Digital Personnel Monitoring System as an HSE Risk Management Tool

Digitalization as an HSE Risk Management Tool

In today's rapidly changing world, companies are forced to revise their strategies and implement new technologies for risk management. Digitalization has become an integral part of production processes, and the HSE function is to effectively use the solutions available on the market. During the webinar, Ekaterina Golubeva shares her practical experience of implementing a digital personnel monitoring system in an oilfield service company operating in harsh climatic conditions.

Choosing Technology and Production Specifics

The market offers many solutions — from smart helmets to exoskeletons and robotic systems. However, when choosing a technology, it is critical to consider two factors: the specific problem that needs to be solved and the specifics of production. The speaker emphasizes that you should not chase fashion trends if they do not bring economic or organizational benefits. In this case, the system was implemented in well workover and completion crews working on a rotational basis at autonomous fields.

How the Monitoring System Works

To implement the project, workers were provided with wireless intercom-search devices and explosion-proof fitness bracelets, and radio beacons were placed along the perimeter of the facilities. Data is collected via a wireless network (LoRaWAN) and transmitted to the server. The system displays in real time:

• Location of workers and their physical condition.
• Environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, gas contamination).
• Signals of falling, entering hazardous areas, or lack of PPE (e.g., a helmet).
• SOS signal from a worker.

The administrator is the shift supervisor, who monitors the situation around the clock. In the event of an incident, the operator sees the exact location of the victim, their vital signs, and can promptly send help.

Overcoming Personnel Resistance

One of the main challenges during implementation was the resistance of workers who feared total control by the employer. The speaker analyzes how this situation was overcome: through information sessions, involving volunteers for the pilot project, and constant feedback. As a result, the pilot participants themselves dispelled the myths and realized that the system is aimed at their safety and timely assistance.

Pilot Project Results and Prospects

During the trial operation, the system recorded more than 30 cases of entering hazardous areas and 5 cases of excessive gas contamination. Although the system does not guarantee a complete absence of injuries, it identifies prerequisites for incidents, allowing them to be analyzed and corrective actions to be developed. The company plans to cascade the practice to other crews and integrate the system with corporate platforms (1C: Technosphere Safety, 1C: Personnel Management) to create a unified ecosystem.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to choose a digital monitoring system considering production specifics?
• How to technically organize data collection on workers' conditions and the environment at autonomous facilities?
• How to overcome personnel resistance when implementing control systems?
• What parameters can the system track to prevent accidents?
• How to use the collected data to improve safety culture and develop corrective actions?