System and method for carrying out an inspection or maintenance operation with compliance tracking using a handheld device

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for inspections and compliance verification of industrial equipment using a handheld device. An inspector first segments an inspected component into logical inspection points. The inspector then scans a unique machine-readable tag, such as an RFID tag, with a handheld device at each logical inspection point. The inspector then takes a media sample, such as a digital photograph, of the physical component referred to by each corresponding logical inspection point. Then the inspector associates the media samples with the corresponding scan of the unique machine-readable tag. For each of the actions the inspector carries out on the handheld device, a timestamp is added that represents evidence of a date and a time of physical visitation to the associated logical inspection point. The inspector may then annotate the media samples in such ways that substantiate inspector statements of problems with inspected components found during inspection.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation of co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 12 / 489,313, filed on Jun. 22, 2009, and entitled “A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT AN INSPECTION OR MAINTENANCE OPERATION WITH COMPLIANCE TRACKING USING A HANDHELD DEVICE,” which claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 122,632, filed on Dec. 15, 2008, and entitled “A system, method and apparatus for inspections and compliance verification of industrial equipment using a handheld device,” the entirety of which are both hereby incorporated by reference herein.[0002]This application is also related to co-pending application Ser. No. 12 / 489,313, filed on Jun. 22, 2009, and entitled “A system and method for carrying out an inspection or maintenance operation with compliance tracking using a handheld device,” application Ser. No. 12 / 507,039, filed on Jul. 21, 2009 and entitled “A system and method for cropping and annotating images on a touch sensitive dis...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a method and system for inspecting and verifying compliance of industrial equipment using a handheld device. The method involves segmenting components into logical inspection points, scanning unique machine-readable tags at each point, and taking media samples of the components. The inspector evaluates the components based on safety standards and annotates the media samples to substantiate the inspection. The system includes unique machine-readable tags with limited scan range, which require physical proximity of the inspector to the inspection point. The system can also associate the media samples with GPS locations and user-identification of the inspector. The invention allows for correlating inspection data and activating actions based on the correlation."

Problems solved by technology

4), which amounts to an average of 44 fatal crane accidents per year, with an average of one human life lost per crane accident.

The number of crane-related deaths are on the rise since those statistics were compiled, due to a number of factors, including an increase in the number of construction projects, an increase in the size of the construction projects, and an increase in the economic pressures to complete construction projects on time and under budget, which have resulted in shortcuts many consider to be unsafe.

A rash of crane accidents is occurring around the country resulting in national and international news.

These construction projects are on extremely tight time and budget schedules because of the economic realities of high energy, and specifically petroleum, prices.

The result has been an unprecedented number of deadly, costly, and highly publicized crane accidents.

For example, on Jun. 18, 2008, a crane accident at a Texas oil refinery killed four people and injured six others.

On May 30, 2008, a crane accident in New York City killed two workers when the boom and cab snapped off the turntable and fell, apparently because of a bad weld in the rotating plate.

Proper inspections were not carried out on the crane, and the New York City Buildings Department Head was fired by the Mayor over this and another preceding incident.

On Mar. 25, 2008, a crane accident in Miami killed two workers in the fall of a 20-foot section that was being lifted to extend the height of the crane.

On Mar. 15, 2008, a second crane accident in New York City killed seven people when a piece of nylon webbing broke, dropping a six-ton metal collar that was being installed.

Proper inspections were not carried out on the crane, the construction site had numerous safety violations, and neighbors, residents, and passer-by's complained and lodged reports of unsafe activity and operation of the crane.

Strong heavy construction industry growth, especially in the oil, natural gas, and energy field, as a result of the high price of crude oil and energy, has resulted in the hiring of many workers, a large proportion of whom may be inadequately trained.

It is evident that many crane hazards go unnoticed or that efforts to prevent crane accidents are not effectively implemented.

Traditional crane safety training is not sufficient to enable crane operators to detect and eliminate crane hazards.

Motivating crane operators, workers, independent contractors, management, and apparently safety officers themselves to fully follow all safety guidelines at all times is perhaps the greatest challenge.

Human lives are lost unnecessarily every year because recognized and known safety procedures are not followed, overlooked, or even ignored.

Construction accidents are not only bad for worker morale, but they bring bad press and hinder worker recruitment.

They are also huge financial and logistical liabilities.

Even with safety programs in place, historical claims data indicates construction is a potentially highly risky venture financially, especially in large industrial projects.

For example, Zachry Construction Company estimates that one day's delay in the construction of an oil refinery or power plant can cost Zachry over $300,000 in liquidated damages arising from guaranteed delivery contracts with the plant owners.

A fatality, or any serious accident at a construction site, inevitably leads to delays of multiple days or even weeks, disrupting construction work, both for site clean-up, internal inspections, as well as OSHA inspections.

Some costs may have balance sheet implications, yet are hard to define, especially for large complex projects involving petroleum.

The time required to replace mission critical infrastructure damaged in an accident is generally long.

For example, the oil spill of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker in Alaska resulted in a judgment of $2.5 B. The loss of corporate reputation and goodwill, intangible and often unrecoverable assets, is substantial in the event of a crane accident.

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