IoT application to secure worker safety solutions like Covid-19 or forklift approach alert.
A PHI DATA client, a global leader in hygiene and healthcare, wanted to protect their staff against Covid-19 contamination in the workplace. The solution had to be non-invasive that could be deployed quickly and easily as well as provide effective protection for employees worldwide.
Solution through WMW platform
To facilitate a tool in order to maintain a safety distance in professional environments to avoid infections with Covid-19, PHI DATA, with the help of WMW, have developed SmartProximity. This digital safety solution helps maintain the necessary distance and provides effective reporting in the event of contamination or other proximity threats. Physically it consists of a wearable badge (on a lanyard or attached to clothing) that will alert when the safety distance is not respected. The warning is visible (flashing light), tactile (vibration) and audible (acoustic signal with adjustable volume). While doing so, each warning (proximity event) is logged into a management platform, respecting high GDPR standards. The reporting and query functionalities produce insights to the Data Protection Officer, when positive cases are found, what colleagues could potentially also have been infected and advise on information to be shared with them.
“When the pandemic emerged, we looked into potential solutions that we could build with the WMW platform. We quickly had identified four candidates and out of those the contact tracing application proved to count on substantial support by partner System Integrators and device makers. We are thrilled to have seen PhiData build a complete solution around it and how they introduced it with their customer in a global rollout”, says Bert Vanaken, CEO of WMW.
In a test amongst other solutions, SmartProximity was considered the best option for global implementation in 80 locations worldwide (approx. 22,000 tags). The end customer sees many advantages in this solution: “It is not only quick and easy to implement, it is also very effective. Most importantly, after Covid-19, it can be transformed into a range of other worker safety solutions such as forklift approach alert, mustering, man-down alert, access control or even an advanced asset tracking solution”, according to PhiData.
Result
22,000 tags were delivered and put into use for safety distancing in the workplace. SmartProximity makes it easier for employees to keep the correct safe distance and thus contribute to the prevention of Covid-19 infections.
In a second phase, the safety application for forklift trucks will be tested. Here too, SmartProximity offers an effective solution: when forklift trucks have a potential to collide with each other or with people, a warning is given to avoid accidents.