A multidisciplinary partnership aiming to improve safety at work

Refineries and industrial sites present risks that are not always immediately obvious to those at work in them. Ideas coming out of Eni’s research with MIT have been applied to develop a range of prototypes aimed at detecting such risks to help tackle them quickly. Known collectively as Safety++, they focus predominantly on wearable technology and were trialled at the Safety Competence Centre in Gela – Eni’s centre of excellence for all things safety-related. The newly-developed products were tested in the field, providing the opportunity to identify areas for improvement and, most importantly, receive feedback directly from workers.

Intelligent clothing that saves lives

Safety++ garments detect potential hazards and vibrate to alert workers. The sensors they contain are part of a network, connected in real time to a control room – so staff can intervene promptly as and when necessary. Each piece of wearable technology is developed with specific uses in mind. These might include detecting changes in biometric data and therefore the health of the worker, ensuring that personal protective equipment (PPE) is being used correctly or even monitoring conditions in the work environment.

Undershirt++

This garment monitors workers’ health in real time, with biosensors that measure parameters including their heart rate or – using a gyroscope – their spatial position. Small motors within the Undershirt++ allow it to vibrate and thus send a message to the wearer.

Jacket++

The sleeves of this special jacket contain sensors capable of detecting toxic gases. It sends a warning via the Undershirt++ to all workers in the affected area and also to the control room. In addition, the jacket contains a volume sensor that tells workers to wear personal protective equipment to protect their hearing when required.

Carabiner++

This helps operators working at height on repetitive projects to follow established safety procedures. Inside the carabiner are sensors that measure the amount of pressure being applied; if the carabiner is not attached, the system will remind the operator via their Undershirt++.

Shoes++

Insoles with built-in pressure sensors have been added to a normal pair of safety shoes. If workers are carrying too heavy a load, they are immediately informed through Undershirt++.

Safety Dashboard

Safety Dashboard is an interactive tool that collects, monitors and provides a visual readout of data, allowing staff to check critical information in real time. For example, it allows environmental conditions in the area in which operators are working to be monitored as well as any changes in their biometrics. Analysing this data not only helps to prevent accidents, but is also useful for producing better-targeted training and refresher courses.