Identifying your specific needs
Before choosing connected PPE, assess the risks and hazards your team faces in their work environment. The level of risk experienced by a data center technician cannot be compared to that of a skilled welding operator working in a confined underground space. Identify the essential features and sensors for your employees' safety, such as fall detection, environmental monitoring (temperature, oxygen levels, presence of harmful gases), and real-time location tracking (PTI/DATI system with GPS).
Compatibility and integration
Check the compatibility of the connected PPE with other technologies and systems you already use. You don't want information transmissions from one system to interfere with those from another. Ensure the PPE can be easily integrated into your existing infrastructure, such as field service management software or team tracking platforms. Too many software programs (typically one per PPE device) will ultimately have the opposite effect, unnecessarily complicating data collection and potentially making it incomprehensible or impossible. Collaboration between the HSE manager and the data scientist is therefore essential to get the most out of these kinds of tools.
Data reliability and accuracy
The accuracy of the data collected by connected PPE is essential to guarantee your safety. Ensure that the PPE offers reliable sensors and technologies capable of providing accurate, real-time information. This implies that, firstly, preventive maintenance (VGP/CVPO) is included in your contract and, secondly, that in the event of a malfunction, the repair or replacement of sensors or the entire device is carried out as quickly as possible. Also, verify the quality of the connectivity for efficient data transmission.
Ease of use and adoption
Choose a connected PPE that is easy to use. It's important that you and your colleagues can adopt it quickly and easily. A clear interface and simple, easy-to-understand features will help maximize the effectiveness and acceptance of the PPE by your team. Remember that employee acceptance, even with a well-intentioned initial approach, can only be achieved through effective change management that involves including employees themselves, Procurement, IT, and employee representatives in the planning process.
Battery life and durability
Ensure that your connected PPE has sufficient battery life to meet your daily needs in the field. Again, you can't compare the work of a data center technician who can recharge their connected PPE during their lunch break to that of a technician who will be working underground for 6 to 7 consecutive hours and whose survival largely depends on their connected PPE.
The durability of PPE is also important, as it must withstand demanding working conditions and potential impacts or falls. It's better to buy more expensive but higher-quality PPE than PPE that will need replacing every year because it's not suited to the stresses of the work environment.
At MD Conseil formation, we can advise you on the relevance of using certain connected PPE, as well as on their implementation, communication and training for your employees, the configuration of this connected PPE and the exploitation of the data.
