Developing Safety Management Systems for Track Workers Using Smart Phone GPS

Abstract

When performing railroad maintenance work on the railroad, the train watchmen give information of train access to railroad maintenance workers by radio through hand-signals and/or a radio. These existing methods have the possibility of making errors of information delivery due to weather situation, work structures or obstacles, and because railroad maintenance workers usually concentrate on their work, many chances are that they would not recognize the access of trains. In order to reduce the risk of railway traffic accidents of death and injury for track workers, this paper has developed a system that notifies track workers of train approaching information by combining the GPS location providing function of the smart phone and a notification system. The developed system does not need the construction of an independent wireless communication system, and is designed to notify track workers of train approaching information by using a simple Bluetooth module and safety jackets. Also, the system establishes a simple communication possible by using the bluetooth equipped in the smart phone between the alarm system and smart phones. If the proposed system is in use, it is expected that it can contribute to the prevention and reduction of railroad accidents of railroad maintenance workers by preventing accidents of railroad maintenance workers and securing their safety. © 2013 SERSC.