Page 88 - OHS, June 2023

GAS DETECTION Elevating Real-Time Gas Detection 24/7 live monitoring elevates safety programs in a number of ways. BY CYNTHIA HORN Across any plant operation, industrial hygienists and safety managers play a huge role in making sure everyone goes home every day. They’re constantly keeping their finger on the pulse of operations, so the idea of “real-time detection” isn’t new. However, the term “real-time detection” has morphed significantly over the years. Once, safety professionals relied on flame safety lamps. Later, in the 1980s, it became synonymous with electronic monitoring equipment. Today, the introduction of devices supported by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and robust live monitoring software solutions is what most professionals rely on. With today’s live monitoring technology, safety professionals can gain the insights they need to act fast in emergency situations. But what else can live monitoring do to elevate safety programs? Real-Time Gas Readings and Alerts for Everyone Real-time detection today relies heavily on IIoT technology and bespoke software solutions. These developments have made it so users can easily share alarms and gas readings between workers and safety managers in real time, making it easier to respond to gas hazards, panic alarms or man-down alarms quickly. 86 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2023 To elevate safety programs, managers can even receive this information directly on their own gas detector or use remote live monitoring options to see readings instantly on a phone or laptop through real-time alerts, emails or text messages. With 24/7 live monitoring options, safety managers and industrial hygienists can also see where and when personnel are consistently facing hazardous exposure levels so they can drive proactive safety improvements to prevent accidents or injuries. Live monitoring software, for example, can mark the location where workers are constantly experiencing exposures by connecting to pre-placed beacons. This information is then sent to the cloud in real time to indicate any hazards, which can then be communicated to stakeholders via email or text. With peer-to-peer, satellite, Wi-Fi and cellular alert options, users can also create more robust safety programs by enabling team members to look deeper into what’s happening around their site with alarm reports highlighting who had which gas monitor, if they were exposed to any hazards, where the exposure came from and more. This can help to further increase situational awareness and decrease emergency response times by ensuring your gas monitors always have a reliable connection. It also eliminates the need for manual check-ins with lone metamorworks/Shutterstock.com www.ohsonline.com