At Blackline Safety, we developed the AlertLink feature for the EXO and G7 devices in response to customer feedback highlighting the need for enhanced awareness during an incident.
Our team collaborated closely with customers to create AlertLink, which is aimed at expediting field-level responses, streamlining evacuations, and strengthening site safety.
Our top priority is to protect workers, worksites, and communities, ensuring rapid and accurate responses to emergencies such as chemical spills, fires, gas leaks, and other high-risk scenarios.
AlertLink improves safety by enhancing Blackline’s existing features such as gas detection, 24/7 live monitoring, fall and no motion detection, and the SOS emergency button.
AlertLink enables a Blackline device to share real-time alerts with nearby workers.
When a device detects a high urgency event, it will immediately send a message to all devices within the defined radius—up to 5,000 meters (16,000 ft) from the source device.
The alert is also received by monitoring personnel, allowing companies to remotely trigger evacuations, expedite responses for isolated workers, and provide exact location and situation details for emergency response.
This ensures a comprehensive approach to incident management, improving safety across the board.
AlertLink enables real-time sharing of alerts for high-urgency events such as high gas levels, gas sensor overlimits, falls, no motion, and emergency SOS.
The feature allows devices like G7c and EXO to send immediate messages to nearby workers within the defined radius, ensuring prompt response to incidents and enhancing overall safety.
Customer feedback played a pivotal role in the development of AlertLink.
A panel of customers and channel partners from five different companies was involved during the discovery stages, and the feature was tested in a successful beta program.
A major U.S.
energy company provided feedback on AlertLink, stating, “We have a number of wellsites monitored by EXO devices, and having any incidents immediately communicated to nearby workers means we can address issues such as falls and gas exposures faster, while also keeping our people safer than ever before.
We know this tool will be incredibly valuable for our teams, and we’re pleased Blackline invited our feedback.”
The response from the market has been overwhelmingly positive.
Users have reported improved visibility in gas alerts from area monitors and a heightened sense of safety and comfort knowing their EXOs and G7cs are interlinked for high-urgency events.
Blackline Safety Channel partners are already seeing the benefits of the new feature.
Shawn Todd, American Safety Services General Manager, shares: “We were excited to implement the AlertLink upgrade into our gas detection suite from Blackline, and it has impressed us.
AlertLink has significantly improved the notification process for on-site personnel during high gas events, resulting in faster response times.”
The proximity-based warning system of AlertLink works by triggering an alert in the Blackline Live cloud-connected portal when a G7 or EXO device detects a high-urgency event.
Based on GPS coordinates and a pre-set radius, an AlertLink message is generated and sent to nearby devices.
AlertLink messages are similar to a text message and trigger a unique light and sound pattern.
The message includes the following information:
For example, if an EXO detects high H2S gas levels, nearby workers with G7c devices receive an AlertLink message, enabling them to take immediate action.
AlertLink messages are received by nearby workers and monitoring personnel, facilitating rapid evacuations and providing critical location and situation details to first responders.
Depending on the alert type, 24/7 live monitoring agents can dispatch emergency services if required.
This integrated communication ensures a swift and coordinated response, enhancing safety during emergencies and assisting in rescue operations.
We have exciting plans to expand our connected safety technology.
Our roadmap includes adding new sensors and capabilities for EXO area gas monitoring, releasing new accessories like an external strobe and siren, and enhancing our software platform for richer data reporting and analytics.
AlertLink is available anywhere G7c wearables and EXO area monitors are sold.
Doug Mayer has been engaged in workplace solutions and training for Environmental, Health, Safety and Emergency Response his entire career, spanning 30+ years.
His experience extends across various market segments, from industrial, to chemical, to the public sector (including all levels of government).
Doug has provided comprehensive solutions for gas detection and both personal and area monitoring, to address workplace hazards and enhance worker protection.
He has trained hundreds of teams including FDs, CSTs, FEMA and the EPA, providing them with the latest technologies that improve both their response capabilities and first responder safety.
