Page 8 - Occupational Health & Safety, December 2017

GAS DETECTION
Connect Workers and Technology for Safer, More Efficient Work Sites
Acquiring the latest software for safety management and monitoring can make a significant difference. The key is connected technology. BY PRABHU SOUNDARRAJAN
For oil and gas firms worldwide, acquiring the latest software for safety management and monitoring can make a significant differ- ence—streamlining safety processes and cut-
ting costs for maintenance and safety compliance. The key is connected technology: linking worker safety equipment with shared management software plat- forms. Besides protecting workers, enabling mainte- nance, ensuring compliance, and achieving substan- tial savings, petrochemical companies that employ these innovative safety solutions can realize real com- petitive advantages.
When companies fail to conduct operations in accordance with safety standards, they risk lost time, incident costs, and of course, worker safety. Today’s connected safety management software is designed to prevent all these problems by making safety manage-
ment processes easier and more efficient, while open- ing up the virtual visibility of the workforce and its safety equipment.
The advent of connectivity to the world of portable gas detectors makes an excellent case in point.
The Trouble with Stand-alone Devices
The downstream oil and gas sector has long de- ployed sizable fleets of these detectors to protect workers from potential exposure to toxic and flam- mable gases. This requires some effort: Every detec- tor must be maintained to ensure it stays in working order. Individual records must be kept (traditionally, via manual means) at considerable expenditure of time and expense.
Software has been available to track maintenance and automate some record keeping functions. How-
8 Occupational Health & Safety | DECEMBER 2017
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