All personnel on-site are issued with RFID tags. When the RFID tag wearer enters the detection zone the vehicle operator is alerted that there is an intrusion into the danger zone and takes the appropriate action. The person entering the zone receives warnings via the vibrating Tag, as well as audible and visual warnings mounted on the machine. Zones can be configured according to machine type and the zones can be set from 2-10m around the machine.
When a site worker comes into proximity with a machine, or two pieces of equipment come too close, the system will provide an alert. The tag the site worker carries will resonate, showing that the person is too close to a working machine. Meanwhile, the alert system in the machine’s cab will provide a warning to the operator that a person is in the vicinity, showing distance as well as direction.
“The goal is to give the operator visibility of personnel around the machine,” explained Magnus Thibblin, president of Hexagon’s machine control division.
The system offers a range of up to 50m and, within this, can be configured by the user with close, near and far alerts to suit the type of operation. This data is recoded in the cloud and, as Brad Mullins from the firm added, “You can see on a toolbox where there are conflicts.”
Application engineer Michele Costa continued that event logging onsite is sent to the cloud and can be checked on a site map. This shows heat zones of conflicts, identifying machines or personnel and highlighting if there are issues to be resolved, such as machines working too close together or obscured sight lines that prevent personnel or machine operators from seeing each other onsite.
Similarly, for blasting operations in quarries, machines or personnel close to a planned blast can be warned in advance to ensure safety.
Conflicts can be identified over time, allowing the safety officer to resolve issues and Thibblin said that this ensures site safety can then be improved. The new system can be used on a wide range of working sites such as tunnels or urban construction areas or even quarries, where safety has to be maximised.
