Intelligent monitoring system for improved: Worker safety during plant operation and maintenance

A wireless IoT system was utilized to monitor a LOTO process and shows hope for both making LOTO less burdensome and providing additional accountability for following required safety practices. NIOSH researchers are currently expanding this system, in terms of scope and functionality. The final system is expected to include predictive failure analysis as well as additional sensors to monitor worker proximity to hazards. Significant research will be conducted in the field human factors in hopes of ensuring that the system is easy to use and effective, thereby encouraging widespread adoption throughout the mining industry. The proliferation of IoT devices, in the business and consumer spheres, illustrates that the public is ready to adopt these new solutions. The mining sector in particular will benefit enormously from the ability to remotely view safety-related data in real time and to receive alarms when safeguards are potentially failing. There is a preponderance of evidence that conveyor operation and maintenance is hazardous to workers, and NIOSH will continue working to reduce these accidents through leveraging emerging technologies such as IoT. © 2019 Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. All rights reserved.