Mining Feature: EVADE 2.0

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

EVADE Software Expanded to Identify Multiple Hazardous Exposures

The latest version of the EVADE software has been expanded to show mine workers exactly where they are being exposed to hazards on the job, and therefore where an intervention can be effective.

When mines try to reduce harmful exposures to their workers, it’s often a matter of guesswork and trial and error not only to pinpoint the sources, but to know where fixes might offer the greatest impact. EVADE puts the power to identify and then correct exposure hazards in the hands of mine operators.

While NIOSH originally developed EVADE as software to support Helmet-CAM—a system worn by a worker that records video and matches it with simultaneously collected data on hazardous dust exposure—the latest version of EVADE goes well beyond just dust. In addition to a Helmet-CAM setup, the free downloadable program can easily be used with data coming from other sources, such as a video camera on a tripod, a stationary aerosol monitor, or a noise dosimeter. EVADE 2.0 takes multiple data files and stitches them together to display when and where a worker might have been exposed to a high sound level or hazardous substance, such as dust, diesel, and gases.

By playing back all of these pieces of data together in sync with the associated recorded worker activity, users can view graphs that offer a more complete picture of a worker’s occupational exposures and use that information to identify problem areas. Users can quickly zoom in or out of a graph to a specific segment of interest or the graph can be viewed in its entirety.

The EVADE software interface is now more user-friendly, too, with a drag and drop feature. Windows for the playback channel, project editor, and bookmarks allow users to stack or group the information in any configuration. Users can also dock or undock windows from the main program window, visually spreading out projects and data over multiple monitors. Each imported video or logged data file can easily be synchronized, making for seamless analysis. Sharing is also easier with the new version, as projects can now be packaged and transferred to other computers where they can be opened and viewed, enabling collaborations on solutions for overexposures.

Finally, EVADE 2.0 is now easier to install and maintain on a Windows PC. If the PC is connected to the Internet, the software automatically checks for updates upon startup, ensuring that users always have the most up-to-date version.

Based on the success of EVADE 1.0 and feedback from the extensive and growing EVADE user community, EVADE’s capabilities have been expanded to make a more flexible—and therefore more powerful—tool.

Find out more about EVADE 2.0 and download the free software.