Problem
How can the preparation procedures for confined space operations be enhanced to ensure the safety of workers?
My uncle used to work in confined spaces and suffered a broken leg due to inadequate training and guidance. He mentioned that the preparation procedures were neither comprehensive nor clear, contributing to the incident. This has led me to explore ways to improve the process to enhance worker safety.
Solution
A service design for confined space workers with preparation space, task simulation, and walkie-talkie gloves for seamless communication.
Project Type
Service Design
Role
Service Designer
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Unity
Duration
6 weeks
My Design Process
Research
To improve the preparation process and assist workers like my uncle, I need to gain a deeper understanding of confined spaces and their associated dangers.
What is a Confined Space?
A confined space is a work area large enough to enter but with limited access, not meant for continuous occupancy, and often hazardous due to poor ventilation or harmful substances.
Types of Confined Space
Partially enclosed confined space
Manholes
Pits
Open-Top Tanks
Ducts
Crawl Spaces
Trenches
Fully closed confined space
Tanks
Vessels
Boilers
Silos
Storage Bins
Vaults
Accident Rate
Confined space fatalities increased year by year, and among all causes, insufficient preparation occurred in most accidents.
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Findings
Confined space operations face unclear procedures, insufficient training, incomplete safety checks, inadequate equipment, and poor communication, increasing accident risks.
Problems Identified
Unclear procedure
Insufficient training
Non-strict safety checks
Poor communication
Ideation
Space Design
Establish a workshop to equip, inform, and qualify workers for safe confined space entry.
Training Design
Develop a simulation to train workers and certify them with marked gloves.
Device Design
Create glove-integrated devices for seamless communication, replacing walkie-talkies.
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Concept Sketch
Qualified
Space Design
Simulation Design
Simulation Gloves
To enhance realism in operation simulation, the system uses StretchSense Mocap Gloves to capture hand motions, enabling precise interaction and operation within the simulation.
Low-Fi
In order to avoid delaying the work of workers, the simulation system will randomly select according to the work content, the length would be 10-12 minutes.
Simulation Scenes
To effectively visualize simulation scenes, I utilized my expertise in Game Development to design and render these scenes in Unity.
Glove Design
Gesture Research
Test hand gestures to find out the best way to interact with gloves.
Using another hand to press the button is inconvenient
Unable to press the call button effectively with the thumb
Inconvenient to press the button when holding tools
Convenient to press the button with one hand and tools
Hand Drawing
Modeling
To effectively visualize and test its ergonomics, functionality, and feasibility before proceeding to full-scale production, I created models for the Glove device.
Takeaway
Reflection
