Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/732903
EquipmentWorld.com | September 2016 47 I f we could predict accidents, we'd have fewer of them. But despite the imaginings of science fic- tion writers, nobody yet has been able to see into the future. When it comes to accidents in the construction, trucking and mining space, however, Caterpillar Safety Services is now using a technology that can predict with significant accuracy the odds of someone having an accident, and when. The heart of the system is the Cat Smartband, a simple and unobtrusive Fitbit-like device that feeds data into a software program that can tell when a worker is suffering from a lack of sleep and the fa- tigue that results. Some Cat customers are also using the Smartband with a complimentary driver safety system (DSS), which combines dash cams trained on the drivers and sensors on the trucks that monitor hard braking, swerves and other anomalies. Caterpil- lar has been using these systems at several mining sites for about two years. The obvious benefit of using the Smartband and DSS systems is that they reduce the risk of sleep and fatigue related accidents. But, a deeper and more valu- able benefit may be their ability to change habits and improve the performance and health of workers over the long term. Todd Dawson, fatigue solutions manager at Cater- pillar, heads up the Smartband program. He's been studying fatigue science for 30 years after noticing as a young man that family members who worked technology | by Tom Jackson | TJackson@randallreilly.com Cat Smartband technology can just about predict when an accident will happen. The Smartband data is studied to help workers gauge their alertness levels and help companies design better schedules. Caterpillar Safety Services is using the Smartband program at big mine sites in remote locations.