Digital Gas Monitors
Confined Space Entry
Digital gas monitors are used to monitor and alert workers to toxic gases, oxygen-deficient areas, and combustible atmospheres in the workplace. This is especially true in environments such as confined spaces, manholes and other enclosed spaces. Several OSHA standards require the use of these monitors to protect workers.
Emergency Response
Hot Work
Workers:
Employers:
Overall, 25% of workers indicated that wearable gas sensors are relevant to their role in preventing serious workplace injuries or fatalities. Workers in utilities (45%) and construction (38%) found the technology most relevant compared to other industries.
In 2024, 35% of employees reported having tested, interacted with, or used wearable gas sensors in the workplace.
23% using
11% tested or tried
22% considering
21% no knowledge
18% of users adopted them in the previous year
Source +
Findings from the NSC 2020 Safety Technology in the Workplace Survey of 500 employers and 1,000 workers from safety-sensitive industries.
Why It’s Important:
Technology for gathering data using drones has undergone significant advances in recent years. Drones now often come equipped with 3D cameras, thermal imaging cameras, artificial intelligence, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 4K cameras with advanced sensors. Additionally, a variety of sensors and transducers use electronic gravitational, thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic and chemical capabilities, among others, to sense measures including gas leaks and atmospheric pressures. Drones also can perform numerous surveying tasks, many of which are already being undertaken commercially (Watkins, et al., 2020).
Drones have the ability to minimize safety risks associated with hazardous work conditions, and, in certain cases, eliminate them completely (NAEM, 2019). Operators can fly drones into high-risk situations and hard-to-reach areas to perform reality capture and take accurate measurements that
otherwise would have required employees to expose themselves to risky environments (Karakhan & Alsaffar, 2019).
The drone market comprises 12 usage scenarios for commercial, industrial and civil government (CICG) over four categories: inspections, monitoring, surveying and mapping, and emergency response. Despite the advancements of drone technology, short battery life remains a concern in many applications.
Relevant Resources:
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
OSHA: Calibrating and Testing Direct-Reading Portable Gas Monitors
Learn More
Guidance on calibrating and testing direct-reading portable gas monitors (hereafter, "DRPGMs" or "instruments").
Nutrien, Area Monitors
Learn More
Nutrien has previously adopted use of proximity sensors for forklift safety. In this case study, we examine their journey as they move to leverage the technology for gas monitoring and potential fire risks. As they are at the beginning of the journey, we sought to understand the challenges associated with implementing new technologies.
Case Studies:
Are you ready to implement new technologies? Take our simple survey to find out.
Lorem ipsum dolor Sit
Take the Survey
More Information: OSHA: Calibrating and Testing Direct-Reading Portable Gas Monitors
Relevant Hazardous Situations:
Visit our annual Expo to hear directly from the leading suppliers.
See This Technology In Action