Abstract: In some examples, a system includes: an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a communication component; a computing device communicatively coupled to the article of PPE, wherein the computing device: receives context data that is based on one or more of the article of PPE, a work environment for the article of PPE, or a worker assigned to the article of PPE; selects, based at least in part on the context data, a set of programmable safety rules that are contextually associated with the at least one article of PPE; sends the programmable safety rules to one or more of the article of PPE or a data hub communicatively coupled to the article of PPE; and wherein the programmable safety rules are configured at the article of PPE or the data hub to perform one or more operations based at least in part on PPE data.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a retrofit sensor module for use with a protective head top with a helmet and a visor. The sensor module includes a sensor housing and an attachment mechanism. The sensor housing encloses a head presence sensor to sense when the protective head top is being worn. The sensor housing also encloses a position sensor to sense the position of the visor relative to the helmet. The retrofit sensor module further comprises an attachment mechanism secured to the housing. The attachment mechanism mates with a first hinge component of a hinge assembly in the protective head top to removably install the sensor module into the protective head top, wherein the hinge assembly allows the visor to move relative to the helmet.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor configured to generate a stream of usage data; and an analytical stream processing component comprising: a communication component that receives the stream of usage data; a memory configured to store at least a portion of the stream of usage data and at least one model for detecting a safety event signature, wherein the at least one model is trained based as least in part on a set of usage data generated by one or more other articles of PPE of a same type as the article of PPE; and one or more computer processors configured to: detect the safety event signature in the stream of usage data based on processing the stream of usage data with the model, and generate an output in response to detecting the safety event signature.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a plurality of articles of personal protected equipment (PPE) that are each assigned to a particular worker. The system may also include a data hub that detects an input that initiates a broadcast of diagnostic self-check messages; identifies, in response to the input, each article of PPE of the plurality of articles of PPE; broadcasts, based on identifying each article of PPE, the diagnostic self-check messages to the respective articles of PPE, wherein each article of PPE receives its respective self-check message at its communication component; in response to receiving a set of diagnostic acknowledgement messages from one or more of the plurality of articles of PPE that have performed a diagnostic self-check, determines whether the set of diagnostic acknowledge messages satisfy one or more self-check criteria; and performs one or more operations based on whether the self-check criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: An exposure-indicating supplied air respirator system comprises a head top, a clean air supply source and a portable personal communication hub. The head top comprises a visor that is sized to fit over at least a user's nose and mouth, a position sensor secured to the head top, and a head top communication module. The clean air supply source is connected to the head top that supplies clean air to the interior of the head top. The position sensor detects whether the visor is in a closed position or in an open position and the head top communication module communicates the visor position to the personal communication hub. If the personal communication hub receives a signal indicating the presence of a hazard, and if the visor is in an open position, an alert is generated.

Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus that includes a computing device configured to detect a mechanical command signal, and methods of using such an apparatus.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes: an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a communication component; a computing device communicatively coupled to the article of PPE, wherein the computing device: receives context data that is based on one or more of the article of PPE, a work environment for the article of PPE, or a worker assigned to the article of PPE; selects, based at least in part on the context data, a set of programmable safety rules that are contextually associated with the at least one article of PPE; sends the programmable safety rules to one or more of the article of PPE or a data hub communicatively coupled to the article of PPE; and wherein the programmable safety rules are configured at the article of PPE or the data hub to perform one or more operations based at least in part on PPE data.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a retrofit sensor module for use with a protective head top with a helmet and a visor. The sensor module includes a sensor housing and an attachment mechanism. The sensor housing encloses a head presence sensor to sense when the protective head top is being worn. The sensor housing also encloses a position sensor to sense the position of the visor relative to the helmet. The retrofit sensor module further comprises an attachment mechanism secured to the housing. The attachment mechanism mates with a first hinge component of a hinge assembly in the protective head top to removably install the sensor module into the protective head top, wherein the hinge assembly allows the visor to move relative to the helmet.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes: at least one light capture device; an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a plurality of retroreflective elements embodied on a surface of the article of PPE in a spatially defined arrangement, each retroreflective element of the plurality of retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties; a computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one light capture device, wherein the computing device is configured to: receive, from the at least one light capture device, retroreflected light that indicates at least two different retroreflective properties of at least one retroreflective element of the plurality of retroreflective elements; determine, based at least in part on each of the at least two different retroreflective properties, a safety event; and perform at least one operation based at least in part on the safety event.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor configured to generate a stream of usage data; and an analytical stream processing component comprising: a communication component that receives the stream of usage data; a memory configured to store at least a portion of the stream of usage data and at least one model for detecting a safety event signature, wherein the at least one model is trained based as least in part on a set of usage data generated by one or more other articles of PPE of a same type as the article of PPE; and one or more computer processors configured to: detect the safety event signature in the stream of usage data based on processing the stream of usage data with the model, and generate an output in response to detecting the safety event signature.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a plurality of articles of personal protected equipment (PPE) that are each assigned to a particular worker. The system may also include a data hub that detects an input that initiates a broadcast of diagnostic self-check messages; identifies, in response to the input, each article of PPE of the plurality of articles of PPE; broadcasts, based on identifying each article of PPE, the diagnostic self-check messages to the respective articles of PPE, wherein each article of PPE receives its respective self-check message at its communication component; in response to receiving a set of diagnostic acknowledgement messages from one or more of the plurality of articles of PPE that have performed a diagnostic self-check, determines whether the set of diagnostic acknowledge messages satisfy one or more self-check criteria; and performs one or more operations based on whether the self-check criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: In one example, a system includes one or more personal protective equipment (PPE) devices each configured to be worn by a worker, the PPE devices each including one or more sensors that generate activity data indicative of activities of workers operating within one or more work environments. The system also includes a computing device, the computing device configured to: identify, based at least on the activity data, a plurality of clusters of one or more entities, wherein each entity of the entities is associated with one or more of the workers; and output an indication of a difference between performance by a target entity with respect to safety events and performance by the cluster that includes the target entity with respect to safety events.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a plurality of articles of personal protected equipment (PPE) that are each assigned to a particular worker. The system may also include a data hub that detects an input that initiates a broadcast of diagnostic self-check messages; identifies, in response to the input, each article of PPE of the plurality of articles of PPE; broadcasts, based on identifying each article of PPE, the diagnostic self-check messages to the respective articles of PPE, wherein each article of PPE receives its respective self-check message at its communication component; in response to receiving a set of diagnostic acknowledgement messages from one or more of the plurality of articles of PPE that have performed a diagnostic self-check, determines whether the set of diagnostic acknowledge messages satisfy one or more self-check criteria; and performs one or more operations based on whether the self-check criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: In some examples, a system (1900) includes a hearing protector (1920); at least one position sensor; at least one sound monitoring sensor; at least one computing device configured to: receive, from the at least one sound monitoring sensor and over a time duration, indications of sound levels to which a worker is exposed; determine, from the at least one position sensor and during the time duration, that the hearing protector is not positioned at one or more ears of the worker to attenuate the sound levels; and generate, in response to the determination that at least one of the sound levels satisfies an exposure threshold during the time duration and the hearing protector is not positioned at one or more ears of the worker to attenuate the sound levels, an indication for output.

Abstract: A system (2000) comprising a head-mounted device (2010); at least one position sensor coupled to the head-mounted device; at least one light-filtering shield (2012) coupled to the at least one position sensor; at least one light detector (2019); and at least one computing device (2017) configured to receive, from the light detector, an indication that an intensity of light detected by the light detector exceeds an exposure threshold; determine, from the at least one position sensor, that the light-filtering shield is not positioned at the face of a worker to filter light with the intensity that exceeds the exposure threshold; and generate, in response to the determination that the light-filtering shield is not positioned at the face of a worker wearing the head-mounted device to filter light with the intensity that exceeds the exposure threshold, an indication for output.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a head-mounted device, a visor that includes a reflective object that is substantially transparent in a visible light spectrum and embodied at a physical surface of the visor, at least one visor attachment assembly that couples the visor to the head-mounted device; at least one optical sensor; and at least one computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one optical sensor, the at least one computing device comprising a memory and one or more computer processors that: receive, from the optical sensor, an indication of light outside of a visible light spectrum that is reflected from the reflective object; determine, based at least in part on the light outside of a visible light spectrum that is reflected from the reflective object, a position of the visor; and perform, based at least in part on the position of the visor, at least one operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a retrofit sensor module for use with a protective head top with a helmet and a visor. The sensor module includes a sensor housing and an attachment mechanism. The sensor housing encloses a head presence sensor to sense when the protective head top is being worn. The sensor housing also encloses a position sensor to sense the position of the visor relative to the helmet. The retrofit sensor module further comprises an attachment mechanism secured to the housing. The attachment mechanism mates with a first hinge component of a hinge assembly in the protective head top to removably install the sensor module into the protective head top, wherein the hinge assembly allows the visor to move relative to the helmet.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of hearing protection assigned to a worker, and a portable computing device assigned to the worker; a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the portable computing device, the remote computing device configured to receive sound level data that indicate different sound levels at different, respective locations of a work environment; determine, based on location data received from the portable computing device, an amount of sound received by the worker over a period of time; identify an updated location in the work environment having a sound level that is different from a current location, based at least in part on the article of hearing protection, the amount of sound, and the sound level data that indicates different sound levels at different, respective locations; and generate a notification that instructs the worker to move from the current location to the updated location.