ATEX: How to Stay Mobile On-Site Without a Smartphone
21/06/2021
Following our 12-pain points blog on working in an ATEX environment, we’re going to delve deeper into each problem businesses face when it comes to worker safety, productivity and efficiency.
Up first, we’re discussing the right hardware choice for a potentially explosive or hazardous environment – one where the use of a mobile phone is strictly off limits.
Always safety first
Given the nature of working on a site where danger can be just around the corner, the hardware used by workers to carry out day-to-day tasks must be intrinsically safe.
Under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) employers have a duty of care to eliminate or control the risks from explosive atmospheres in the workplace – which includes the selection of equipment and protective systems.
All equipment, whether electrical or mechanical, must meet essential health and safety requirements and conform to appropriate procedures.
You’ll know hardware is intrinsically safe, when it carries the ‘EX’ symbol. This means it has been certified as safe to use in an ATEX environment.
Designed to last
Working in a rugged environment requires a rugged device – one that can be used in areas where an explosion, fire, or chemical leak can take place.
ATEX radios are fully certified to be used in areas where these scenarios can become reality. Intrinsically safe radios are manufactured to stringent requirements to reduce or eliminate the risk of generating even the smallest amount of spark.
Every detail has safety in mind, and even the amount of heat being produced by the device is limited.
From a practicality point of view, ATEX radios can withstand being dropped, and a long-lasting battery life means they can last a full shift before they need to be re-charged.
Technology still rules
Any pre-conception that intrinsically safe radios don’t have the same technological capabilities as a mobile phone can be pushed to one side, as ATEX radios are built to not only be safer than smartphones in explosive atmospheres, but also to be more practical.
ATEX radios possess voice and data capabilities that will improve safety, productivity, and efficiency:
• Emergency safety features to protect workers
• Text messaging and email functionality
• VOX (Voice Activated Communications)
• Voice Recording for audit purposes
• Intelligent Audio to reduce fluctuating background noise
• Real-time GPS tracking
An instant connection
One of the biggest pain points for any business where there’s vast space, workers on multiple sites, above ground (dense steel structures) and underground facilities, is having the right coverage for people to be able to communicate without interruption.
As mobile phones require cellular coverage, they would struggle to pick up signal in remote areas or locations. Digital mobile radio coverage, however, can be engineered to pick up coverage in all the hard-to-reach places, and in multiple locations.
Another plus point for ATEX radios is the ability to send voice and data communications to individuals and groups at the touch of a button. As a business tool, an intrinsically safe ATEX radio is the perfect alternative to a mobile phone.
Off-site contact from an on-site location
The ability for on-site and off-site workers to communicate may feel like a step too far - when you consider the need for a radio to be used in ATEX areas.
However, all is not lost with something known as Telephone Interconnect. Acting like a mobile, Telephone Interconnect enables radio users to make direct calls to people off-site, who are part of the same network, and using a mobile or landline device.
By utilising this smart solution, emergency situations can be communicated at speed to all staff, and it helps improve productivity and efficiency between head office employees and site workers.
The difference between right and wrong
Due to the stringent requirements of operating in an ATEX environment, the need to use an intrinsically safe radio over an everyday smartphone is not something to shrug your shoulders at.
But it shouldn’t be a case of wishing smartphones could be used instead, when you consider the advantages of using an intrinsically safe radio over a mobile phone.
Book a FREE demonstration
We will help improve safety, productivity, and efficiency for your business by implementing the software and features mentioned in this blog onto your ATEX designated site.
Book a FREE no obligation demonstration today, and one of our experts will take you through all the capabilities of our TRBOCALL platform, and at a time that suits you.
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Lone worker function is particularly useful allowing us to monitor our staff ensuring they are safe at all times."
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"Prior to the installation of our current system onsite communications were poor. Eemits Communications offered us guidance and advice on the different technologies available and delivered a highly effective system on time and within our budget. Its success has led to other departments using the system."
"Eemits Communications Ltd have been involved in work at Hartlepool Power Station for over 10 years now. During this time they have installed an Aerial network through our buildings to enable more efficient internal radio communications.
I have found the staff highly professional at all times and willing to provide help whenever they can, I would have no hesitation in recommending this company."
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The equipment supplied by Eemits is excellent. We have been greatly impressed by the knowledge and skills of their engineers who have carried out the onsite surveys and installation of the system.
Eemits came up with an innovative approach to overcome challenges that we had with installing a system with the structure of our building, and as such, the quality of radio frequency is outstanding."
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As a local business to Falck Fire Services they can respond to faults or general requests very quickly - which is very important in our line of work - whereas similar suppliers have a greater response time.
TRBOCALL is an overall platform that has made a massive improvement to our communications in comparison to the analogue system that we had been using for many years. It provides us with many different applications that can be utilised across the business.
Since introducing TRBOCALL we have seen significant improvements related to safety and in our communications itself, which is critical to our operations."