Why proximity warning systems are vital for site safety
Proximity warnings sound simple enough, in principle. In the heavy industry sector, including construction, rail, and manufacturing, proximity detection is understood to mean technology that helps to keep workers away from dangerous vehicles or equipment.
Proximity detection technology for harsh work environments has been around for decades, in one form or another. In mining, for example, proximity detection technology was tested as early as the 1990s.
So why, then, were there 39 fatal accidents and hundreds of non-fatal injuries caused by collisions with machinery or equipment in the UK between 2020 and 2021?
One reason could be that employers haven’t had access to reliable, robust technology that would enable them to adopt a modern approach to this particular issue. Even though proximity detection technology has been around for decades, it wasn’t until relatively recently that it was resilient or flexible enough to be effectively used in construction or heavy engineering work environments. The man-machine interface is complex, and monitoring these interactions requires an advanced approach, capable of accurate monitoring and - more importantly - meaningful feedback.
In July 2022, Reactec launched their third-generation workplace wearable, the R-Link smart watch, which provides powerful HAVS monitoring and proximity detection technology.
When it comes to risk management, predictability is anything but boring
R-Link is Reactec’s next generation risk management technology. It was designed to provide organisations and individual workers with comprehensive functionality to create a safer, more predictable work environment.
R-Link’s advanced proximity warning system utilises ultra-wideband technology to quickly and accurately detect when your workforce is too close to active vehicles or equipment. More specifically, R-Link is a flexible, adaptive solution for your unique work practices that caters for safe areas as well as controlled proximity for trained personnel. With this advanced approach, you can keep your workers and workplace safer, without slowing down operations. Said otherwise: deployment is bespoke, and adoption is quick and easy.
And while fast, accurate detection from proximity hazards are mission critical for your workplace, it isn’t enough to keep workers safe on its own, which is why R-Link - powered by Reactec’s Analytics - also provides you with intelligent insight about any incidents or near misses, so that you can work to refine or create more effective controls for the future.
By understanding proximity hazards, including when and where near misses are happening, and who is involved, you can easily identify patterns or anomalies in your data, which you can use to make better decisions about personnel, access, and related issues, faster. And with this reliable, accurate information at your fingertips, you can begin to build a more predictable worksite: one where near misses are less frequent, incidents are uncommon, and workplace safety is expected.
R-Link: Proximity detection and beyond
R-Link was initially launched with HAVS monitoring and proximity detection technology, but is set to quickly expand over the coming months to include geofencing, employee messaging, evacuation and mustering, lone worker, and more. Ultimately, R-Link will offer organisations an unprecedented view into their total risk environment, allowing them to build a health and safety command centre that’s cost effective, mobile, and comprehensive.
With the R-Link watch, fully integrated ecosystem, and Reactec’s powerful analytics, employers can expect fast, seamless adoption that enables total operational control while enhancing efficiency without any compromise on budget or time.
With a modern solution like R-Link, there’s no longer any excuse for organisations to play a guessing game with their workers’ health and safety. R-Link’s proximity detection is reliable, accurate, easy to adopt, and - most of all - effective.
To learn more about R-Link’s proximity detection technology, get in touch to schedule a call with a member of our team:
