IP video management software (VMS) is helping a chemical firm to manage employee safety and to meet US federal regulations for the production and transport of hazardous materials. Taminco USA makes compounds and solutions for agricultural, personal and home care, energy and water treatment chemicals. The US federal Department of Health, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation monitor shipping of these substances, so the firm sought a surveillance system to monitor every step of the process, from delivery of raw materials to the shipment of end products.
To monitor and record all daily activity in its US facilities, Taminco has deployed Milestone XProtect VMS, for overseeing employee safety while delivering hazardous chemicals to and from manufacturing, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
Matt Bodi, IT Manager, Taminco USA, said: “Our products are manufactured and loaded for shipping every day into rail cars and trucks, all of which are thoroughly regulated by the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security. With the Milestone video system, we can increase safety and help save time and energy. We can adjust camera views and record every second of a load to ensure there is no spillage while keeping our inventory counts accurate.”
Raw materials and end products made in the labs can pose a threat if handled inappropriately or misused, so regulations from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation (such as the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards or CFATS) ensure that the transfers of barrels, jugs and vats are well-documented and monitored for national security purposes.
XProtect Enterprise video management software has been deployed by Milestone Partner MMR, to address an outdated analogue camera system in Taminco’s Louisiana and Florida factories. Taminco was able to test cameras – including a Bosch explosion-proof model. Milestone adds that its central, remote and mobile monitoring abilities assist in the safe and compliant conveyance of chemicals to and from the factories.
Knowing what happens during an incident, which chemicals are involved and where contamination occurred are crucial in maintaining safety for employees during rare emergencies. Milestone’s intuitive interface provides the administratorswith upgrades. The software also can manage a mix of cameras, thanks to Milestone’s open platform support of thousands of devices.
As a company dealing with specialized equipment, chemicals and potential threats made the installation a challenge. In the St Gabriel, Louisiana factory, 35 digital cameras are installed, while the Pace, Florida, factory, pictured, has nearly 75. A mix of fixed and pan-tilt-zoom cameras continuously monitor Taminco: Sony SNCRZ50N and SNCEP520, Axis Q1755 and P5534, Bosch EX72 (Explosion Protected) and Axis encoders 243Q and P7210.
Taminco’s two US sites use video surveillance for traditional security and monitoring everyday activities: from watching car parking, gates and fences to examining the transportation and manufacturing processes. Bodi added: “When it all comes down to it, the video is used for more than just security. There’s another type of surveillance we provide: managing efficiency in our detailed manufacturing processes. The production of our products is vital to the company’s success, so we keep an eye on the process, monitoring stations for quality and effective techniques.” Visit: www.milestonesys.com.
