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Case Study: Charles Ransford – Protecting Staff in a Sawmill Environment
The challenge: Improving pedestrian safety
Charles Ransford & Son, a sawmill operation established in the early 1900s, processes around 85,000 tonnes of logs yearly at their Bishop’s Castle facility in Shropshire. With over £20m invested in state-of-the-art equipment, they needed to address a critical safety risk: the potential for collisions between large loaders and pedestrian workers. The large loaders have significant blind spots, and the noisy environment makes it difficult for pedestrians to hear approaching machinery.
A solution was needed to mitigate both the machine-based risk (blind spots) and the “human element” – the risk of people “wandering out” or getting out of the cab unexpectedly.
The solution: Implementing proximity warning technology with strict protocol
To ensure maximum safety, Charles Ransford & Son implemented the ZoneSafe Vehicle to Person Alert proximity warning system. This solution involves fitting each large loader with an external vehicle sensor unit and an in-cab control unit. Pedestrian workers are equipped with ZoneSafe Vibratags worn as part of their personal protective equipment (PPE). When a vehicle’s sensor detects a Vibratag up to ten meters away, both an audible and visual alarm warns the driver, while the Vibratag vibrates to alert the pedestrian.
The system’s ability to detect tags through walls and obstructions was a key factor. Additionally, Ransford’s established a new, mandatory safety procedure for all visiting logistics contractors:
- The delivery driver pulls into the weighbridge and is weighed.
- Their paperwork is checked.
- The driver is then issued a tag and briefed on the system. They are explicitly warned: “You must wear this product; it’s for your own safety, it’s for our safety, and to safeguard the business and yourselves.”
The result: Enhanced safety and peace of mind
The implementation of the ZoneSafe system has been highly successful, serving as a “little bit of an early warning system” that allows them to “reiterate the fact that they are somewhere they shouldn’t be.”
According to Jason Perry, SHEQ Manager, the system has “greatly reduced the risk on-site” and has been “reassuring to the employees.” A visiting logistics contractor also noted that it “gives you peace of mind” and “makes everybody feel that much safer.” The solution has not only increased safety and awareness but has also fostered a culture where everyone “is looking out for each other.”
The investment has proven to be an essential asset to the company, demonstrating a strong business case: “In the grand scheme of things, it’s a good investment and it’s something which I believe a lot more businesses would look into.”
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