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OIL & GAS optimize resource utilization and track personnel in real time so that they can monitor workflows, streamline processes and locate individuals quickly and efficiently. So, for instance, possessing an accurate count of workers at specific points is invaluable for managing both ongoing operations and key projects or turnaround phases. In that regard, it is essential to ascertain the flow of workers and their respective locations. “It is closely tied to efficiency,” explains Veronica Turner, Regional Business Leader for the Industrial Safety Portfolio at Honeywell, which provides RTLS technology and services to companies in a variety of industries. “It helps you allocate the workforce effectively to the areas where it’s most needed, avoiding bottlenecks and situations where work crews hinder each other and are unable to finish their tasks due to waiting on preceding ones to be completed.” While efficiency upsides are welcome and needed, the safety aspects of RTLS are where the technology really starts to shine. At the outset, simply being able to monitor the location of workers is a benefit to worker safety, but RTLS offers more specific benefits. Safety Scenarios For starters, when a worker has encountered trouble, such as a fall or an injury, they can use RTLS to notify the system. RTLS is not to be confused with two-way radios or similar devices, Turner notes, but RTLS systems incorporate “SOS buttons” on the tags that workers wear that workers can use to summon help. But if a worker falls and does not activate their SOS button, the system can still get help to their exact location since the system is tracking them. “If an employee working on an industrial site happens to fall, it will track the impact followed by no movement; an alarm An RTLS Mesh Network Layout will be triggered automatically if that worker falls and remains immobile,” Turner explains, underscoring that the system watches for lack of movement. “False alarms will be avoided if the worker simply trips and gets back up immediately,” she adds. Turner also emphasizes that the RTLS devices or tags worn by workers are designed to be rugged and durable. In the case of Honeywell’s devices, she says they are designed for hazardous conditions and are certified Zone 1 and Zone 2 (ATEX, IECx), which are obviously important for oil and gas, as well as other industry settings. Turner notes that RTLS can be used in a lot of industries, but she underscores that the type of work environment and type of work is important to consider. “While RTLS can be utilized in any setting, its value is particularly pronounced in industries dealing with hazardous conditions or materials,” she notes. To that end, RTLS can help protect workers in settings and duties involving hazardous materials, such as chemicals, acids and other substances, that significantly increase the risk of safety incidents. Additionally, RTLS can help in workplaces involving constrained spaces, and physical obstacles within the work environment can also jeopardize employee safety. Naturally, those hazardous materials and workspaces are endemic to oil and gas workers. Of course, RTLS can be proactive when it comes to worker safety as well. For instance, Turner notes her company’s RTLS system incorporates a fatigue monitoring algorithm that aids in tracking employees’ working hours, ensuring compliance with minimum rest periods before they are assigned back to the schedule. Geofencing and Lone Workers Another benefit of RTLS is geofencing, the ability to implement 16 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2023 www.ohsonline.com Source: Honeywell