GeoFence for Crew Safety

GeoFence is a proactive safety feature in the Crewfinder platform designed to alert workers as they approach high-risk or activity zones. It ensures that crew members stay informed about the operations around them and are warned in advance of potentially hazardous areas.

What is GeoFence?

A GeoFence is a virtual perimeter created around a physical work zone, typically a location where a specific task (e.g., “Routine Cleaning” or “Hot Work”) is being carried out. When a crew member wearing a SOL-X SmartWatch enters this perimeter, they receive an automatic alert.

Key Benefits

• Increases situational awareness for crew members.

• Improves communication of ongoing tasks without manual intervention.

• Supports safety compliance by warning users in advance.

• Allows supervisors to implement zone-based safety controls.

How GeoFence Works

1. Watch Sync via WiFi: Watches must connect to WiFi at least once to receive the updated GeoFence list.

2. GeoFence Detection via Bluetooth: When a worker moves into a zone, the watch uses Bluetooth to detect the beacon and trigger the alert.

3. Alert Display: Even if the watch is offline, alerts will still trigger if the zone’s data is already preloaded.

Alert Scenarios

Scenario A: Strong WiFi and Bluetooth Connection

• The watch is already updated with the latest GeoFence list.

• As soon as the crew enters the zone, they get an immediate alert.

Scenario B: No or Delayed Connectivity

• If WiFi was never connected, the GeoFence list might be outdated or missing.

• Alert will not trigger until the watch gets updated.

• Once WiFi is reconnected and list updated, future alerts will work.

GeoFence Alert Best Practices

• Always include a buffer zone around critical work zones.

• Configure alerts to trigger in advance, giving crew members enough time to react.

• Make sure crew SmartWatches are periodically connected to WiFi to sync updated data.

Example:
A worker is approaching an area where "Routine Cleaning" is happening on the Aeration Blower. Once they cross into the buffer zone, the watch vibrates and displays a GeoFence alert, helping them avoid entering the zone unknowingly.

Important Reminders

• GeoFence alerts are only triggered on SmartWatches, not on the tablet.

• All watch-based alerts rely on a combination of WiFi (for syncing) and Bluetooth (for zone entry detection).