COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwired - Mar 26, 2014) - Battelle, the world's largest nonprofit research and development organization delivering critical services for government and commercial customers, today announced it soon will release AirAlert™, a new workplace safety device designed for early detection with continuous data collection of dangerous airborne chemicals in the workplace.
AirAlert is purpose-built for environmental uses by industrial hygienists and others overseeing Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, workplace safety and corporate risk in industrial and manufacturing settings. The technology, derived from innovations developed by Battelle for military use, is sensitive and able to identify volatile phosphorus concentrations at less than one-part-per-trillion by volume and volatile sulfur compounds at sub-parts-per-billion. It also detects chemical weapons such as VX nerve gas, sulfur mustard and sarin.
"Smoke detectors save homeowners' lives every day, simply by issuing an instant alert with enough time to escape the fire," said Dan Taylor, general manager for Battelle's Demilitarization Business Unit. "With AirAlert, we bring that same level of response to potentially dangerous vapor hazards in the workplace and add the capability of long-term data analysis and collection. Battelle has been providing this vital service to chemical weapons demilitarization facilities for more than 20 years and the time is right to apply what we've learned from that experience to industrial processes."
AirAlert collects ongoing, real-time data to facilitate management review and external safety validation processes. Until now, such monitoring within complex, multi-substance work areas has been cost prohibitive to carry out with both accurate detection and immediate alarm functionality. AirAlert changes this economic dynamic. The technology allows for output from multiple devices to be monitored by one computer.
Whether it is sitting on the factory floor, a loading dock or in the field, the device will detect candidate airborne chemicals within 15-minute short term exposure parameters and sound an alarm within 10 minutes or less, allowing workers to take quick protective action. The device is lightweight, rugged and affordable for commercial applications of every size.
Later this year, Battelle plans to release a model that can also detect chlorinated compounds, opening it to even wider applications.
Gary Sides, senior research leader, will discuss AirAlert features and benefits at the Ohio Safety Congress (#OSC2014) general session on March 26 in Columbus.
About Battelle
Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.
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