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We’ve all come to accept personal tech like our cell phones advance with every update. And with each new version, we quickly adapt to the upgraded features. These phased developments are an expected part of owning tech.
But every once in a while, there’s a revolution – a game-changer that disrupts how we work and play. Flip-phone to a smartphone, digital watch to a smartwatch. It’s like we can’t imagine how we ever lived without it. What was once a “nice-to-have” becomes a “need-to-have.”
Safety tech is no different. Much like our connected personal devices, connected wearable gas detectors now provide essential benefits like PPT communications, real-time remote alarms, 24/7 safety monitoring and emergency dispatch. Not only that but connected safety solutions deliver vital data that streamlines your incident response and lets you take proactive actions to prevent them – all while improving compliance and operational efficiency.
You may think, “connected safety is great for lone workers, but we only have budget for disposable single-gas detectors.” The reality is that traditional throwaway, beep-and-flash gas detectors that only last two years do not measure up to best practices in the era of IIoT. 70% of organizations(1) are working on their digital transformation strategy with a high priority on improving operational efficiency. Using connected gas detectors adds additional value analyzing the data from the devices to find ways to increase productivity and safety.
If you’re concerned about cost, new wearable connected devices, like Blackline Safety’s G6 single-gas detector that just became available (Sept. 2022 launch), are arriving on the market that provide higher safety at a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO) over their lifespan – ensuring both peace of mind and long-term value.
Real-Time, Informed Safety
At a basic level, switching from disposable to connected single-gas detectors not only notifies the wearer of atmospheric risks, but also alerts safety monitoring personnel who can be located anywhere. Instead of waiting for gas detection devices to be docked, alarm data from connected wearables is received in real-time putting safety information at your fingertips. Supervisors can see and assess gas levels and know exactly where an incident occurred to initiate an informed response. Real-time data means real-time response.
Depending on the work being done in the area, if one worker is exposed to harmful gases, that hazard may spread, bringing safety risks to nearby workers. With connected single-gas detectors, monitoring personnel will receive notification of alarms and can use that information to warn other workers and determine whether evacuation protocols need to be initiated (for example, if there are multiple alarms in the same area) – greatly reducing negative outcomes.
Data-Driven, Preventative Safety
Beyond rapid incident response, connected wearables provide safety management personnel with invaluable data, such as real-time, quantitative alarm notifications with time, location, and gas exposure levels. The supporting software then collects and displays the device data in reports. In the case of G6, that software is Blackline Live which has easy-to-interpret graphs and charts to visualize the information being sent from personal gas detectors and area monitors in a single interface. These reports provide safety management personnel a bird’s-eye-view into full fleet device usage, compliance status and gas exposures. The data also provides a detailed look into which individual devices are being properly used, bump tested and calibrated, putting the accountability and responsibility of maintenance in informed workers’ hands.
Figure 1: Connected single-gas detector coupled with software protects workers like never before.
Vital, data-driven insights can be gained on how to proactively reduce safety risks in the future through preventative safety protocols and processes. For example, if multiple low gas alarms are recorded in a specific location, maintenance crews can be dispatched to find the source of the leak and conduct repairs. The information is delivered directly from the devices to a centralized dashboard; there’s no need to rely on workers and contractors to report on exposures. True visibility through data analytics makes it easy to create safety programs that meet and beat best practices.
Reduced Cost of Ownership
Of course, all the above sounds great – but at what cost? For straightforward applications like single-gas detection, is connected safety cost-effective compared to disposables? To answer that question, we need to look at the big picture of what goes into the TCO of a device fleet. Beyond initial hardware price and costs associated with maintenance (e.g., calibration gases), several factors contribute to the final tally.
A major contributor to sunk costs is lost devices. On average, 20% of a fleet needs to be replaced because devices are lost or misplaced (Priority Metrics Group). This means carrying extra inventory of disposable devices. In contrast, connected devices can easily be located via GPS tracking – whether they were left in a truck, a lunchroom or fell off at some point during the workday.
While devices like the G7 multi-gas detectors constantly stream location data in real-time, the G6 single-gas detector sends location information daily. However, if the device is lost, a feature called “Find My G6” allows a manager to log into Blackline Live and see the device’s last known location. This can be especially valuable and cut costs during shutdowns and turnarounds when there are additional workers and contractors onsite who may not return every device.
Figure 2: Look beyond the cost of hardware when evaluating TCO.
Another factor that may not initially come to mind is the cost of false alarms. All alarms must be responded to, which can range from a single worker needing to stop a task to shutting down an entire facility to allow for proper investigation. To mitigate the expense associated with stop-work safety situations, the latest connected wearables have more precise short-term exposure limit (STEL) monitoring, reducing the occurrence of false alarms and associated costs.
Device turnover is an additional load on TCO. Disposables last around two years before they’re discarded, while the connected G6 is rechargeable and lasts four years (one year per charge). Not only do they last longer, but the devices are direct-to-cloud and are connected right out of the box. Much like your smartphone, this enables automatic, over-the-air updates with the latest features. So, instead of a static throwaway that becomes out of date during its use, connected devices continuously improve over their lifespan as new features are added and firmware is automatically updated. Depending on the provider, connected safety solutions also come with a full warranty for the service term and flexible buying options for CAPEX or OPEX budgets.
Summary
Best safety practices are continually evolving, and digital transformation is helping to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry. The “canary in a coal mine” approach of using disposable, beep-and-flash single-gas detectors no longer address the goals of safety programs. Connected devices with supporting software not only provide more precise gas exposure detection and detailed, real-time information to better protect workers and facilities, but they last longer and provide an all-in-one solution that reduces overall costs.
172 Vital Digital Transformation Statistics: 2021/2022 Spending, Adoption, Analysis & Data
For additional oil and gas safety resources from Blackline Safety, CLICK HERE.
And if you’d like to learn more about connected safety solutions, CLICK HERE to meet with one of Blackline’s Connected Safety Consultants.
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