HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
ALL EARS ON SOCIAL DISTANCING
Andrew Tither, MD of Exloc Instruments, addresses the impact social distancing rules have on communication in hazardous work places, explaining how organisations can navigate towards a safer, more productive post-COVID reality.
Workplaces are changing rapidly due to COVID-19, and despite the new normal rhetoric – the new normal still hasn’t really arrived - we are all still finding our way.
Many chemical plants, pharmaceutical manufacturers and oil and gas organisations, although taking guidance from trade and regulatory bodies, are forming their own COVID-19 protocols. Although guidance is somewhat open to interpretation, social distancing seems a fait accompli, at least for the medium-term.
So, what does this mean for those working in hazardous environments? According to the HSE guidelines for plants, warehouses and factories, in- person meetings must be avoided, remote working tools should be used, and meetings should be held outside where possible, to reduce the number of people in close proximity.
COMMUNICATION BARRIERS Workers in explosive environments or settings with
chemicals, vapours or nanotechnology present, for example, are already used to the communication barriers that come with noisy machinery and PPE, and have adapted accordingly, but the additional two-metre distance rule represents a further obstacle, particularly when it comes to co-workers conversing effectively.
On-the-job verbal communication is arguably more critical in these locations, with a legion of electronic devices and products designed specifically to improve and facilitate comms activity. Interestingly, what we have found, is an increased interest in more sophisticated communication products that both enable social distancing, but also ensure workers communicate successfully - a more ‘belt and braces’ approach.
SMART TECH For instance, headsets with multifunctional features like
situational awareness, noise suppression and speech enhancement are rising in popularity. As a known cause
14
SEEMS A FAIT ACCOMPLI, AT LEAST FOR THE MEDIUM-TERM.”
of human error accidents, a lack of situational awareness is a particularly important feature.
Noisy machinery sounds can be drowned out with ear defenders but so are all other sounds, compromising safety through isolation and exposing the risk of temporarily removing the headset and experiencing the full impact of harmful noise. This kind of tech works within a 30-metre range, meaning better quality team communication quelling any worries about social distance space.
Speech enhancement, a feature which isolates and improves speech in real-time, separating it from the surroundings by suppressing external noise to a safe level also improves communication levels. For example, Sensear’s SM1P range does this while the mic filters noises, allowing only speech to be transmitted through the microphone. Personnel wearing these headsets also don’t need to repeatedly cross paths with others to charge them, as they provide 24-hour use in between charges, and take just four hours to power up.
The deployment of smart technology like this helps achieve the equilibrium of effective social distancing and maximum efficiency in hazardous workspaces. It not only instils confidence in team communications, but futureproofs work spaces for a raft of possibilities.
“ “SOCIAL DISTANCING
https://exloc.co.uk/ www.tomorrowshs.com
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