Blackline Safety News

G7c personal wearable by Blackline Safety is the world’s first connected gas detector and lone worker safety monitor certified to the newly-upgraded BS 8484:2022, the standard that underpins the UK’s lone worker safety leadership. Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. Employers have a legal obligation to manage any health and safety risks before their employees can work alone. Potentially harmful events In addition to the almost 700,000...

At the 2022 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress & Expo this September, Blackline Safety brought together two global brands at the forefront of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance–L'Oreal and Repsol—to discuss the link between EHS and ESG and how it can influence the business strategy. Laynnea Myles, Assistant VP, EH&S, L’Oréal and Jenny Ward, S&E Systems Lead Supervisor, Repsol joined Blackline Safety’s Chief Growth Officer Sean S...

Kevin Meyers, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Blackline Safety, had a big ask cross his desk: a large hardware and services renewal, valued at over $3 million, with a major energy, utility, transportation, and infrastructure provider in Canada. The purchase order called for almost 900 G7-connected wearable gas detectors, each with a multi-gas cartridge, to be shipped within the month. In an economic and manufacturing environment beset by a shortage of critical parts (talk to anyone who&rsq...

Shutdowns and turnarounds are a necessity for oil and gas refineries and petrochemical plants to conduct maintenance, repairs, refittings, and inspections—executing tasks that can’t take place on a regular basis when facilities are open for regular operations. Unplanned outages can be even more disruptive and costly. These projects have a significant impact on the operational budget of a refinery and require an increase of labor, third parties to be on-site, and lost revenue from ce...

The construction industry is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous environments to work in around the world. OSHA reports that 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers occurs in the sector. And, according to the World Risk Poll, the second highest reported workplace injury rate globally (22%), was among those who worked in construction, manufacturing, or production. In this high-risk context, accurate, real-time monitoring of safety conditions can protect workers and equipment from damage en...

Everyone comes to expect personal tech like cell phones to advance with every update and, occasionally, for a breakthrough to occur. The addition of touchscreens in 1992 giving birth to the first 'smartphone' was one of them.  Safety technology is no different but gas detection for shutdowns and turnarounds hasn’t seen a significant breakthrough in a very long time. That has changed. single-gas detectors When it comes to single-gas detectors for short-term projects in the oil and g...

As a safety or operations manager, part of the responsibility is to assess the available safety solutions to determine the best fit for the organization. Reviewing the various features and benefits can be challenging enough, but when it comes to the bottom line, evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of safety solutions can feel a bit uncomfortable. How to put a price on workers’ health and keep them safe? Absence of safety solution The human cost of not having the right safety solut...

A group of 4th year University of Calgary students worked to reimagine safety– and won an award for their efforts-at the UofC’s 2022 Captone Design Fair, placing first in the electrical and software engineering category. Their project–Development of a Software Solution for Safety Visualization and Analysis–was sponsored by Blackline Safety. Blackline Live software portal Capstone design projects are the culmination of four years of study - a year-long assignment where s...

When an organization’s job is to respond to fires, explosions, or any other disaster that may come along, ensuring its first responders are protected is paramount. That’s why Blackline Safety Corp., a pioneer in connected safety technology, is unveiling an equipment trade-in program designed to make it easier than ever for fire departments and emergency response teams to acquire cutting-edge gas detection equipment and the monitoring software that comes with it t...

Thank Hedy Lamarr for Wi-Fi, Marie Curie for radioactivity, Evelyn Boyd Granville for successful space missions, Rosalind Franklin for the double helix structure of DNA, and Ruby Hirose for vaccines against polio. Those are a few examples of fearless women in science who changed the world with their research and innovation. The world benefits when more women and gender-diverse people find inspiration in careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.  Sponsorship of Ope...

Volatile organic compound (VOC) gases are a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals found in everyday life. Many VOCs are harmless, but others can dramatically affect worker health and the environment. The United Nations estimates that, globally, one worker dies every 15-30 seconds from toxic exposure at work. Those numbers are alarming and demonstrate why businesses must take air quality monitoring seriously to ensure worker health and safety. Where VOCs found VOCs can also...

The fire department of a southern U.S. city was trialing Blackline Safety technology when a dangerous fuel spill put the devices to the test. Firefighters were called to a local station where 32 gallons (120 liters) of gasoline had spilled out and was flowing rapidly onto the ground. As firefighters—equipped with G7 personal gas detectors—arrived on the scene, their G7s started sending high gas alerts to the fire department lieutenant, over five miles away. Using the Blackline Live...

FDIC International 2022 is approaching fast and All Safe Industries will have a double booth in 2022, with a range of equipment from high-end detection technologies to simple hazmat solutions, on display at the exhibition. In 2022, All Safe Industries will be showcasing the FLIR MUVE C360 multi-gas detector attached to the company’s demo DJI Matrice 300 drone. FLIR MUVE C360 multi-gas detector The FLIR MUVE C360 multi-gas detector can be completely integrated with DJI Matrice unmanned a...

Efficient response to dangerous situations is paramount to any Fire and HazMat incident. This makes connected safety technology a valuable asset for every First Responder team. Having suitable and easy-to-use equipment and technology will enhance the speed, efficiency, and safety of an incident response. There are relatively recent developments in technology that can be game changers in an effective response including real-time visibility of the safety of every team member, integrated plume mode...

On September 19th, the Crumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands erupted, with devastating consequences. The eruption forced the evacuation of 7,000 people (close to 10% of the island’s population), destroyed almost 2,000 buildings, spread over 1,800 acres, and released 250,000 tons of sulfur dioxide. Rapid response during a natural disaster G7 personal gas protection devices were deployed with the Dirección General de Seguridad y Emergencias...

Working alone is inherently dangerous, then layer on additional risks like hazardous gas exposure, health incidents, wildlife encounters, extreme weather, vehicle accidents, trips and falls, and the threats multiply. Cell and radio coverage is often spotty at remote locations such as exploration areas, well sites and compressor stations, making communication with the people and dispatching help difficult if problems arise. Extra care must be taken to ensure the safety of the most vulnerabl...

Digital transformation has become an imperative for the oil and gas industry, and connected technologies have proven especially valuable for maximizing uptime and revenue. When production is taken offline, getting back up and running quickly, efficiently, and safely is critical to mitigating costs and preventing future unplanned downtime. Whether downtime is the result of a planned turnaround, shutdown, or an unforeseen outage, these short-term operations face many unique challenges. For exampl...

A natural part of business is allocating and reallocating investments and resources into various areas. And, often, each department is asked to achieve more with less, pioneering to difficult decisions in order to achieve business goals. One key area where there can’t be any compromise is protecting workers from accidents, injuries, and illnesses while they’re on the job. When creating a safety plan for lone workers, companies often need to broaden their definition of what a lone wo...

Kokosing Materials, Inc. (KMI) has been in the asphalt production business since 1980 and operates 17 asphalt plants and two asphalt cement terminals throughout the state of Ohio. Given the operational risks of asphalt plants, the company places a high emphasis on all aspects of team members’ well-being, including physical, psychological, and emotional health. This has led to KMI adopting a holistic, human-centered approach to safety and team member engagement, where managers travel to ea...

In a post-pandemic world, the outlook on workplace safety is changing. While physical and economic recovery is critical, organizations are placing an equally large focus on the psychological toll the pandemic and other aspects of the workplace have had on individuals in the past. Holistic approach This change in outlook is centered around implementing a holistic approach to health and safety, prioritizing all aspects of employee wellbeing. It’s a conversation that is no longer only taki...

On October 26, 2019, a worker and his wife were both fatally injured due to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure at a waterflood station in Odessa, Texas—one of six fatal H2S accidents in the United States in the last two years. On May 4, 2021, the US Chemical and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) published its final report of the incident with guidance on how future incidents can be prevented with appropriate safety measures. This blog post describes what happened, why H2S safety is a critical...

Throughout a hazmat response, portable gas detectors and area monitors give first responders and command centers the data and visibility they need to make time-sensitive decisions in the moment. In addition, when each team member wears a personal gas monitoring device that also tracks their location in real-time, it creates a completely connected safety ecosystem. During the incident, these personal monitoring devices can help locate, position, and mobilize resources on the map....

Implementing effective safety protocols and standards is key to mitigating employee injuries and incidents in the workplace. However, building a strong safety culture, from those in leadership to employees at every level in an organization, is what drives compliance and productivity up, and risks and incidents down. Key indicators of safety culture Blackline Collective was formed to bring experts together to help advance each other’s safety programs, practices, and cultures. Through the...

From chemical fires to gas leaks and explosions, emergency responders are the first on the scene and take control of potentially devastating situations. And during those critical moments, preparation is more than key, it’s vital. Effective response starts before the team even arrives at the scene because every second matters when it comes to saving lives and protecting the Hazmat team, the environment, and neighboring communities against potential harm. The following are four key ways to...

Evaluating and mitigating risks for the lone workers in the company allows them to protect most at-risk employees while also ensuring compliance with regulations.  To optimize lone worker safety programs, systematically assess working environments and then create targeted policies and procedures to address any hazards. This guide will provide an in-depth look to help discern where the program is performing well, as well as determine where gaps may still exist. Overall Risk Assessment Ass...

While some companies may have one type of lone working scenario to manage, other businesses may have many. Depending on the number and variety of lone-worker situations involved, the company may need to perform multiple lone-worker risk assessments to accommodate for the various circumstances faced by these higher-risk employees.  These checklists are used when reviewing existing sites where people work alone and when setting up new sites involving lone workers. A lone worker checklist can...

Because of new social distancing standards brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many workers are increasingly operating physically further apart from one another. At times, this may be due to a workforce that’s been reduced in numbers due to affected team members or it may be because employees are working different shifts to accommodate for new work standards. The underlying reason for these changes is the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus disease.  This pandemi...

Maximize safety with minimum hassle with Blackline Safety's next-level G7 portable gas detection system. Learn the benefits of choosing the G7 for the company's safety monitoring solutions and what makes it unique from other options on the market. Gas Detecting System benefits "Regulations require businesses to ensure that their gas detection fleet is fully tested, calibrated, and regularly being used by personnel, this is one of the safety industry’s biggest gas detection challenges,&...

When a company invests time, money, and energy into creating a company’s working-alone policy and procedures, it'll want to leverage them to successfully achieve its safety-related aims.  Following are several tips and strategies for optimal creation and implementation of this policy. Create the Right Policy  Templates can be quite helpful when creating policies and procedures, but the company will need to ensure that the result is laser-targeted to its specific situations.&nb...

Many workplaces contain areas that are considered to be confined spaces. A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed area that, while it may be big enough for a worker to enter, is not designed for a person to work in regularly. These spaces often lack resources that would normally be found in areas designed for continuous occupancy, such as proper ventilation systems, lighting, or areas that would allow for easy entry (such as stairwells or doorways). Common confined spaces can...