Steelworks gets tough on safety

BlueScope Steel has announced that it will be fitting more than 30 ruggedised notebooks to improve the safety of vehicles at the company's Port Kembla Steelworks.

Combined with a GPS receiver, the notebooks would allow vehicle locations to be monitored and aid with the management of traffic around the plant.

"[The system] enables us to keep track of vehicles right around the production facility, as well as track the materials each vehicle is carrying," said Chris Reid, senior automation engineer at BlueScope Steel in a statement.

"Safety is also an integral consideration with so many locomotives, cranes and forklifts operating around the plant. There was, therefore, a major need for a traffic locator solution to prevent vehicle collisions occurring,"

The Panasonic branded Toughbooks have been geared for harsh outdoor environments and are protected against impact, vibration, water and dust.

"Considering that the notebooks were going to be placed within high vibration environments such as the locomotives, it was imperative we used a device that could withstand a bit of punishment," Reid said.

Sixteen Toughbooks have already been installed in locomotives, cranes and forklifts at BlueScope Steel. The company aims to have another 21 fitted within the next 12 months.