OSHAs Use of Handheld Computers

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OSHAs Use of Handheld Computers
Glenn Lamson OSHA Salt Lake Technical Center May
12, 2003 Roundtable 215 PDA Applications for the
Working Industrial Hygienist American Industrial
Hygiene Conference and Exposition
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OSHA Salt Lake Technical Center

• OSHAs Analytical Laboratory
• OSHA Health Response Team
• OSHA Website

• Glenn Lamson
• Industrial Hygienist
• Field Work
• Technical Support
• 801-524-7914
• glamson_at_osha.gov

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History of the Project

• 2001
• Brainstorming and OS decision
• Concepts and beginning of pilot project
• Two high profile field responses
• 2002
• Expansion of pilot project
• Evaluation and future decisions

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Operating System Decisions

• Settled on Pocket pc
• More familiar Windows environment
• More Compatible with Microsoft applications
• Internet Explorer
• Allows for Multi-tasking between applications

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Pilot Project

• Distributed units to each Area Office in OSHA
  Region VIII
• Bundle consisted of
• Compaq iPAQ
• Modem
• Keyboard
• OSHA Microdrive

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Area Office Uses

• Given to 1 or 2 CSHOs to experiment with while
  doing compliance inspections
• CSHOs with different levels of computer literacy
• Report back with comments and suggestions

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Two Big Response Events

• World Trade Center OSHA Response
• Fielded 7 handhelds
• HandDBase Microdrive reference disks
• Brentwood PDC Anthrax Decontamination
• Notes and photos in exclusion zone

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USPS Anthrax Response

• Notes and photographs with Cassiopeia handheld
• Possible to take notes and shoot photos through
  the plastic housing

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USPS Anthrax Response

• Easily decontaminated while still inside of the
  zip lock housing bag
• Instant photo support to the outside world

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OSHA Microdrives

• Developed and copied in-house
• OSHA publications
• eTools
• NIOSH Pocket Guide

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OSHA Publications In Your Palm

• Regulations
• Directives
• Interpretations
• SAVES
• Technical Links

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NIOSH Pocket Guide

• Also includes
• CPC Recommendations
• IDLH Documentation
• DOT Emergency Response Guidebook

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OSHA eTools

• Handheld Versions of our Public eTools
• Scaffolding
• Construction Fatalities
• Recordkeeping
• Hospitals
• Ergonomic mini-eTools

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Handheld Hospital eTool

• Graphical User Interface
• Almost all of the information that is available
  on the online version

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Deeper Into The eTool

• Scrolling down the graphical menu
• And selecting the intensive care unit..

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We Go to the Virtual ICU

• Listing of bookmarks which lead to safety and
  health topics relevant to Intensive Care Units
• Pretty Cool, eh?

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Technical Support

• OSHA Salt Lake Tech Ctr.
• Internal Limited Access Page Website
• http//omds.osha.gov/dts/LAP/dts/sltc/handheld/ind
  ex.html
• http//draft.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/
  handheld/index.html

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Wireless Internet Capabilities

• Email on the run
• Web Browsing

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Email Capabilities

• Microsoft Exchange
• Any webmail Program
• Much faster to boot up and check than on a laptop.

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Email Continued

• Same as web based MS Exchange
• Stylus input makes for brief and concise replies!

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Web Browsing

• Mobile optimized

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Directions and Diversions
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Now Lets Get Back to Work
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IH Survey Equipment

• Gray Wolf Sensing Solutions
• DirectSense 100
• IAQ Monitoring Kit

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Indoor Air Quality Investigation Tools

• Wolfsense IQ-410
• Temp, RH, CO, CO2
• Data Logging
• Variable Log Options
• Graphing
• MS Excel

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Ventilation

• AS-201 Hotwire Thermoanemometer
• Datalogging

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One Big Drawback

• Its great to have the data logging capabilities
• BUT, while I am data logging I dont have my
  planner, address book, memo pad

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Decisions On Use

• Must Know End Users Needs
• Glorified Paper Planner?
• Industrial Hygiene Tool?

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Industrial Hygiene Use

• Doing field work
• WolfSense
• Laptop
• Digital Camera
• PCS Connection Card
• Industrial Hygiene Safety Reference

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Whats Usually in my Pocket

• Plain and simple
• Datebook
• Address Book
• Memo Pad
• Months of Battery Life!
• No Cables
• No Back Pain!

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Questions and Answers

• Where can I get that nifty OSHA Microdrive?
• Battery life issues?
• Screen Shots
• When will IMIS be compatible with Pocket pc?

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For the Public

• Plans for downloadable reference card files
• Zip files accessible from the public OSHA webpage
• Individual file sets grouped by topic

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Battery Life

• Major problem when using as a reference
• Loss of data or availability of data
• Camera was a power sucking nightmare

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Training Aids

• IA ScreenShot
• http//www.iastyle.com/iascreenshot/index.asp

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Contacts at OSHA

• Tech Support
• OSHA Salt Lake Tech Ctr.
• Patrick Cummins
• Kym Pond

• Glenn Lamson
• OSHA Salt Lake Tech Ctr.
• 801-524-7914
• glamson_at_osha.gov

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OSHAs Use of Handheld Computers
Glenn Lamson OSHA Salt Lake Technical Center May
12, 2003 Roundtable 215 PDA Applications for the
Working Industrial Hygienist American Industrial
Hygiene Conference and Exposition