Onwave OWL Pilot with Network Rail.
As part of a major rollout of geofencing technology to keep track workers safe, OWL wearable geofencing devices have been distributed to teams within Network Rail.
Why wearable geofencing technology is vital?
Track workers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and they undertake high-risk work in all-weather situations. These track workers regularly need to visually inspect the same track area for debris, faults, and defects. This is to prevent incidents and ensure trains can run on time and keep passengers safe. In the UK over 15,000 track workers maintain nearly 20,000 miles of track.
Historically, track workers have relied on a team lead to keep watch and ensure they stay in specifically designated areas of track that have been blocked by the signal operator. This type of human alert system is excellent but not always infallible and can be subject to human factors. Since 2005 there have been 58 accidents and incidents involving track workers and moving trains with 10 of these being fatal.
The Track Worker Safety Taskforce identified that around 30% of all close calls were attributed to loss of situational awareness.
As part of a concerted effort to improve track worker safety, Network Rail have approved geofencing wearable devices as a secondary method of alert for when situational awareness is lost.
Setting up OWL
The OWL team works closely with the trackside worker team to understand which areas need to be geofenced. The geo-fenced zones are then created, multiple line blocks can be added to the system. These geo-fenced zones are created on a map interface that is linked to the wearable devices, with red indicating a live rail zone, and green indicating safe work areas.
How OWL works for Track Workers
The day begins with a briefing on OWL and a short video about geofencing technology, how it works, and why it benefits the team. The devices are then tested in a marked area outside the depot by the team before they set out. The testing consists of stepping into a geofenced area of one square meter; the device then alerts the wearer with noise, vibration, and a warning light.
The team then sets out to work on the track; the team have a specified time in which to carry out inspections, they call the signalling team on the way, who block off the section of track being inspected and confirm it is safe to proceed to the area where the work will be carried out. The areas are specified by marker boards showing the team where the track has been blocked.
The devices worn by the team are all set to alert if a team member breaches the geofenced boundaries that have been set. As the team carries out their track inspections. The devices can all be seen via the portal.
The accuracy of OWL
The accuracy of the OWL wearable devices is between 1-2cm. The devices work using survey grade, satellite technology meaning they are much more accurate than standard GPS tracking devices such as a phone or a smartwatch.
The wearable OWL Plus devices weigh 180g. They are easily attached to the arm with a Velcro strap.
 |
 |
 |
|
| Zero | Pro | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | 0-3m | 0-3m | <200mm |
| Battery Life | 12hrs + | 72hrs + | 15 hrs |
| Weight | 35g | 140g | 180g |
| Alerting | None (In development) | None (In development) | Audible/ Haptic/ Strobe |
| Operating Temp | – 20 °c to +60°c | – 20 °c to +60°c | – 20 °c to +60°c |
“I think anything that makes our work safer is great. I often work evenings and weekends, and it can be easy to get distracted or become disorientated so anything that helps remove this risk is beneficial to us all”
– Track worker, Network Rail
“I worked on the tracks early on in my career, and I also spent 13 years working for Network Rail, so I know that OWL wearable devices give these workers an additional layer of safety, which means I can have a positive impact every day.”
– Darren Bull, Onwave OWL
