A new portable area monitor is said to be the only direct-to-cloud area monitor capable of detecting up to eight gases and gamma radiation.
The EXO 8 portable area monitor was unveiled in September, and indicated as a promising option for large industrial organizations in the oil and gas, petrochemical, mining, water and wastewater sectors. According to the group, EXO 8 helps teams rapidly respond to incidents involving hazardous substances and ensure the safety of workers, first responders, the public and the environment during these events. Real-time connectivity provides situational awareness that can be shared amongst all responders. Automated analytics provide insights into incidents after the event, enabling teams to understand what happened and take proactive measures to improve safety.
Building on the feature set of Blackline’s award-winning G7 EXO—including drop-and-go setup, direct-to-cloud connectivity, up to 100-day battery life and comprehensive analytics—the new EXO 8 includes:
• Gas expansion module – the ability to add up to four additional sensors for a total of eight gases.
• Integrated gamma radiation sensor – with a range that Blackline says is three times the distance of competitors and that operates continuously without cycling on or off.
• Higher resolution full color dual display – with live readings screen for real time gas and gamma levels and dashboard screen to quickly see alarms and device status.
• Improved durability – enhanced ruggedness and reliability in even the harshest environmental conditions.
Chris Johnson, Hazmat Technician for the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services in New York State, commented: “The ability to quickly swap out gas sensors to adapt to whatever threat we’re facing during response is invaluable. The data you get from the device—in real-time, from anywhere in the world, and easily understandable—has been critical to successful incident response,” Johnson said.
“EXO 8 with gamma detection will help us in even more scenarios, including behind-the-scenes monitoring. Gamma allows us to use the device for public safety as part of event protection. It will also keep our people more protected because we can detect more gases,” Johnson continued.
Event protection is crucial to public safety, as mass gatherings are vulnerable to attacks and are considered soft targets because they can inflict high numbers of casualties.
Terror prospect
Though there has never been a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD, aka dirty bomb) detonated in a public setting, in 2002, US officials stated they detained an American citizen who intended to detonate a dirty bomb. Since then, several governments in Europe have stopped similar plots by terrorist groups. According to the Global Terrorism Database, 68% of attacks on concerts and festivals involve explosives, including the Bataclan bombing in 2015 in France, the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 in the UK, and the threats of mass casualties that canceled Taylor Swift’s Eras tour shows this year in Vienna.
“Four years ago, we introduced the G7 EXO with Blackline’s industry-leading real-time connectivity, which quickly became the gold standard for area monitoring. With EXO 8, we’ve significantly expanded our customers’ ability to protect people and communities across a wider range of situations,” said Cody Slater, Blackline Safety CEO and Chair. “We’re responding to a direct need in the market by providing organizations with more robust technology that helps them address a broader spectrum of risks, faster.”
EXO 8 comes with a full warranty and flexible purchase options that include the ability to own or lease to maximize CAPEX or OPEX budgets. First product shipments are scheduled for November 2024.
