The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) introduced the first regulation that protected personnel who work in confined spaces in 1993. Since then, we have come a long way in keeping confined space workers safe but until the number of fatalities from confined space accidents is at zero, there is still room for improvement.
According to a NIOSH study out of the 100 deaths investigated, the main reasons workers entered a confined space were to perform their work functions of routine maintenance, repairs and inspections. Most maintenance/repair operations start by visually inspecting conditions. We design the ZistosHD Tanker Inspection system to reduce the need to enter a confined space, such as a tanker truck, hopper, vault, or rail tanker. It accomplishes this by allowing an individual to make a visual assessment of the interior of the space without the need to enter. The ability to inspect these locations without the need to enter the confined space makes this phase of the process safer and more efficient.
The system (Part #: HDTI-5AR-TIP6-3.5Z), has a self-illuminating color camera head that features a 30X optical zoom. The camera head is attached to a telescopic pole which sits on the man-way and extends down into the confined space and can wirelessly send the video images onto a 5-inch, (optional 10-inch), tablet display. The inspection system can transmit video to off-site personnel and viewed remotely in real-time. In addition, it can capture the images on an SD card as still images (jpg), or motion video (mp4) in 1080P resolution. The captured images can be stored on a computer for future reference or included in maintenance inspection reports.
OSHA specifies in regulations 1926.1209(e), that if an individual enters into a confined space, (the entrant), that there must be an individual who remains outside of the space, (the attendant), and is specifically tasked with ensuring that the entrant is not in duress.
Camera technology can play a role to increase safety here as well. If following the visual inspection of the confined space it is determined necessary to enter, then the same video inspection system can assist. The OSHA mandated attendant can utilize it to visually monitor the status of the entrant from outside of the space via the video image.
Stay safe by using the ZistosHD Tanker Inspection System to inspect the entire interior of a confined space from outside the space. If a confined space entry is unavoidable, keep safe by using this same system as an entrant monitor with live video and two-way audio communication.