Method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment and actions of individuals

Abstract

A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area.

1 . A method for tracking procedures performed on PPE and actions of individuals comprising the steps of:
 providing an article of PPE configured with a smart tag to an individual prior to performance of a task;   processing the article of PPE after the individual performs the task;   retrieving information from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE;   reading individual's data after performance of the task; and   individual's entry into a designated area after performance of the task.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual's data comprises biometrics. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of denying the individual access to the task based on a result of an evaluation of the retrieved information and the individual's data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag is permanently or removably attached to an accessory of the article of PPE. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the information retrieved from the smart tag and the individual's data in a database. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising generating reports based on at least some of the information retrieved from the smart tag and the individual's data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether a result of an evaluation of the retrieved information satisfies a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the designated area is an enclosed area. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the designated area is mobile. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article of PPE is associated with an individual. 
     
     
         11 . The method for tracking procedures performed on articles of PPE and actions of individuals as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a second article of PPE configured with a second smart tag to a second individual prior to performance of a second task;   retrieving second information from the second smart tag after the second individual performs the second task;   processing the second article of PPE in a second cycle after the second individual performs the second task;   reading second individual's data after performance of the second task; and   second individual's entry to a designated area after performance of the second task.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of reading at least one of the individuals' data at an exit of the designated area. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of denying an individual access to a task based on a result of an evaluation of the first or second information. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising storing in a database the information retrieved and the individuals' data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising generating reports based on at least some of the retrieved information and the individuals' data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining whether a result of an evaluation of the retrieved information and the individual's data satisfy a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         19 . A method for tracking procedures performed on PPE and actions of individuals comprising the steps of:
 providing an article of PPE configured with a smart tag to an individual prior to performance of a task;   processing the article of PPE after the individual performs the task;   retrieving information from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE;   reading individual's data after performance of the task;   individual's entry into a designated area after performance of the task; and   reading individual's data at the exit of the designated area.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of determining a time interval between the step of reading the individual's data after performance of the first task and the step of reading the individual data at the exit of the designated area. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of comparing the time interval to a predetermined minimum time interval. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the designated area is mobile.