Using Technology toImprove Your Safety

Program

Paul R. BurnettSafety Program Administrator

Santa Clara Valley Water Districtpburnett@valleywater.org * 408-265-2607 x3084

Safety Training

• Blackboard and chalk• Whiteboard and markers• Flipchart and magic markers• Overhead transparency slides / projectors• 35mm filmstrips-in-a-can• 35mm slides in trays / carousels • 16mm movie projectors• Betamax / VCR video cassettes

Safety Training

• CDs• DVDs• Internet-based training• Intranet-based training• YouTube

Inspections

• How many of you conduct safety inspections with a clipboard and a paper tablet and a pen or pencil?

• How many of you use paper checklists for your safety inspections?

• How many of you take pictures for your inspection with film cameras?

Inspections

• Personal Digital Assistants• PCs / Laptops / Tablet PCs• Computer generated inspection checklists

Inspections

• Use a solid-state audio recorder to record your safety inspection

• In the office, plug the recorder into your PC• Use “Dragon Naturally Speaking” (

http://www.dragonvoicerecognition.com/) or other speech-to-text software to turn your speech into a draft report

Inspections

• DBO2’s SafetyNet, a software-based service that employs a handheld device to simplify the collection, analysis and dissemination of job site safety information, allowing customers to take action before at risk behaviors or conditions become incidents.

• http://www.dbo2.com/SafetyNet/

Inspections

• Sonar “Measuring Tapes”• http://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-64030-

Strait-Line-Laser-Tape/dp/B0000ALR30

• Laser “Measuring Tapes”• http://www.us.hilti.com/holus/modules/edito

rial/edit_singlepage.jsp?edtid=-13537_000008

Digital Cameras

• Inspections• Accident investigation• Thermal Imaging Infrared Cameras– Electrical circuits– HVAC– Moisture intrusion

Digital Cameras

• Photo-documentation of events: – Fire drills– Training

• Roof repair work• Documentation of water damage– Floor coverings– Ceiling tiles – Before and after installation

MSDSs

• How many of you have paper MSDSs in 3-ring binders? Or file cabinet folders?–Are they up-to-date?

• How many of you maintain chemical inventories on paper?–Are they up-to-date?

• Anybody using an on-line MSDS database?• http://www.msds.com/ - 3.6 million MSDSs

Vehicle Safety

• Seat belts• Air Bags• Anti-lock Braking Systems–Risk Homeostasis

• Backup cameras• “DriveCam” onboard vehicle video event

recorder, and driver feedback system - http://www.drivecam.com/

GPS / GIS

• Google Earth / MapQuest / Yahoo Maps• GPS: Global Positioning System• GIS: Geographic Information System• View environmental impacts• Track liquid flows– Inundation maps

• Gas plumes

SPOT GPS

• Satellite GPS System personal tracker– 911 / SOS– Help– Check / Okay– Track progress every ten minutes on Google Maps

• http://www.findmespot.com

Communications

• Walkie-talkies– FRS / GMRS– Analog / digital

• Cell phones• Text messaging• Pagers

Remote Control

• Hazardous Operations– Bomb Disposal– Explosive Operations– Radioactive Operations

Recordkeeping

• Anybody filling out their Cal/OSHA 300 by hand?

• Anybody tracking Workers’ Compensation cases by hand?

Respirator Fit Testing

• Irritant smoke• Saccharin• Amyl Acetate• PortaCount

X-ray fluorescence (XRF)

• Lead based paint testing– Thermo Scientific NITON® XLp 300

Bar Codes

• Inventory Control– Warehouse stock– Chemicals– Documents

Radio-Frequency ID (RFID)

• RFID “chips” for animals– And people?– Passports

• RFID tags for equipment– DBI/Sala fall protection equipment• i-Safe™ Intelligent Safety System

– Industrial Scientific air monitors

• Wal-Mart and DoD

Microsoft Excel / Access

• Track inventories– Chemicals / Wastes / Equipment

• Manage safety training– Who takes what when– Certifications / expirations– Renewals / refreshers / reminders

• Industrial Hygiene equipment calibrations• Lab hood certifications

iPhones / Treos / Smart Phones

• NIOSH Pocket Guide• Emergency Response Guide• First Aid Guide• American Heritage Dictionary• Periodic Table• Google Maps• USAMRIID’s “Medical Management of

Biological Casualties Handbook”

Resources

• This Slideshow: http://www.paulburnett.com/techsafe.ppt