METHOD FOR TRACKING PROCEDURES PERFORMED ON PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND ACTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS

• US 20110001602A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ptasienski, Lawrence J., Farioli Brioschi, Luca D., Ramirez Chaidez, Luis V., Hamerly, Michael E., Anderson, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US12/600,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20110001602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10415 the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM banking machines in general G07F19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10544 by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0062 in RFID [Radio Frequency Identification] Systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual'"'"'s data is read and the individual enters into a designated area.

Claims

1. A method for tracking procedures performed on PPE and actions of individuals comprising the steps of:

providing an article of PPE configured with a smart tag to an individual prior to performance of a task;

processing the article of PPE after the individual performs the task;

retrieving information from the smart tag during at least one of;

before, during and after processing the article of PPE;

reading individual'"'"'s data after performance of the task; and

individual'"'"'s entry into a designated area after performance of the task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual'"'"'s data comprises biometrics.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of denying the individual access to the task based on a result of an evaluation of the retrieved information and the individual'"'"'s data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart tag is permanently or removably attached to an accessory of the article of PPE.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the information retrieved from the smart tag and the individual'"'"'s data in a database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising generating reports based on at least some of the information retrieved from the smart tag and the individual'"'"'s data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether a result of an evaluation of the retrieved information satisfies a predetermined condition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated area is an enclosed area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated area is mobile.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the article of PPE is associated with an individual.

11. The method for tracking procedures performed on articles of PPE and actions of individuals as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second article of PPE configured with a second smart tag to a second individual prior to performance of a second task;

retrieving second information from the second smart tag after the second individual performs the second task;

processing the second article of PPE in a second cycle after the second individual performs the second task;

reading second individual'"'"'s data after performance of the second task; and

second individual'"'"'s entry to a designated area after performance of the second task.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of reading at least one of the individuals'"'"' data at an exit of the designated area.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of denying an individual access to a task based on a result of an evaluation of the first or second information.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing in a database the information retrieved and the individuals'"'"' data.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating reports based on at least some of the retrieved information and the individuals'"'"' data.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether a result of an evaluation of the retrieved information and the individual'"'"'s data satisfy a predetermined condition.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of determining a time interval between the step of reading the individual'"'"'s data after performance of the first task and the step of reading the individual data at the exit of the designated area.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of comparing the time interval to a predetermined minimum time interval.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the designated area is mobile.

13. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

19. A method for tracking procedures performed on PPE and actions of individuals comprising the steps of:

providing an article of PPE configured with a smart tag to an individual prior to performance of a task;

processing the article of PPE after the individual performs the task;

retrieving information from the smart tag during at least one of;

before, during and after processing the article of PPE;

reading individual'"'"'s data after performance of the task;

individual'"'"'s entry into a designated area after performance of the task; and

reading individual'"'"'s data at the exit of the designated area.

22. (canceled)