IT can substantially improve health and safety in mining, chemical plants and other hazardous workplaces, says Netshield SA MD Inus Dreckmeyr.
He says standard technology can easily be harnessed to monitor and analyse a host of environmental and physiological risk factors facing workers in the chemical, refining, manufacturing, mining and related industries.
Dreckmeyr says such systems can then instantly raise the alarm when pre-determined parameters are exceeded - or generate data that managers can use to identify high-risk areas and practices.
At present, companies rely on sample measurements and inspections using relatively bulky, dedicated test equipment to identify the personal and environmental risks facing workers.
"In addition, current technology is unable to integrate and collate monitoring data into a single view, or provide a visual recording of specific environmental conditions," Dreckmeyr says.
"Other shortcomings include an inability to pinpoint excessive exposures in correlation with workplace conditions; limited personal alarm and warning systems; and an inability to accurately measure the sum of accumulated exposures that contribute to fatigue."
Measuring stress
Dreckmeyr's company has invented what he says is a cost-effective, reliable and easily maintainable system called DOHEMS (Digital Occupational Hygiene Exposure Monitoring System).
The personal automated and integrated personal data acquisition and processing system can measure various exposures simultaneously and has a built-in personal alarm.
"For example, DOHEMS provides a method to relate the sum and duration of all exposures impacting on fatigue, including dust, vapour, humidity, noise, vibration, gas levels and heat. It's a proven fact that fatigue can adversely impact a worker's performance, resulting in anything from minor productivity loss to a fatal accident," Dreckmeyr says.
The compact, lightweight, fire-resistant and rugged device can simultaneously measure all these exposures, as well as the individual's core body temperature and heart rate, which give an immediate indication of the level of stress being experienced, he explains.
A miniature video camera provides a visual record of the environment, allowing for the correlation of stress indication measurements with the physical environment.
It can also provide an historical perspective of the stress factors to which each individual worker is exposed on a shift, weekly and monthly basis. Using algorithms, this information is then used to evaluate the risk profile of each worker. This allows for preventative measures to be taken, such as redeploying the individual to another job function or modifying his shift work, or providing additional training in functions that are seen to cause unusual stress levels.
From a risk management perspective, it could provide for real-time data capturing with visual footage that will result in accelerated risk warning measures and controls, notes Dreckmeyr. It could also provide data for post-incident analysis and assist with more informed decisions for future design and planning, he adds.
"The intention of the invention is to provide consolidated and consistent monitoring of all the necessary physiological and environmental information that will support a healthier and safer working environment."
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