John Hartley, CEO of Extronics, talks about the next generation of site wide Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) using hybrid technology for improved worker safety and asset tracking. Why is location tracking important for worker safety? The safety of workers, whilst always important, is moving higher up the list of priorities for investment. Companies operating within the process industries are always looking to ensure their workers are safe whilst making sure they are getting the biggest ROI possible. Back in 2005, when the first intrinsically safe Active RFID Wi-Fi RTLS tags were made, the goal of the oil and gas industry was to use technology to improve worker safety. This is still true today, though adoption has been slow for various reasons, such as the maturity of available technology and concerns over costs and benefits. […]

A Real Time Location System (RTLS) monitors the location and status information of personnel and assets in real time, providing the latest business intelligence to inform everything from crisis decision-making to route planning and work schedules. It can often also integrate with existing solutions, such as access control and PAGA systems, as part of a site-wide IIoT connectivity program. An RTLS typically consists of wireless RTLS tags attached to objects or worn by people, and a fixed reference point that receives wireless signals from tags to determine their location. There are several key technologies that may be used to create an RTLS. Different RTLS Technology Active RFID An active RFID RTLS uses battery-powered tags that emit an ID signal at regular intervals. The signal is picked up by readers; depending on the radio frequency, this […]

With stricter safety requirements being administered regularly, the importance of complying with industrial safety in hazardous areas is becoming progressively more essential. Real Time Location Systems, or RTLS, are a perfect solution for the operational environment of today. An RTLS monitors the location and status information of personnel and assets in real time, providing the latest business intelligence to inform everything from crisis decision-making to route planning and work schedules. It can often also integrate with existing solutions, such as access control and PAGA systems, as part of a site wide IIoT connectivity program. When trying to address the requirement for worker safety, we start by identifying operational challenges that need to be overcome – what do we want our worker safety system to help us achieve? Improving Worker Safety with RTLS Quickly locate missing […]

When considering a Real Time Location System (RTLS), it is important to address some of the most common business challenges. An RTLS monitors the location and status information of personnel and assets in real time, providing the latest business intelligence to inform everything from crisis decision-making to route planning and work schedules. It can often also integrate with existing solutions, such as access control and PAGA systems, as part of a site-wide IIoT connectivity program. This article aims to highlight some of the most important questions you should ask yourself when considering a RTLS for your harsh or hazardous environment. RTLS Business Challenges The business challenges associated with a RTLS can be divided into three main categories: Planning your RTLS Adoption Maintenance Planning your RTLS Choosing your technology or technologies is a big step and […]

Ensuring all on-site personnel are accounted for during an emergency evacuation is a huge health and safety challenge. Many industrial sites still rely on traditional manual methods to account for who is on-site at any one time. Workers in process industry environments face a variety of risks over and above their counterparts in other industries. ‘Hazards of the job’ are that much more serious, with a higher potential risk. Falling objects, fire, and explosion of flammable gas and dust are potential threats and whilst large-scale disasters are thankfully rare, they still occur. The problem with traditional manual methods is brought further into focus when you consider the size and complexity of a facility like a tank farm, a refinery, or large petrochemical plant. Improving Worker Safety with RTLS Enhanced Worker Safety It might seem obvious, […]