Whatever industry you may be working in, making sure that all of the employees and workers are properly protected as they go about their daily tasks is of the utmost importance. That’s where safety equipment such as PPE comes in.
PPE (personal protective equipment) comes in many forms, from site work boots to protective goggles and dust masks, wearing protection on a worksite means employees are kept safe from the risk of injury or illness that could come from working around harmful chemicals.
In recent years, however, there have been developments in the world of PPE. The growing rise of smart technology can be widely felt across many spectrums and industries. And now, smart technology is being integrated into PPE to improve safety in the workplace.
What is Smart PPE?
Smart PPE is a type of PPE that can connect to the internet and to other devices using Bluetooth to deliver real-time safety information and warnings. Items of PPE such as helmets and ear protection can be aided by smart technology for better communication on a loud worksite, or environmental sensors can be embedded into protective clothing to help monitor harmful gases or chemicals.
The Benefits of Using Smart PPE
There are many benefits to introducing smart PPE into the workforce. Some of these include:
- Real-time monitoring: Smart PPE allows workers to monitor things like noise, chemicals, and temperatures and the potential hazards they could pose if people were to be exposed to them. Real-time information can help identify possible risks before they get out of hand and keep workers safe.
- Heightened protection: One of the top benefits of wearing smart PPE is the protection it gives workers. For example, smart earmuffs can alert workers when they are being exposed to too much loud noise which could damage their ears, while smart safety shoes can track when someone has fallen over and can alert members of the team in the case of an emergency.
- Emergency response capabilities: Like other smart devices that people wear in everyday life such as smartwatches, the ability to monitor the wearer’s health and alert emergency services when a person is unwell can also be incredibly beneficial on a worksite. Sometimes workers may be on a part of the site away from their colleagues, so having devices that can detect when something is wrong and alert medical teams or emergency services can help avoid serious injuries and vastly improve health and safety on the site.
The Negatives of Using Smart PPE
As with any new form of technology, there are bound to be some drawbacks as it is first introduced into the workforce. As a result, people may encounter teething problems at first, but as time goes on and more people choose to invest in smart technology and PPE, this will only improve down the line. Smart PPE in its current form is also fairly expensive, so smaller companies may find it hard to supply smart PPE across their workforce in its entirety.
