MANAGING 21ST CENTURY INDUSTRIAL RISKS

Protecting Employees from New Dangers May Mean Eliminating the Human Element Altogether

Twenty-First Century technologies have brought both opportunities and risks. Nanomaterials are used across many industries, yet very little is known about how these substances affect the human body. Their tiny size lead many to worry whether they are small enough to penetrate protective suits and even pass through the skin, potentially causing harm. Outside of an EU registration for producers, there are no regulations or set guidelines to inform employers on effective risk management vis-a-vis these cutting edge materials.

The increasing reliance on mobile technologies has created a debate around the dangers of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF/EMF). Experts in this area, say while there is no proof that low-level RF/EMF exposure is a threat to humans, they do warn that people who work in high-intensity fields could be in danger. The overriding message is “it is better to be safe than sorry,” therefore all necessary steps must be taken to protect workers. Devices such as the Nardalert S3 from Narda Safety Test Solutions are designed to monitor levels of RF/EMF to protect workers from overexposure.

Drones are now commonly used for site surveys at oil and gas installations, the challenge today is to create “autonomous robots that not only take humans out of the equation, but can also inspect equipment close-up, including internal structures.”