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HEALTH & SAFETY


communication technology is the future of improved occupational safety. Sensors to detect any variable - both of the


physical environment and the person’s body - from within PPE helps to identify any unexpected changes for those working in harsh environments. For example, if someone working in extreme heat registers a body temperature higher than is healthy, the system can trigger an alert to notify them as well as others, to take necessary action. Another example relates to noise


attenuation. Factories and work sites can be noisy places, and the risk of hearing loss for frequenters is high. According to Health and Safety Executive, if average exposure to noise is higher than 85 A-weighted decibels (db (A)), employers must provide hearing protection, which can take the form of noise attenuating headsets. Noise attenuating headsets are integrated


with a smart sensor to monitor ambient noise. If noise reaches a volume higher than what’s considered safe, the smart sensor can trigger the headphones to emit the exact opposite signal to the ambient sound waves to ‘cancel out’ the sound, protecting workers from hearing damage.


SenSing Social diStancing


Keeping workers safe from their environment is one thing, but they also need to be kept safe from each other. Since the pandemic there’s also been an increased emphasis on preventing transmission of COVID and other infections. It is possible for personnel to benefit from


wearable devices with integrated proximity sensors to maintain adequate social distance from one another. If a proximity sensor detects another person within the define social distancing space, it can alert both


In the case of industrial safety, the accuracy


and reliability of this signal conversion is essential to the safety of workers. While an off- the-shelf solution could deliver similar functionality, there are several reasons why opting for an ASIC is the superior choice. An ASIC is a custom device designed specifically for the customer’s application, allowing the ASIC design team to invest in performance where it will most benefit the particular application. Swindon will be able to optimise


employees to move to a safe distance. Furthermore, on a companywide level,


collecting and analysing this data from each device helps to recognise hotspots for social distancing breaches to better advise on potential layout changes to help facilitate safe distancing.


the aSic advantage


Sensing, conditioning, digitalising and communicating analogue smart sensor signals into a digital format that is compatible with the facility’s wider network is key to enabling data analytics and deploying automation and alert flows.


the entire signal path down to the finest detail, while removing unnecessary features to reduce complexity and size where it is not required. ASIC design focuses on integrating as


much circuitry as possible into a single package, reducing the component count for higher reliability. Furthermore, assembly becomes simpler, and the electronics better protected from environmental factors such as vibration and high temperatures, which is essential for the equipment responsible for detecting if an environment falls outside of its safety parameters. Another benefit for safety functions is


ASICs’ non-obsolescence. ASICs ensure component supply for the lifetime of the product with no gaps in availability. Swindon provides assurances that the device will be available until the customer ends its product manufacture by using methods such as storing wafers in dry nitrogen cupboards for up to 25 years. Intellectual Property (IP) protection is


another key ASIC strength, and Swindon, can provide its customers full ownership of the completed system design, to ensure their system IP benefits them, and them alone. Choosing an ASIC partner that does not sell standard parts may also alleviate the risk of IP potentially being used at a future date in an in-house product. While Industry 4.0’s increased automation


has resulted in a reduction in direct human responsibility, safe operations are still absolutely crucial. Smart sensors, combined with ASIC technology, provide the ultimate solution to guarantee the reliability of safety systems, keeping the buildings, people and the wider environment protected.


Swindon Silicon Systems www.swindonsilicon.com


InduStrIal ComplIanCe | oCtoBer/noVemBer 2022 21


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