Why health and safety managers are switching to connected gas detectors
Gas detection compliance can be a challenging task. And as regulatory standards tighten around the world, it’s becoming harder than ever.
Many health and safety managers are finding that the most efficient way to achieve compliance is through digitalising their gas detection – switching to connected gas detectors so they can automate tasks and simplify their gas management and compliance. But before we look at the benefits of connected gas detection, let’s first take a step back and look at the regulatory environment.
Compliance standards around the world
Regulatory requirements for gas detection vary from region to region. Health and safety bodies such as HSE (UK), OSHA (US), ATEX (EU), BG RCI (Germany) and INRS (France) set standards for air quality, imposing limits for the flammability and toxicity of workplace environments. They also set standards for gas detectors, making sure they are safe, reliable and appropriate for the environment in which they are used.
In the European Union, key regulatory standards to be aware of include:
- EU-wide: The ATEX directive (2014/34/EU) and EN standards like EN 60079-29-1 establish safety and conformity requirements for products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres across member states, including certain gas detectors.
- Germany: The BG RCI guidelines, including T 021e for toxic gases and oxygen, and T 023e for explosion protection, provide detailed instructions for the configuration, use, service and repair of gas detection equipment.
- France: Standards such as NF EN 60079-29-2 align with European directives for gas detectors for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Outside the EU, key standards to be aware of include:
- United Kingdom: The HSE EH40/2005 standard establishes long-term and short-term workplace exposure limits for designated hazardous substances, including certain gases and vapours.
- United States: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB 09-30-2013), provides guidance on calibrating and testing “direct-reading” gas monitors consistent with recommendations from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA).
Why compliance matters
Compliance with gas detection regulation helps to protect workers’ health and safety. Non-compliance can lead to fines, penalties and even shutdowns and can significantly damage your organisation’s reputation. Faulty alarms can also adversely affect your operational efficiency.
Typical compliance requirements
Gas detection compliance rules typically cover the following areas:
- Alarms: Alarms should be useful, actionable, and relatively infrequent according to the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE). According to EEMUA Publication 191, this means an average of no more than one alarm every ten minutes during normal operations, and no more than ten in the first ten minutes during a major incident.
- Bump test: The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) recommends that users do a “bump test” every time they use a gas detector to confirm it’s functioning as intended.
- Calibration: Harsh environments, fluctuating temperatures, high levels of humidity, and external contaminants can all affect the way gas detectors operate. Calibrating your gas detector to a known concentration of gas allows you to reset the sensor’s response and check that it’s in good working order.
- Record keeping: Depending on the location, regulations may require organizations to maintain accurate records including device certifications and documentation and calibration results. Safety managers may choose to include record-keeping as part of their organisation’s risk assessment.
- Regular maintenance: In the European Union, directives like ATEX set requirements for equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres, including gas detectors. Regular maintenance is a key part of these standards.
The benefits of digital compliance
So how can you stay on top of all these regulatory requirements? For many, the answer increasingly lies in digital compliance. Connected gas detectors make light work of regulatory requirements and facilitate easy audits. You can look forward to:
- Efficient documentation and reporting – with automatic data collection, you can say good-bye to time-consuming manual logging and reduce the risk of mistakes due to employee errors.
- Proactive monitoring and alerts – real-time alerts help you take preventative action quickly, enhancing worker safety.
- Data insights for continuous compliance – user-friendly analytics enable you to adjust practices, predict issues and monitor ongoing compliance.
- Simplified gas detection management: Easier tracking of devices that need calibrating, testing, or repairing helps minimise downtime and maximise device readiness.
Get future-ready
Digital compliance tools are the future when it comes to streamlined, proactive and reliable ways to comply with gas detection regulation. So if you want to get future-ready, it may be time to go digital.
