Improving Evacuation Management with Otis Link and Otis Instruments
Evacuation management is a necessary element of safety planning for oil and gas operations. Otis Instruments offers gas detection solutions to monitor environmental conditions while Otis Link keeps users connected and notifies all personnel when a dangerous situation arises, resulting in workers needing to evacuate.
It is important for site managers to be prepared to evacuate personnel quickly and safely in the event of an emergency. Performing drills and preparation exercises can be disruptive and time-consuming, but the overhead costs and lost productivity are unavoidable costs for companies. Until now, there hasn’t been an efficient way to manage and improve evacuation drills while preparing team members for real-life emergencies.
More traditional methods of handling evacuation management depend on manual check-ins with managers or team leaders conducting manual headcounts. It’s a time-consuming process that can result in errors. Managers can still be under-prepared to locate and rescue workers that don’t arrive at the check-in as expected, leading to a waste of valuable time and expenses on unnecessary searches. And without useful data regarding the effectiveness of the drill, it is difficult for management to measure and improve their emergency preparedness over time.
Digital worksites and connected safety solutions can make an astounding impact, making it possible to save time during drills, measure and improve preparedness for an emergency, reduce unnecessary efforts and costs, and ensure efficient and timely emergency responses that leave no one behind in the event of an actual emergency. Leveraging data from connected devices throughout the worksite optimizes critical processes across oil and gas operations, especially evacuation management. The insights make it possible to make smart decisions based on near real-time information to improve both safety and efficiency.
A connected safety solution gives workers and managers visibility into the entire drill through a network of connected devices associated with each crew member. With these personal monitoring devices, emergency notifications can be targeted by whatever measurement is useful while providing the ability to precisely direct workers to specific check-in points. Teams can also deploy a beacon or alarm at the check-in point, allowing a notification to confirm the location where workers are; no manual headcount required. If a person is missing, their precise location is tracked, reducing the need for unnecessary searches. This can be especially critical during shutdowns and turnarounds where several contractors can be onsite that aren’t as familiar with the facility’s layout.
Connected safety devices provide full visibility into the incident, as well as a more precise way to identify and locate anyone who hasn’t successfully evacuated so that appropriate measures can be taken to ensure their safety. For example, personal gas monitoring devices with cellular connectivity make it possible to contact workers directly via two-way text messaging or push-to-talk functionality to check on their wellbeing, even if they are in a location prone to two-way radio issues.
Combining personal gas detection with connected area monitors gives additional insight into the safety of the facility, both on a day-to-day basis as well as during an evacuation. For example, in an evacuation after workers have left the hazardous area and made it safely to their designated check-in points, real-time gas readings can still be possible with area monitors deployed strategically around the worksite. Readings from these area monitors allow safety personnel to retain visibility of the situation even when there is no worker present in an affected area and notify if additional measures need to be taken. They can also act as the first source of alarm on the presence of a gas hazard before a worker enters an at-risk area in the first place, reducing the likelihood of an emergency occurring.
Otis Instruments value the safety of all workers across a variety of industries and sectors and offer a variety of easy-to-use, robust, and configurable gas detectors capable of detecting both toxic and non-toxic gases for diverse applications. Our innovative products are designed to provide ease of use and implementation to comply with varying demands and regulations. The instruments and devices we create are also focused on achieving ideal conditions for all work environments.
We also offer Otis Link automation and controls, and Otis link telemetry solutions. Otis Link Automation & Controls systems provide a modernized AWS secured cloud communication system capable of tracking and delivering data in real-time, sending alerts via email or SMS text message. Connecting the user to assets via wired or wireless configurations, the user can efficiently and effectively access and control equipment remotely. Otis Link Telemetry systems provide cloud-based remote industrial equipment monitoring devices and related data services. Otis Link devices send alarms by email and SMS text message, along with real-time data viewable on an easy-to-use website. Connecting the user to assets via wired or wireless configurations, the user can view and manage their equipment effectively. Otis Link ideally integrates with existing Otis products, but can be used with other systems.
Click here to view our portable detection solutions, here for fixed instruments and here for personal detection instruments. For more information regarding other gas detection solutions we offer, visit our website. To view more information regarding solutions through Otis Link, click here. If you have questions regarding gas detection and safety solutions for oil and gas operations, evacuation management solutions, or would like to speak with one of our specialists, contact Otis Instruments today!