GoUpSafely powerline safety system for Australian workers

The GoUpSafely powerline safety system, developed by Perth-based Protective Engineered Safety, has been saving lives across Australia by helping rail and construction workers keep clear of power lines.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

How the GoUpSafely powerline safety system works?

GoUpSafely is the brainchild of engineer Karl Rosewarne, who set out to tackle the risks of working around electricity after witnessing several fatal incidents. Over five years he refined an innovative high-voltage power line safety solution built around compact wireless electric field detection sensors mounted on machinery, which pick up the electric fields generated by nearby high-voltage lines.

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As a machine edges towards a power line, the system steps in: it issues warning alerts to the operator and can bring the equipment to a halt before contact is made, then lets the operator move away from the danger zone in a controlled way. All of this happens in real time, and the operator does not need to press any special buttons, which makes everyday rail and construction workers safety easier to maintain on busy job sites.

The GoUpSafely powerline safety system can be fitted to a wide range of plant and vehicles, including excavators, cranes, tipper trucks, fire trucks, concrete pumps, bore drills and many other machine types. Since its launch on the market through Rosewarne’s Perth-based company, the system has built a solid track record in the field. Most recently, the team has rolled out several upgrades and released Version 3 GoUpSafely as the latest evolution of the safety platform, as reported by Rail Express.

GoUpSafely Version 3: app-based upgrade

In Version 3, one of the most visible changes is the move to an app-based interface for operators and site managers. The system now connects via Bluetooth to a mobile safety app, so users can see live information and check system status on a smartphone or tablet while working near high-voltage lines. The GoUpSafely companion app is available on major platforms, including Android via the official GoUpSafely app on Google Play.

Through this app, users can review a log of previous alerts and other recorded events, and adjust selected settings when needed. On worksites located close to high-voltage power lines, for example, the system’s sensitivity can be factory-configured to match those conditions, with every alarm event stored automatically for later review. In practice, the Bluetooth-connected mobile safety app turns GoUpSafely into an intuitive, real-time dashboard for powerline safety on rail and construction projects.

The control unit and sensors are designed for retrofitting, so they can be installed on an extensive range of existing machines, not only on new purchases. This retrofit approach allows fleets to add an electric field–based power line safety system without having to replace their current machinery.

Reliable and precise electric field detection

Protective Engineered Safety’s technology is built so that it is not affected by interference from radios, mobile phones or other electronic devices, meaning that when the system registers a detection it corresponds to an actual live power line. Its frequency sensors distinguish harmless static electricity from a genuine electrical hazard, which cuts down nuisance alarms and builds operator confidence in the GoUpSafely powerline safety system.

“Every power line emits an electric field – and even humans have their own electric field or frequency,” Rosewarne said. “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.”

Although the sensitivity of GoUpSafely can be adjusted and integration with machine controls is optional, once the system is installed it cannot be overridden. As Rosewarne puts it, “It’s the ultimate safety mechanism. It completely removes the human factor and protects people from themselves.”

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