Proposal for a method for analysing smart personal protective systems

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Ergonomics
• Risk Management

Background:

• The increasing integration of 'smart' or 'intelligent' features into personal protective systems (SPPS) presents novel challenges for occupational risk prevention.
• Uncertainty exists among manufacturers, standardization bodies, and user companies regarding safety requirements, performance capabilities, limitations, and associated risks of SPPS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define Smart Personal Protective Systems (SPPS) to facilitate clear communication among stakeholders.
• To propose a structured, four-stage approach for evaluating the 'system' and 'intelligence' aspects of SPPS.
• To establish a safety level for the intelligent components of SPPS, drawing parallels with machinery safety standards.

Main Methods:

• Defining SPPS to clarify terminology for all involved parties.
• Developing a four-stage conceptual framework for analyzing systems and intelligence in protective equipment.
• Applying the proposed framework to four distinct examples of SPPS to demonstrate its practical application.

Main Results:

• A clear definition of SPPS is provided, aiding stakeholder understanding.
• A novel four-stage approach is presented for assessing the safety of intelligent personal protective equipment.
• The proposed safety level for 'smart' components, analogous to machinery safety, is shown to be applicable through case studies.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a systematic method for addressing the safety of SPPS.
• Standardization and risk assessment for intelligent protective equipment can be enhanced by this approach.
• Further application and refinement of this approach will be crucial for ensuring worker safety in evolving technological landscapes.