A Perth technology company has been saving lives across Australia with a revolutionary product that keeps rail and construction workers safe from power lines.
The product – GoUpSafely – is the brainchild of engineer Karl Rosewarne, who came up with the idea after witnessing the aftermath of several fatal accidents involving electricity.
Rosewarne spent five years developing his innovative solution, which uses small wireless sensors mounted on equipment to detect the electric fields of nearby high-voltage lines.
It sends warning alerts to operators as they approach a power line and will even physically stop them from coming in contact with that power line, while also allowing them to move safely away from the hazard. All of this happens in real-time without the operator needing to press any special buttons.
The system can be fitted to excavators, cranes, tipper trucks, fire trucks, concrete pumps, bore drills, and many other machine types.
GoUpSafely has proven a success since it launched on the market through the company Rosewarne founded, Protective Engineered Safety. Recently, the team has made several improvements to GoUpSafely, releasing Version 3 of the safety system.
What’s new in version 3?
A major enhancement in Version 3 is the introduction of an app-based interface.
The system now connects via Bluetooth to a mobile app, allowing operators or site managers to view live data and monitor system status directly from a smartphone or tablet.
Through the app, users can review logged events (such as previous alerts) and adjust certain settings when needed.
For instance, if a site operates near high-voltage lines, the system’s sensitivity can be factory-set to suit those conditions, with all alarm events automatically recorded for later review.
This app makes using GoUpSafely more intuitive, essentially providing operators with a real-time dashboard for powerline safety.
The sensors and control unit are built to be retrofitted to a wide range of machines, making it a versatile upgrade rather than a feature limited to new equipment.
Reliable and precise
Unaffected by interference from radios, phones or other electronic devices, Protective’s technology ensures that every detection is a genuine live power line.
Its frequency sensors can distinguish between harmless static electricity and an actual electrical hazard, reducing false alarms and giving operators greater confidence.
“Every power line emits an electric field – and even humans have their own electric field or frequency,” Rosewarne explained. “Our system first detects that electric field, then checks its frequency.
“If the frequency is 50 or 60 hertz, plus or minus two per cent, the system begins the warning process, because it knows what you’re approaching is truly live.”
While GoUpSafely’s sensitivity can be adjusted and control integration is optional, once installed, the system can’t be overridden.
“It’s the ultimate safety mechanism,” said Rosewarne. “It completely removes the human factor and protects people from themselves.”
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