Are you ready to get connected?

We chat with Deon Naidoo, South and Sub-Sahara Africa regional sales manager for Blackline Safety, to learn more about connected safety and how it’s transforming gas detection and incident response at industrial worksites.

Blackline Safety manufactures and markets a suite of cloud-connected wearable safety devices and area gas monitors. These devices protect lone workers and those at risk of exposure to hazardous gases at industrial worksites – like mines or steel manufacturing facilities – by providing 24/7 connectivity for critical communications, enabling the fastest response times for help. Data from the devices deliver actionable insights that help companies to proactively improve safety and efficiency. 

Can you explain what you mean by “connected safety” and why it is so important?

When we talk about connected safety, what we’re talking about is cloud-connectivity. Cloud-connected safety devices feed data to the cloud in real-time and are rapidly becoming standard as workplaces transform digitally.

The devices can link employees to monitoring services and control rooms for live awareness, enable real-time information sharing, collect vital location data, support informed decision-making, and facilitate faster emergency responses. Advances in automation like data visualisations, compliance reporting, and analytics also mean less time gathering information and more time acting on it to improve worksite safety.

How are connected safety devices different from most safety devices on the market today?

Most safety devices on the market are unconnected – there’s no immediate link to a live person and devices need to be physically docked to retrieve data or make changes. This severely limits timely, effective incident response.

If an incident occurs to a lone worker, this could lead to tragedy. With Blackline’s direct-to-cloud connectivity, you can monitor multiple workers or facilities all over the world from any Internet-connected device through our Blackline Live software portal. You get the benefits of real-time visibility, without needing actual boots on the ground. Through the portal you can view your people’s device locations on a map in real-time; check online or offline status to understand usage; understand bump test, calibration, and firmware update history to manage compliance; and modify device behaviour on the fly.

How do you know if a worker is in distress?

Blackline Safety devices integrate cellular or satellite connectivity, location technology, an emergency SOS latch, and a variety of sensors to detect for gas, slips/trips and falls, and no-motion, which can trigger automatic warning alerts in real-time.

If gas is detected, you immediately know what kind of gas, how much, where it is, and who is impacted – even the wind direction. That means incident responses can be faster and more informed. This kind of remote situational awareness and control is not possible with traditional “beep and flash” detectors that only alert the wearers of a potential hazard, which makes lone workers particularly vulnerable if no-one else knows they are in distress.

Can devices detect more than one gas at once?

Our G7 wearables and area monitors can detect up to five gases simultaneously. We have one of the industry’s largest portfolios of advanced gas sensors, with over 20 to choose from.

With devices feeding data constantly, isn’t the amount of information generated overwhelming?

Actually, no. Our automated Essential Reports data services package organises the information from device use into easy-to-read visuals and analytics. Companies use the reports to improve safety – for example, looking at alert trends to help predict and prevent incidents, or looking at device usage to understand and improve compliance – which enhances the value that connected safety delivers to companies and their workers. Plus, automated reporting ensures accuracy, eliminates reporting errors, and improves efficiency. You don’t get that from traditional devices that rely on the manual collection of usage data and gas reading information.

What kind of customers do you have?

Over 2,200 companies across a dozen industries currently rely on Blackline devices to keep their people safe. In fact, about 165,000 workers wear our devices every day, giving them the confidence that they can get the job done and return home safe at the end of their day.

Key sectors for us are manufacturing, oil and gas, water and wastewater, utilities, and fire/hazmat. Brands you might recognise that partner with us are Amazon, Shell, and British Steel.

Are there barriers to entry with connected safety in terms of cost, infrastructure, or training?

One of the best parts of cloud-connected safety solutions compared to traditional ones are their ease of use and set up. Our devices have instant connectivity, right out-of-the-box: turn them on and they’re ready to use – no additional IT infrastructure and minimal training required. Over-the-air configuration changes and firmware updates are also automated, saving you time and money.

By contrast, traditional solutions require on-site configuration changes – usually by a trained technician – which can be time-consuming and impractical for large fleets, especially for quickly executing mission critical updates. There’s really no excuse for not taking safety to the next level when it’s this easy.

Blackline Safety is now proudly serving the South and Sub-Saharan Africa market. Connect with the company today.