System and methods for ensuring proper use of personal protective equipment for work site hazards

• US 20090040014A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Lottmann, Todd, Knopf, Kevin Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.100
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/32 Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings relating to scaffolds E04G5/00; climbing tools, e.g. climbing irons for masts A63B27/00; ropes or belts for life saving A62B1/16, A62B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40202 Human robot coexistence
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/02 Clothing

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting and verifying the adequacy of personal protective equipment needed by a person to complete a potentially hazardous task.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the proper use of personal protective equipment used by persons in a potentially hazardous work site, the system comprising:

a sensor tag coupled to at least one item of the personal protective equipment;

a detector configured to communicate with the sensor tag; and

a processor-based device configured to determine, based upon a detected characteristic of the sensor tag, whether the personal protective equipment is sufficient to commence work at the work site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor tag comprises an inductor assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the detected characteristic comprises a resonant frequency of the sensor tag.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the potentially hazardous work site presents a possibility of an electrical arc flash incident.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector communicates wirelessly with the sensor tag.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lockout device preventing physical access to the worksite unless the personal protective gear is determined to be sufficient.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal protective gear is one of a hard hat, a face shield, a flame resistant neck protector, an ear protector, a protective suit, an insulated rubber glove, and an insulated piece of footwear.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display, the display presenting information corresponding to the personal protective equipment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal protective equipment includes items of different grades corresponding to a risk assessment of the work site, the detected characteristic of the sensor tag identifying the grade of the personal protective equipment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor-based device is configured to determine whether the detected characteristic of the sensor tag matches an expected characteristic for sufficient personal protective equipment.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor-based device comprises a computer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor tag is embedded in the personal protective equipment.

14. A method of ensuring the proper use of adequate personal protective equipment at a job site, the method comprising:

providing personal protective equipment having at least one sensor tag;

detecting the presence of the tag with an electronic system, the system detecting at least one characteristic of the tag;

comparing the detected characteristic to a baseline characteristic with the electronic system; and

if the detected characteristic and the baseline characteristic match, electronically confirming that the personal protective equipment is adequate for the level of risk to a worker at the job site.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein confirming that the protective equipment is adequate comprises operating a lockout device to provide physical access to the workspace.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

accepting a task code for a task to be performed at the job site; and

recommending a level of personal protective equipment needed for the task.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

analyzing the job site in light of a potential hazard; and

assigning a level of personal protective gear to be worn at the job site based on the analysis of a potential hazard.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the job site comprises determining incident energy levels at the site during an occurrence of an arc flash event.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the job site is within an electrical system.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein providing personal protective equipment comprises providing at least one of a hard hat, a face shield, a flame resistant neck protector, an ear protector, a protective suit, an insulated rubber glove, and an insulated piece of footwear.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting the presence of the sensor tag comprises:

exciting the senor tag at a predetermined frequency; and

collecting a return signal radiated from the sensor tag.

22. A method for determining overall safety of a plurality of individuals in a hazardous equipment comprising:

providing a plurality of individuals personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor tag, wherein said sensor tag identifies a level of protection provided by the PPE;

providing individual sensor tags for plurality of individuals;

determining the proximity of each individual to hazardous equipment;

determining if the PPE being worn by each individual is adequate based upon the individuals proximity to the hazardous equipment.

23. A system for restricting access to a hazardous workspace comprising:

a sensor tag;

a detector configured to communicate with the sensor tag;

a processor-based device configured to determine, based upon the sensor tag, whether the individual in possession of the sensor tag should be granted access to the hazardous workspace.

24. A system for determining the presence of proper use of personal protective equipment comprising:

means for identifying the level of personal protective equipment;

means for detecting the level of personal protective equipment;

means for determining whether the level of personal protective equipment is adequate for the individual.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the identifying means include an RFID tag.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the detecting means include an RFID sensor.