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IH: GAS DETECTION 5 Ways Connected Gas Detection Devices Can Boost Your Organization’s Productivity Here’s why safer work doesn’t have to mean slower work. BY ANNE OSBOURN Does safer work mean slower work? It certainly does not have to. PPE and gas detection solu- tions can help enhance worker safety, visibility and accountability while also driving productivity. These measures could be especially impactful when you consider that workplace injuries in 2021 caused U.S. companies to lose an estimat- ed nearly $170 billion in wages, productiv- ity, medical expenses and administrative expenses.1 With the benefits of connected work for your gas detection program, you can help enhance safety as well as productivity. Connected work programs can allow you and your team to make more efficient and productive use of your time and resources. Put simply, the term “connected” not only means a connected device — one that comes with cutting-edge cellular con- nectivity through leading national net- works — but also a comprehensive solu- tion inclusive of hardware and software. This type of solution can provide the real- time data to help gather insights in order to help drive adaptable, proactive safety programs. By itself, a properly calibrated and bump-tested gas detector is a powerful personal protective device, for example, for the individuals on-site and to provide the organization with historical data for consideration. But a connected work platform can take a gas detection program to the next level. A connected work platform combines real-time data, connected PPE/gas detec- tion wearables and advanced software solutions to help provide more visibility across these areas of concern: ■ Workers ■ Worksites ■ Workflows In fact, connectivity enables the kind of visibility that can further enhance a safety program and improve safety out- comes. Connected gas detection pro- grams provide powerful data which can be harnessed to help improve operational efficiency. Even better, a strategic connected worker-worksite-workflow platform helps take your gas detection program a step further in terms of safety and productiv- ity. Plus, it sets you up for a scalable and adaptable safety program for today — and tomorrow. Here are five ways in which connectiv- ity can help make your organization more productive. 1. Data and Insights Get deeper insights into your operation with the generation of critical data points about off-site workers and your fleet of detectors. You can help keep lone workers safe with data including gas exposure alerts, man-down alarms, panic button presses and device concern warnings so that you can act as swiftly as possible for the circum- stances. Access to data also enables you to optimize deployment of your assets and to identify areas for safety training, common trends across events, and opportunities for efficiencies and possible cost reduction. Im- proved practices also help reduce safety in- cidents, along with their related downtime and productivity losses. 2. Incident Analysis A connected program enables access to events in real time including emergencies, evacuations, warnings and alarms. You can manage events remotely and digitally handle post-event documentation, help- ing make the process more efficient. In- formation on important factors involved in an incident can be easily gathered and correlated from all parts of the connected system, which helps in identifying and un- derstanding root causes. Systematic analy- sis forms a sound basis for making process changes to help reduce future risks. 3. Process Automation Processes such as manual preparation of reports can often be time-consuming and cumbersome, as well as potentially prone to errors. With a connected gas detec- tion program, reporting and documenta- tion are digital and automated, helping to streamline processes and drive accuracy and efficiency. Managers can produce a usage report for a device in minutes, leav- ing your team with more time to focus 16 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 www.ohsonline.com chitsanupong/stock.adobe.com