Blackline Boosts Safety Protection For Workers In Confined Spaces During Turnaround And Shutdowns

Blackline Safety, a global pioneer in connected safety technology, has announced that it will offer boosted protection for the industry’s most at-risk worksite maintenance activities.

The company has partnered with Access Technology Group, a Dutch innovator in digital shutdowns and turnarounds, to integrate Blackline’s G7 EXO portable area gas monitors with Access Technology’s VISICS Digital Confined Space Monitoring system.

New best practices

“Through this partnership, we are now able to link our equipment and live stream gas readings to the VISICS platform to support the new best practices of confined space monitoring and deliver even more value to our customers,” said Brendon Cook, Chief Partnership Officer, Blackline Safety.

Confined spaces are challenging work environments, and identifying the hazards involved and then taking proactive steps to prevent them and minimize risks is paramount, Cook explained.

G7 EXO portable area gas monitors

The cloud-connected monitors allow companies to accurately visualise what’s happening around their facilities

“Minimizing risks starts with knowing who’s inside a confined space, for how long, and monitoring the atmospheric conditions within it,” he said.

Blackline’s first-of-their-kind G7 EXO portable area gas monitors operate reliably in real-time to keep workers safe. Easily tailored to suit specific gas detection and safety monitoring needs, the cloud-connected monitors allow companies to accurately visualize what’s happening around their facilities and rapidly alert teams in the event of a hazard or emergency.

Central monitoring system

The VISICS system takes information from workers’ badges and communication devices to manage and monitor their entries into confined spaces. Live camera feeds both inside and outside the space enable remote teams to centrally monitor each confined space and all activities inside and out.

The integration of the two technologies enables Blackline’s G7 EXO monitors to communicate directly with the VISICS network streaming gas readings sampled from within a confined space to add another layer of proactive safety monitoring and protection during turnaround and shutdowns.

Protecting CSE personnel

VISICS helps protect CSE personnel from the risks and hazards associated with confined space work, 24/7"

“Integrating with Blackline Safety is a wonderful opportunity for VISICS as it allows us to offer Blackline's top-of-the-line technology while maintaining the same familiar look and feel for VISICS operators,” said Rene Slegers, CEO of Access Technology Group.

“Blackline Safety has a loyal client base which we are now happily able to serve during confined space monitoring work,” Slegers added. “By combining the right people with the best equipment, such as Blackline’s, VISICS helps protect CSE personnel from the risks and hazards associated with confined space work, 24/7.”

VISICS

VISICS is the pioneer in digital confined space monitoring, providing services to the most well-known industrial energy clients in more than 15 countries through direct business and well-developed local partnerships.

Blackline Safety worked with Access Technology Group and its North American distribution partner, InfoSignal, to develop an EXO hard-wired data interface to deliver real-time gas readings into the VISICS network. The technology was then trialed at several customer worksites to ensure seamless integration.