Blackline Safety - Experts & Thought Leaders

Blackline Safety Corp., a pioneer in connected safety technology, has announced that its new EXO 8 area monitor — the world’s only direct-to-cloud portable area monitor capable of detecting up to eight gases plus gamma radiation — has earned four major awards. These include the internationally renowned Red Dot Design Award and three 2025 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Industrial Hygiene Awards. EXO 8’s in industrial safety OH&S Industrial Hygiene Awards recognize special product triumphs that improve workplace safety These honors spotlight EXO 8’s leadership in industrial safety innovation, user-centered design, and real-world impact. The Red Dot Design Awards, a globally recognized symbol of excellence in product design, recognized EXO 8 for combining advanced functionality with intuitive design based on real feedback from industrial users. The OH&S Industrial Hygiene Awards recognize outstanding product achievements that improve workplace safety through superior industrial hygiene. Blackline received awards in the categories of Emergency Preparedness & Response, Gas & Vapor Detection, and IoT – Connected Devices. Blackline Safety's commitment "Winning four industry awards for EXO 8 is a testament to Blackline Safety's commitment to driving innovation in connected safety technology," said Cody Slater, CEO and Chair, Blackline Safety. He adds, "This recognition not only highlights the value we're bringing to safety professionals worldwide but also reinforces our commitment to redefining what's possible in proactive safety management. We are incredibly proud to see EXO 8 recognized as the gold standard for protecting people and communities in the most challenging environments." Valuable for fire and hazmat teams Launched in September 2024, EXO 8 is now shipping with gamma radiation detection Launched in September 2024, EXO 8 is now shipping with gamma radiation detection. This new gamma capability is particularly valuable for fire and hazmat teams who face a fatal injury rate three times higher than average workers. “Gamma radiation is in a lot more places than people think — like traffic collisions, fires, warehouse fires, industrial accidents — so these types of emergencies are a multi-threat environment,” said Bobby Salvesen, Co-Founder and CEO, The Haz Mat Guys. Bobby Salvesen adds, “EXO 8 can help because it’s able to pick up both chemical hazards and radiological threats in one device, and fast detection gives us faster actions.” Key features of EXO 8 Key features of EXO 8 include up to 100 days of battery life, drop-and-go setup, and seamless connectivity via cellular or satellite networks. A modular sensor system allows teams to adapt quickly to changing environments. EXO 8 has already secured major contracts, including a recent $1.6 million order from Total Safety for its rental fleet. Adoption has also surged in fire-hazmat sectors, where Blackline has seen 175% customer growth in the past year. Blackline previously won Red Dot Awards in 2017 for its G7 multi-gas detector, and in 2023 for its G6 single-gas detector.

As worker injuries and public safety risks continue to rise, safety technology pioneer Blackline Safety Corp. has announced record growth in the number of fire hazmat customers using its connected personal and area monitors. Worldwide, the number of Blackline fire-hazmat customers grew 175% in the last year, from 127 to 350, with thousands of users across North America, Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. adoption of Blackline’s products The adoption of Blackline’s cloud-connected products adds another layer of safety not previously available Fire-hazmat teams take on some of the highest risks of any worker, with a fatal injury rate three times higher than that of the average worker. The adoption of Blackline’s cloud-connected products adds another layer of safety not previously available to protect them in their jobs every day. Blackline’s remote monitoring capabilities “Blackline’s remote monitoring capabilities allow me to log in any time and see what my guys are dealing with and then to triage what other assets are needed on the scene at any time,” said Travis Rebello, a Firefighter and Hazmat Coordinator for the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts. “I’m a big fan and appreciate Blackline’s excellent customer service.” “The capability of real-time connected technology is no longer a luxury— it’s essential for enhancing personnel safety and saving lives,” said Doug Mayer, Fire Hazmat Business Development Specialist at Blackline Safety. “From gas leaks and chemical spill incidents of all kinds, and now gamma radiation, we’ve reimagined safety solutions to help responders deploy equipment faster, get more gas exposure information, and share data for real-time visibility.” First EXO 8 Gamma Monitors Shipping This Month Real-time data sharing and cloud analytics also provide critical insights to refine incident response protocols The company also announced that the first shipments of its innovative EXO 8 Gamma area monitor will begin later this month. “EXO 8’s gamma detection capability is a game-changer for fire and hazmat teams — not only in emergency response, but also in public event monitoring,” said Mayer. EXO 8 is the only direct-to-cloud portable area monitor capable of detecting up to eight gases and gamma radiation simultaneously, giving teams early warning of emerging threats and ensuring faster, better-informed responses. Real-time data sharing and cloud analytics also provide critical insights to refine incident response protocols. A Full Suite of Connected Safety Solutions In addition to EXO 8, fire-hazmat teams continue to adopt Blackline’s broader portfolio of connected safety technologies, including: G7 personal gas detectors with cellular/satellite connectivity, two-way voice communication, SOS, fall and no-motion alerts, and automatic data reporting. G6 single gas detectors, combining real-time connectivity, automated compliance analytics, and features emergency SOS. Blackline Live, the company’s real-time cloud platform for monitoring worker location and safety status, gas readings, and device status from any web-connected device. Blackline to Showcase Technology at FDIC International 2025 Fire and hazmat professionals can get a firsthand look at Blackline Safety’s latest technologies at FDIC International 2025 in Indianapolis, April 7–12. As the fire industry’s largest conference and exhibition, FDIC draws thousands of fire and rescue professionals from around the world, offering live demos, hands-on training, and cutting-edge safety innovations. Attendees can visit Blackline Safety at Booth 943 to explore the latest in connected safety technology, including EXO 8 Gamma, G7 and G6 wearables, and the Blackline Platform.

Blackline Safety Corp., a pioneer in connected safety technology, has released a new whitepaper entitled Navigating Radiation Risks: Key Concepts for Protecting Workers and Responders in an effort to mitigate radiation exposure for fire-hazmat and first responder teams. Designed as a strategic playbook, the whitepaper aims to help teams assess and react to the rising threat of radiation exposure to better protect workers, the public, and the environment. robust emergency protocols “For those on the front line, such as first responders, hazmat teams, and workers in industrial fields like mining and oil and gas, there’s an increased risk of accidental exposure to dangerous levels of radiation,” said Christine Gillies, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Blackline Safety. Christine Gillies adds, “Quick thinking and robust emergency protocols are essential to ensure worker and community safety. This whitepaper responds to a growing industry need to educate workers on the different types of radiation, early detection strategies, and approaches to address the broad spectrum of radiation risks, faster and smarter.” Key insights from the whitepaper Radiation can be divided into four main categories: alpha, beta, neutrons, and electromagnetic waves (or gamma rays), and identified as non-ionizing or ionizing (nuclear) radiation and particle or waveform. It’s important to understand the differences to best respond to risks. There are two general categories where nuclear radiation can be found: naturally occurring radioactive material (to which they’re exposed simply by breathing the air around us or ingesting food and water) and artificial sources (including medical imaging, such as X-rays and CT scans, nuclear energy and weapons, and dirty bombs), and each has varying effects on the body. Radiation is measured differently in the U.S. than internationally for the three forms of radiation measurement: radioactivity, absorbed dose, and effective dose. The U.S. measures radiation in millirems (mrem) per year, while most other countries measure radiation in millisieverts (mSv) per year. Being familiar with the different measurements enables workers to gauge overall health effects. Gamma radiation cannot be detected through sight or taste. Technology is needed to help determine its presence and develop policies and procedures to deal with how gamma radiation levels are monitored and what steps need to be taken in case of a radiation emergency. There are several types of gamma radiation technologies currently available, each with different uses, advantages, and disadvantages. While the bodies can take in nominal levels of naturally occurring gamma radiation from the surrounding environment, they are not equipped to handle increased exposure levels without incurring severe, life-long damage to their health. For those areas where gamma radiation presents risks, radiation safety plans are critical to ensure the three pillars of radiation protection – time, distance, and shielding. The use of technology plays a key role in worker and community safety, and area monitoring – such as Blackline Safety’s newly-released EXO 8 Gamma, the only direct-to-cloud area monitor capable of detecting up to eight gases and gamma radiation – has been proven effective as one of the first lines of defense.