Safety Monitoring System

• US 20070285222A1
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Total Safety US Incorporated (W3 Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matheus Zadnikar
• Inventors: Zadnikar, Matheus
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/509
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/142 using image capturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method is disclosed for monitoring personnel operating at a workplace within a confined space. The method involves providing a mobile workplace module comprising a video registration device producing video data, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas sensor to produce gas sensor data. The workplace module is mounted at least partially within the confined space and a mobile monitoring unit comprising a display for displaying video data from the workplace module, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas data receiver for receiving gas sensor data is located outside the confined space. The workplace module and the monitoring unit are connected by a mobile umbilical cable for data transmission so that personnel at the workplace may easily be monitored from the monitoring unit. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed including a mobile monitoring system, a workplace module, a video camera mount, an extractive gas detector and a computer system.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring personnel operating at workplaces within a confined space, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of selectively configurable mobile workplace modules comprising a video registration device producing video data, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas sensor to produce gas sensor data;

mounting the workplace modules at least partially within the confined space;

providing a mobile monitoring unit outside the confined space, the monitoring unit comprising a display for displaying video data from the workplace modules, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas data receiver for receiving gas sensor data;

connecting the workplace modules to the monitoring unit for data transmission therebetween; and

monitoring at the monitoring unit the operation of personnel at the workplaces.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a workplace module comprises a presence detector and the method further comprises detecting the presence of a person at the workplace.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the presence detector comprises a workplace access registration device and the method further comprises registering the entry and exit of personnel into the confined space.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the presence detector comprises an identification device and the method further comprises identifying a person at a workplace and providing the identity to the monitoring unit.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a recording device and recording data transmitted to the monitoring unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing gas sensor data with predefined gas data limits and generating a warning in the event that the gas data limits are exceeded.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas sensor is provided at a first workplace.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the video registration device is controllable from the mobile monitoring unit and the method further includes controlling the video registration device to zoom, pan or tilt.

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A safety monitoring system for monitoring of workplaces within a confined space, comprising:

a plurality of selectively configurable mobile workplace modules comprising a video registration device producing video data, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas sensor producing gas sensor data; and

a mobile monitoring unit selectively connectable to the workplace modules for data transmission between the workplace modules and the monitoring unit, the monitoring unit comprising a display for displaying video data from the workplace modules, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas data monitor for the gas sensor data.

15. The safety monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the workplace modules further comprises a presence detector for detecting the presence of a person at a workplace.

16. The safety monitoring system according to claim 15, wherein the presence detector comprises a workplace access registration device for registering the entry and exit of personnel into the workplace.

17. The safety monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the presence detector provides identification data to the monitoring unit, identifying the person at the workplace.

18. The safety monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the workplace modules have an active state and a passive state, and the presence detector is active to cause transition of the workplace modules from the passive state to the active state in response to the detection of a person at the workplace.

19. The safety monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the monitoring unit further comprises a recording device for recording data transmitted to the monitoring unit.

20. The safety monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the gas data monitor compares gas sensor data with predefined gas data limits and generates a warning in the event that the gas data limits are exceeded.

21. The safety monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the gas sensor is a direct gas sensor for location at a workplace.

23. The safety monitoring system according to claim 14, further comprising a mobile umbilical cable for connecting the workplace modules to the monitoring unit.

24. The safety monitoring system according to claim 23, wherein the mobile umbilical cable comprises an optical fibre for transmission of video data.

25. The safety monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the workplace modules comprises a plurality of video registration devices.

22. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. A selectively configurable workplace module for a safety monitoring system comprising a workplace unit and a plurality of sensors, the workplace unit comprising a plurality of data interfaces for receiving data from the sensors and transmitting data to the safety monitoring system, a plurality of power outlets for providing electrical power to the sensors and an isolation transformer for supplying the power outlets with low voltage electrical power.

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)