Transportation and Logistics Lone Worker and Gas Detection Safety

POWERING DATA-DRIVEN SAFETY.

Transportation, logistics and hauling are crucial components in maintaining the supply chain for other industries. Goods and materials need a timely and reliable delivery method which requires dedicated workers to ensure that happens.

The most common modes of industrial transportation pose a risk to worker safety, from lone worker hazards to potential exposures to gases. Here is a quick look at some of the gas hazards by mode of transportation:

1. Road Transportation - this includes cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. It's a convenient and flexible way to move goods over shorter distances. Common gas hazards are carbon monoxide (CO) and flammable liquids and gases such as gasoline, propane, and methane.

2. Rail Transportation - moves heavy goods and materials over long distances. It's efficient and cost-effective, often used for bulk commodities such as coal and grain but also for the transportation of hazardous chemicals such as chlorine (Cl2), ammonia (NH3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Trains also frequently transport flammable materials like ethanol, crude oil and natural gas. Many of the types of cargo shipped by trains can be extremely hazardous in the event of a derailment or accident.

3. Air Transportation - moves high-value, time-sensitive goods over long distances. This method is fast but more expensive. Common gas exposures are carbon dioxide (CO2) and combustible gases such as jet fuel vapors.

4. Water Transportation - this includes shipping via container ships, tankers and carriers and reefers. It's an efficient and cost-effective mode of transportation for bulk goods and materials over long distances. Flammable liquids and gases along with carbon monoxide (CO) can pose a risk to workers, as can other harmful gases in confined spaces on marine vessels such as cargo, fuel, sewage and ballast tanks.

transportation-fueltruck-delivering-gasoline

CONNECTED GAS DETECTION AND LONE WORKER MONITORING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS INDUSTRY.

Blackline can help mitigate risks for transportation and logistics workers with our ecosystem of connected safety solutions and analytics. We can help you get your workers home safe—every day—with lone worker devices, personal gas detectors and area gas monitors that protect them from explosions, falls, confined space hazards, dangerous toxic gases and VOCs, or working alone.

Lone Worker Safety

Personal Gas Detection

Area Monitoring

Lone workers such as drivers, surveyors / engineers, warehouse staff and forklift operators, all work independently at times in various roles and may require immediate assistance in case an incident occurs.

Various gas hazards may become present during transportation or hazardous materials. Workers need a connected safety solution like G7 to ensure they are always safe.

When it comes to monitoring the air quality in warehouses, refrigeration storage units or distribution facilities, G7 EXO deploys in minutes, delivering reliable connectivity for 100+ days.

Transportation Case Studies

CEMEX Uses Fall Detection Technology to Fortify Driver Safety

Find out how Blackline Safety's lone worker solution helped a global cement and concrete supplier implement more effective safety measures for their night drivers.

Read story

Logistics Company Uses Lone Worker Safety Devices to Protect Drivers

Hear Barrie Flitton, Operations Manager for CEMEX UK, discuss the reasons why they selected to partner with Blackline to ensure their drivers' safety and improve communications.

Watch the video

Transportation and Logistics Toxic and Combustible Gas Hazards

Main gas hazards
- CI2
- CO
- CO2
- Combustibles
- NH3
- NOx
- SO2
- VOCs
Road transportation often carries the risk of flammable liquids and gases such as gasoline and propane which can pose a significant fire hazard in the event of an accident or spill. Poorly tuned engines or defective exhaust systems also run the risk of CO exposure.
Rail transportation also carries flammable liquids and gases such as ethanol, crude oil and propane. Transported toxic gases like vinyl chloride and other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), chlorine and ammonia pose a risk to human health in the event of a leak.
Air transportation accounts for the shipping of 1.25 million packages of dangerous goods per year including flammable liquids and foods, pharmaceuticals and vaccines that use dry ice as a refrigerant which releases CO2 as it melts. Jet engines emit high amounts of CO2, and small amounts of NOx, CO, and VOCs.
Water transportation- flammable liquids and gases such as LNG are often transported via tankers which can pose a combustible gas hazard. The many types of confined spaces on ships are areas of risk where various gases can accumulate or oxygen can be displaced.
All methods of transportation emit CO from exhaust fumes, which pose a risk to workers and nearby communities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 798 worker fatalities from harmful substances or environments, within the US, in 2021.

In 2021, there was a total of 1,523 fatal worker injuries from transportation and material moving within the US.

(BLS, 2022)

Transportation and Logistics Lone Worker Risks

Commercial driving isn't a simple task. Accidents on the road are the most significant risk to transportation workers. Between 25-33% of all work-related deaths are caused by motor vehicle crashes (brightmile, 2020). In these instances, lone workers need an easy way to call for help. Our G7 lone worker devices offer fall and no-motion detection, missed check-in alarms and an SOS latch that can be pulled to call for immediate assistance.
Slips, trips, and falls are the number one cause of non-fatal injuries for transportation and logistics workers. Devices with fall detection can immediately alert monitoring personnel of an incident that may require assistance or medical attention.
Loading and unloading materials can cause injuries if precautions aren't followed. Forklifts were responsible for 70 worked-related deaths in 2021, and 7,290 injuries (NSC). Safety measures, like being able to pull G7's SOS latch can alert monitoring personnel of a lone worker requiring help.
Public transportation and logistics workers such as couriers can face aggression and violence when working with the public.
Lone worker hazards like those listed above are the leading causes of workplace fatalities (BLS) and are common in the transportation industry, as categorized below.

Fatal work injuries by major event or exposure, 2017-21
logistics-transporation-fatalities-lone-worker

The connectivity and software to further protect your team.

Blackline’s connected safety and robust software offering provide the transportation and logistics industry with solutions that offer ultimate protection from worksite hazards and help you run a more efficient operation.

Next-level safety – The Blackline Live online portal allows you to manage your G7 connected safety devices, monitor your facility and your workforce’s well-being in real-time, respond to emergencies and report on collected data. Simple compliance is no longer good enough.

Unmatched visibility – Blackline Analytics provides a complete view of your connected safety fleet’s compliance, usage and alert data in a single, easy-to-use tool. Analyze real-time and historical data to anticipate potentially dangerous situations and prevent incidents from happening.

Enhanced productivity – Connected devices deliver data that can uncover opportunities to increase operational efficiency, offering the potential to save millions in lost revenue.

Optimized responses – Comprehensive safety monitoring and mass notifications give you complete and swift control of evacuation and emergency management.

Always at the ready – Blackline’s in-house Safety Operations Center is staffed 24/7 with professionally trained monitoring agents focused exclusively on ensuring the safety of your people.

The connected devices you need for unparalleled safety.

With Blackline’s comprehensive suite of safety devices, you get a complete ecosystem that leaves no aspect of worker or worksite safety to chance. Whether you need personal safety monitoring, gas detection or area monitoring, every G7 solution offers turn-key connectivity and versatility.

Trustworthy protection – Poison-immune combustible gas monitoring with broad spectrum LEL detection

Efficient execution – Connect in minutes wherever the device is placed or worn

Built for extremes – Face tough and rugged conditions, on any worksite, anywhere in the world

Ready and reliable – The G7 EXO’s100+ days of battery life allows devices to remain in operation longer, reducing the manpower needed to swap batteries or devices and the number of permits required

Direct-to-Cloud connectivity – Industry-leading cellular and optional satellite connectivity for remote areas (e.g. bring the magnetic satellite bridge with you from your truck to your ATV), streaming all data directly to the cloud

Low cost of ownership – G7 EXO’s extra-long battery life eliminates the need to purchase extra monitors, saving tens of thousands of dollars. And with connected wearables, you can easily locate a lost device

Immediate Awareness - Text and email alerts keep you fully aware of device status and active situations

No nonsense – Eliminate the need for LEL correction factors, minimizing unnecessary and costly evacuations from false readings

Maximum flexibility – Thousands of gas detection configurations available in single-gas to ﬁve-gas detectors with or without a pump

Uncompromised safety – Extensive person down safety features such as fall detection, missed check-in alarms, an S.O.S. latch to call for immediate assistance and no-motion detection, two-way communications and push-to-talk functionality.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

THE VALUE OF CONNECTED SAFETY FOR SINGLE-GAS DETECTION

Leveraging data to create a proactive and efficient safety program

Connected gas detection isn’t the tech of the future anymore. It’s right here, right
now, and more money-saving, sustainable and simple than you think.

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LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND

HOW CONNECTED SAFETY TECHNOLOGY STREAMLINES EVACUATION MANAGEMENT

Evacuation management is a necessary element of safety planning for oil and gas operations. It is critical to be prepared to quickly and safely evacuate personnel in the event of an emergency, as every second counts when lives are on the line.

Lone worker safety and gas detection for transportation & logistics workers