What the VSSMS looks like on Google Earth.

While caring for and preserving any scarce resource is a priority, taking care of people is the ultimate priority of most companies and many are turning to innovative technology to keep their workforces safe.

A year ago, WA companies WestNet Energy and Dampier Bunbury Pipeline rolled out their custom-designed Vehicle Safety and Speed Monitoring System (VSSMS) to track the position and speed of vehicles on the 1600km Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline.

The system uses global positioning technology to monitor vehicles in transit and a satellite phone link to alert control room personnel when a driver is speeding or involved in an emergency.
The system allows vehicles anywhere on the pipeline project in WA to be monitored around the clock. Drivers also have two panic alarms, one on the vehicle dash and another attached to the key, which when activated notify the control room of an emergency and the vehicle’s exact location.

Health, safety and environment manager for WestNet, Alyson Vinciguerra said vehicle safety for workers was a particular concern because much of the pipeline was in remote areas with hostile climates.

“The combination of speeding, unsealed roads and poor driving conditions across vast distances led to a number of vehicle incidents, including one fatality in 2006,” Ms Vinciguerra said.

“I think probably many drivers weren’t making adjustments when they went from sealed to unsealed roads and that’s when it becomes dangerous.”

For emergencies or serious speed breaches, the system automatically generates SMS and email alerts to key personnel such as relevant managers.

During expansion phases on the pipeline up to 800 workers in some 300 vehicles can be on site at any one time.

Monitoring travel along the pipeline previously relied on drivers making satellite phone contact with the control room at the start and the end of their journey, and every two hours while in transit.

Drivers forgetting to call in triggered false emergency responses and in a real emergency, a vehicle could be anywhere within more than 200km, making rescue operations inaccurate, risky and time consuming.

Ms Vinciguerra said it was fair to say that there had been some “initial reluctance” in the workforce to the system.

“But the benefits are now clearly evident and the comfort from knowing that we can respond quickly and precisely to an emergency has led to acceptance,” she said.

“It has reinforced our commitment to safety by emphasising that getting somewhere fast is not our objective, we really want people working on the pipeline to get to their destination safely even if that means taking extra time.

”The reports from the system indicate that people are slowing down and we have seen significant reductions in vehicle incidents and no rollovers since the system was switched on.

“Some of the initial reluctance came from concerns that the system would be used to check up on where people were but it’s just not been used that way, the only time that anyone’s location is important is when they hit the panic button.

“The confidence the system gives our workforce in terms of our commitment to a safe outcome rather than a fast outcome is one of the real benefits of this initiative.”