Conducting safety inspections using some mobile devices is unachievable for certain industries as worksites forbid the use of Smart Phones and Tablets that are not certificated as being intrinsically safe mobile devices as they are deemed dangerous to operate in hazardous areas (Zone 1 or Zone 2). It is currently mandatory for safety inspectors to carry intrinsically safe mobile devices for hazardous areas when performing safety inspections in hazardous environments.
What is Intrinsically Safe?
Intrinsic safety is a requirement that may be applicable to devices that are being operated in areas with flammable gases or fuels. It means a preventative protection method employed in potentially explosive atmospheres. Certificate intrinsically safe tools/devices prevent the release of sufficient energy to cause ignition of flammable material.
Industries which require Intrinsically Safe Products:
- Petrochemical
- Oil platforms and refineries
- Pharmaceutical
- Pipelines
- An environment where explosive gases, mists, vapours combustible dusts could be present.
Intrinsically Safe Certifications World Wide
There are differing regulations and requirements which dictate how intrinsically safe mobile devices are certified and manufactured in order to be used as intrinsically safe certified device. There are mainly two regulatory bodies and certifications: – ATEX (‘Atmospheres Explosive) – mainly in recognized in Europe and IECEx, (International Electro technical Commission) mainly recognized internationally.
Options for Intrinsically Safe Mobile Devices
Few companies design and manufacture intrinsically safe mobile devices. One of the latest certified intrinsically safe tablet is the Zone 1/21 & DIV 1 tablet computer based on Samsung GALAXY Tab Active. A new development in this area is to take a standard Smart Phone or Tablet and to place it inside an intrinsically safe case, this reduces the dependency on a specific intrinsically safe mobile device.
Below are few features that are capable of being implemented by using the right mobile inspection software with intrinsically safe mobile devices.
Speech Recognition – Speech recognition has dramatically improved since its introduction and now a standard feature in all new mobile devices and tablets. It provides the safety inspector / technicians a fast and effective way to record and store information.
Camera and Annotating – Camera technology has likewise continued to evolve with each new mobile release outperforming the last. Documentation maintenance through photograph captures the technician’s visual point of view and provides others a specific record of the asset and the findings. On screen annotation allows safety inspectors/technicians to highlight key areas in photographs that are of interest or require corrective actions as well as describe the event or the deficiencies.
Barcode/QR Code Scanning – The camera within the device can be used to scan a barcode or QR Code. Scanning a Barcode/QR Code to start an inspection removes the need for users to enter in a reference number or to locate the item from a drop-down list. QR Codes are a better solution as the code can hold more information and also the camera within a Smart Phone or Tablet is optimized to scan QR Codes rather than 1D barcodes as the technology is imaging.
Reference Material – Reference material such as safety instructions, SOP, images etc. can be accessed from the mobile device.
Offline Reporting – Certain sites or areas within a site may have limited or no internet/Wi-Fi and/or service data which restricts certain paperless inspection system which rely on constant internet connectivity. The ability to work offline should be a mandatory requirement for any mobile inspection system.
Automatic data/time/GPS stamp – Safety inspectors/Technicians can improve their reporting details by implementing automatic date and time stamps as well as the GPS coordinates where it was recorded.
IMEC Technologies provides Safety Management Software to increase worker safety and aid compliance. IMEC’s Safety Management Software will manage inspections and audits, provides hazard identification, incident reporting, management of corrective and preventative actions from generation to closure. IMEC provides lock out tag out software solutions that will allow users to create lockout tagout procedures using an intuitive Mobile App and Manage Lockout Tagout Procedures, also the Review and Execution of those Lockout Tagout Procedures using the Mobile App. Annual Lockout Tagout Procedures audits are conducted using a Mobile App. The Mobile Inspection App allow users to perform inspections and audits, for example the system can be used as a Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software system to manage monthly fire extinguisher inspections and general fire safety inspections and also to record safety observations and manage corrective actions, anywhere and anytime. The solution can be used as a fire extinguisher barcode inspection software system or life safety inspection system to aid compliance in Higher Education, Healthcare, Industrial and Commercial Organizations. Benefits from a Fire Extinguisher Barcode System include the elimination of paperwork and reducing the burden of compliance with regulations such as NFPA, The Joint Commission. The Incident Reporting App allows users to easily and quickly report incidents, hazards and near-misses, these are then sent to the appropriate people for action and are managed to closure. Web Apps provide features such as, setup, management, scheduling tools, analysis, reporting and dashboards etc with the ability to report incidents to government bodies such as OSHA and RIDDOR. HazMat T&T is a hazardous waste management software solution designed for Environmental Service Companies and companies who generate a large quantity of hazardous waste. The solution tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave aiding compliance, providing accurate waste inventory, increasing waste handling efficiency, reducing risk and also helps manage waste costs. HazMat T&T Hazardous Waste Management Software can be deployed in a number of deployment scenarios, from Large Hazardous Waste Generators, tracking their hazardous waste at their site to Environmental Service and Waste Management Companies using it track and manage hazardous waste at transfer and disposal sites. For more information visit our website www.imectechnologies.com