System and method for use with article of personal protective equipment

A system comprising:

• at least one article of personal protective equipment (PPE) comprising a headset configured to provide hearing protection and comprising at least one communication functionality that is selectively configurable using a subscription service;
• a first computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one article of PPE, the first computing device comprising a first processor and a first memory;
• and
• a second computing device associated with the subscription service and communicatively coupled to the first computing device, the second computing device comprising a second processor and a second memory;
• wherein the first memory comprises first instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to:
• determine a selection to enable the at least one communication functionality of the headset;
• generate, in response to the selection, a subscription message comprising a request to enable the at least one communication functionality of the headset;
• and
• transmit the subscription message to the second computing device;
• wherein the second computing device is configured to receive the subscription message, and the second memory comprises second instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second processor to:
• determine whether credentials corresponding to at least one of the headset and a user of the headset are preregistered with the subscription service to enable the at least one communication functionality;
• determine, from a subscription server communicatively coupled to the second computing device, a subscription status of the headset corresponding to the at least one communication functionality;
• and
• transmit, to the first computing device and based on the subscription status and on the credentials being preregistered, a configuration message comprising configuration data to enable the at least one communication functionality of the headset;
• wherein the first instructions further cause the first processor to:
• receive the configuration message;
• and
• enable the at least one communication functionality of the headset based at least in part on the configuration data, and
• maintain at least one hearing-protection functionality of the headset in an enabled state independent of the subscription status such that the headset provides attenuation of sound even when the at least one communication functionality is not enabled.