Page 12 - OHS, October 2023

PROTECTIVE APPAREL a difffferent area of safety, smart PPE can prevent occupational noise- induced hearing loss (ONIHL) in workers as part of an effffective hearing conservation program at your company.4 ThThrough displays and screens on smart protective eyewear and clothing, communication of the hazards of specifific chemicals can be more effectively delivered, a safer and clearer, hands-free channel for the hazard communication standard as well as other safety-related information and updates. On top of that, the OHS data collected can help prevent future accidents from occurring by detecting safety hazards early and before they injure a person. How The People Benefit With these advances in smart protective apparel and smart PPE, both the employees and employer benefit from better hazard communication and improved overall occupational health and safety. As you will read below, there are several major benefits that could justify an investment in this technology for your people. ■ Increased engagement with ease of use and implementa- tion into operations. ■ Increased overall safety with reduced number of accidents and faster emergency response. ■ Reduced stress for the worker’s safety, property and ma- chinery/equipment. ■ More time to focus on work with less intrusive, streamlined safety measures ■ Valuable safety reports and data that can be used to make improvements, preventing accidents in the future.5 ■ Increased consistency and communication of hazard han- dling instruction and storage. How To Be Connected Only secondarily to safety, the objective of these technologies is to keep employees connected – whether that’s the monitoring of their health or the ability to quickly request emergency help, a strong, reliable connection is key in a person’s safety when at work. There are a number of monitoring technology6 options to stay connected. It can include satellite and GPS communication de- vices7 that work anywhere in the world, or it can entail the evolv- ing technologies mentioned above. Even if it is non-verbal, the sensors that send information to a monitor keep the person con- nected and in communication. Advantages and Challenges As alluded to above, there are a number of advantages to using smart protective clothing and PPE to help protect your team. In an accident, this technology could reduce the response time if they are connected and their location is monitored. Because the technology is so small, the amount and range of OHS mea- surables being monitored is diverse and growing, enhancing the overall security and safety of the worker; there is a large number of safety metrics8 that organizations should track. Additionally, it is essential to note that this technology also is more accurate, pro- viding better quality data to help satisfy the organization’s safety objectives. These advancements will help usher in updates to current safety legislation, regulations and industry standards. With these advancements, all areas of work safety will benefit, including haz- Overall, strong, effective communication is vital for occupational health and safety and a safe work environment. ard communication, which will increase and, therefore, improve, creating a more reliable and secure safety network for the employ- ees. With more research and more inventive ideas, such as toxic gas and chemical-detecting shirts, the future of smart clothing, textiles and PPE is very exciting for our safety at work. Future Implications and Trends Despite such challenges, smart protective clothing and equip- ment is – or will be – a permanent part of the OHS landscape and your workplace safety. Across multiple industries and existing workplace systems, online integrations and safety software usage is becoming a normal part of occupational safety and so it should be – it’s keeping everyone safer and more connected. With these advancements will also come updates to current safety legislation, regulations as well as industry standards. And with these advancements, all areas of work safety will benefit in- cluding hazard communication which will increase and therefore improve, creating a more reliable and secure safety network for the employees. With more research and more inventive ideas such as toxic gas and chemical-detecting shirts, the future of smart clothing, textiles and PPE is very exciting for our safety at work. Gen Handley is a Marketing and Growth Coordinator for Safe- tyLine Lone Worker, an automated, cloud-based lone worker monitoring service that helps companies protect remote or isolated workers. Handley has more than 10 years of freelance writing and marketing experience. REFERENCES 1. www.osha.gov/hazcom 2. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/ppet-personal-protective-equipment- technology 3. www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/2/990 4. ohsonline.com/Articles/2022/03/01/How-Smart-PPE-for-Hearing- Protection-Improves.aspx 5. safetylineloneworker.com/benefits/custom-reports-on-demand 6. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/lone-worker-monitoring-technology 7. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/benefits-of-location-tracking-for-lone- workers-with-garmin-satellite-devices 8. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/7-safety-metrics-you-need-to-start- tracking-now 12 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com