Page 89 - Occupational Health & Safety, September 2019

decisions without real world risks to themselves or other workers. ■ Workers can be trained to respond appropriately to high risk events that may happen infrequently, like rescuing a worker
from a confined space.
■ VR training can be repeated easily, potentially allowing HSE
managers to more frequently assess worker skills and abilities.
■ Data suggests that VR training can be more easily remem-
bered than video content.2
When considering a VR investment, it’s important to consider
how it will support the goals of the organization and provide an experience that is valuable for its workers. Measuring progress against the established goals will help management teams evaluate the ROI of the program. When quality VR training is effectively implemented, organizations often set goals relating to the follow- ing: influence worker behavior or change certain practices, reduce illness and injury rates, drive safety culture, supplement other types of training, meet compliance goals and support refresher training and reinforce best practices.
VR is a new and exciting training experience for many work- ers. This engaging, fresh style of training can help reinvigorate the training program and help motivate workers to improve their skill sets. But what about tracking everyday performance of the equip- ment provided to help keep workers safe? That’s where innovations in connected safety can play a role.
Connected Safety
Connected safety applications, platforms, and programs are part of a new wave of digital, Internet of Things (IoT) products that are being designed to help organizations drive improvements across various elements of their safety programs. This next generation of PPE is beginning to evolve with embedded sensors and compan- ion software applications to help organizations advance the digital transformation of worker safety through innovative combinations of data science and PPE technologies. One of these “next-gen” ex- amples is a connected Self Retracting Lifeline (SRL).
This digitally-connected fall protection PPE is designed to help HSE managers gain new insights into their fall protection PPE with detailed usage history. Supplementing the required visual impact in- dicator, HSE managers can now remotely access detailed data regard- ing falls or “brake events.” In addition to recording the date and time of brake events by sensors embedded in the SRL, the device sensors also track day-to-day usage—how many extensions, pawl locks, and minutes of active usage the device has experienced, all time-stamped for ease of later analysis—a fall protection industry first.
A connected SRL could provide new insights to help organiza- tions increase worker safety and overall compliance tracking. How can one imagine using these new capabilities?
Safety. A manager tasked with oversight of multiple worker shifts could use the data to confirm that SRLs are being used as expected even when the manager is not able to directly observe the workers. If a concern is identified from the manager’s review of the data, s/he can more easily focus follow up activities to the specific shift or work cell that seems to need additional support or training.
Compliance Tracking. The manager can also easily see if any SRL in their fleet has experienced a brake event, not only via the SRL service light, but also through the product’s mobile or web ap- plications. This allows the manager to ensure that any incidents are
properly documented and they can proactively have any SRL in- volved in a fall replaced before it is needed by the next work group.
How to Select Connected Safety Solutions?
Choosing a software solution to help enhance a safety program can be an unfamiliar process for many HSE managers. The success of executing new software implementations can be improved by:
■ Understanding your specific HSE goals and evaluating any new program in relation to them
■ Choosing a trusted vendor with deep understanding of the day-to-day work of the HSE manager and commitment to support over the long term
■ Conveying the value of the new tools across the organiza- tion, igniting the imagination of internal stakeholders to energize change efforts and sustain momentum.
As technologies continue to evolve, employers will increasingly have new tools to elevate their employees’ interest in supporting and complying with safety requirements. The goal is and should always be that each worker is able to go home safe and to their families at the end of each work day. Virtual reality and connected fall protection PPE are just two examples of how digital solutions can help employers continually reinforce and enhance their safety programs.
Ray Mann, QSSP, is the Senior Specialist Application Engineer at 3M. Ray has more than 30 years of industry experience in the use, design, manufacture, testing, and qualification of fall arrest prod- ucts, systems, and services. Since joining 3M, Ray has become an active member of the ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Protection Committee representing 3M as is primary voting member to the Z359 Accred- ited Standards Committee (ASC). Within the ASC Z359 committee, Ray participates on several sub-committees focusing on the develop- ment of new product standards for fall arrest products and systems such as Vertical Lifeline Systems and Fall Arresters, Horizontal Lifelines, Anchorage Connectors, and Self-Retracting Devices. He is also an active member of the International Safety Equipment Asso- ciation (ISEA), holding positions of Fall Protection Product Group vice chair-person and chairperson in 2012/2014 and as current chairperson for 2018/2019.
Heidi Lopez-Hidalgo, PE, is an Advanced Application Engineer at 3M. Heidi is an Application Engineer for the 3M Fall Protec- tion business based in St. Paul, MN harnessing customer insight and providing fall protection subject matter expertise to all in- dustries. She is a professional engineer licensed in Minnesota and Texas with a background in structural engineering design. She has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from LeTourneau University. Over her career she has had in depth experience working with fall protection applications in the general construction industry as well as the petrochemical industry.
REFERENCES
1. International Labour Standards on Occupational Safety and Health,
http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-covered-by-international- labour-standards/occupational-safety-and-health/lang--en/index.htm
2. Schöne, B., Wessels, M. & Gruber, T. Curr Psychol (2019) 38: 715.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9648-y
www.ohsonline.com
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