"G8 Makes Work as Safe
 as It Could Possibly Be"

Part of getting a brand-new bioenergy plant up and running means considering the safety of everyone who’ll be on site before the doors even open. VIDA bioenergy in the U.K. needed a full-service connected solution that included gas detection, lone worker protection, and communication for its staff and contractors. Bioenergy hazards on sites like theirs include exposure to toxic gases like methane, H2S, and CO2, as well as confined space entry. And lone worker protection was a particular concern at this location—with only five full-time team members on site as they work up to full production, evenings and weekends at the VIDA plant are staffed by only one operator.

Finding a connected device that addressed all their safety needs in one comprehensive package was one of Plant Manager Dr. Gary Cartwright’s early goals. “I want everyone to come to work, enjoy their work, and go home safe,” said Cartwright.

After searching the market for safety devices that met his needs, Cartwright met with Blackline Safety to demo the all-new G8 portable gas detector, which he selected right away.

Choosing the G8 portable gas detector was the first step in setting VIDA bioenergy up for success. Once implementation and thorough training were complete, here’s why Blackline’s G8 was the perfect solution to VIDA bioenergy’s challenges:

• Multi-gas detection: Covering the hazards specific to a bioenergy site—methane, H2S, and CO2—detecting up to five gases simultaneously from 20+ sensors, with a swappable pump cartridge so they’re equipped for confined space entry, without carrying extra tools.

• Lone Worker Protection: Even when there’s a single operator during evenings and weekends, they’re never truly working alone. They’re protected by real-time alerts for falls, no-motion, and missed check-ins, plus silent and emergency SOS, backed by dual-band GPS/GNSS and 4G LTE connectivity ready to pinpoint their location quickly and accurately if help is needed.

• 24/7 live monitoring: Professional 24/7 live monitoring through Blackline Safety’s in-house Safety Operations Center (SOC), or our global Alarm Receiving Center (ARC) partners, means every alert reaches a real person who can respond in real time. Alerts are received in fewer than 2 seconds and responded to by agents in fewer than 60 seconds.

• Communication: Replacing the need for a separate radio on site, and providing the team with hands-free voice calling in emergencies, Push-to-Talk (PTT) for quick task coordination, and text messaging for mass notifications, all built into the same device the team already carries for gas detection.

• Data and analytics reporting: Powered by Blackline Analytics, which automates compliance reporting and helps Cartwright’s team catch trends in exposure or inefficiency before they become bigger problems.

Since adopting G8 for their workforce, Cartwright’s team has assurance that even when no one is working nearby, they’re not alone. “It gives the team confidence that work is as safe as it could possibly be,” he said.

Other benefits have included:

• More consistent bump tests and calibrations: The ease and user-friendliness of Blackline’s G8 Dock, without any of the complicated ethernet or Wi-Fi connection requirements of other systems, encourages the team to keep their devices compliant at all times.

• Compliance made easy with predictive data: Data trends serve as an early warning system and help VIDA locate issues they can solve before their annual environmental operating permit review.

• Peace of mind for workers: Knowing that a real person will be there to listen in the case of an emergency has helped Cartwright make good on his goal of employees not just enjoying work but going home safe.