution is vital for ensuring immediate response and support is provided to the lone worker should an incident occur.
• Turnarounds and Shutdowns - Plant shutdowns for maintenance or repairs can be a complex process, further complicated by an influx of additional workers on-site. With additional personnel on-site during a shutdown, live monitoring solutions like the iNet Now can provide plant managers with real-time visibility into alarm events and gas exposures. This visibility allows site managers to track additional workers and ensure safety protocols are followed by all workers on-site.

Protect your workers, improve worker safety management, and gain actionable insights into your gas detection program with Industrial Scientific's range of connected safety solutions.

Contact your local Air-Met Scientific representative today. The Industrial Scientific range of gas detectors and accessories are available for sale and rental at your local Air-Met Scientific office.