Safety belt usage status confirmation device and its communication master unit storage device

Abstract

To provide a safety belt use status confirmation device in which a communication master unit, which is a component of the safety belt use status confirmation device, can be installed relatively easily in a state protected from the work environment. [Solution] The safety belt usage status confirmation device of the present invention comprises a controller that can be attached to the safety belt itself or a worker wearing the safety belt itself, a communication handset that can be attached to the safety belt itself or a worker wearing the safety belt itself, a communication base unit 11 that can communicate wirelessly with one or more specific communication handset units, and a storage device 100 that stores the communication base unit, the storage device comprising a hollow housing 110, an installation section 120 defined inside the housing and having space for storing the communication base unit, and a support section 130 that fixes the communication base unit stored in the installation section to the housing, and the support section has a buffer support 131 that engages with the housing and supports the communication base unit in a buffer state at a position spaced from the inner surface of the housing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a safety belt usage status confirmation system that integrates and manages safety belt usage status confirmation devices. [Background technology]

[0002] To protect workers working at heights from falls and ensure their safety, workers are required to wear safety harnesses. A typical safety harness consists of a harness body (including a waist belt and other components) worn by the worker, a harness hook for attaching the harness to a fixed object at the work site (for example, a horizontal bar on scaffolding or other object to be attached), and a lifeline for connecting the harness body to the harness hook.

[0003] Various technologies and methods have been proposed for checking whether a safety belt is being used correctly by a worker, more specifically, whether a safety belt hook is properly fastened to a target object, and systems have been devised that not only notify workers of the safety belt usage status but also share the status with managers who are not on-site. For example, various systems have been proposed, such as a system in which a communication slave unit provided on a device for checking the usage status of each safety belt used by multiple workers and a master unit capable of communication with the communication slave unit are connected to the Internet via wireless and / or wired communication lines (Patent Document 1), and a system in which active RFID tags are attached to workers and multiple RFID tag readers are installed at the work site to monitor and alert the safety belt usage status, and communication is performed with a management computer via the RFID tag readers and wireless LAN access points (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7602584 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2009-165517 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to install a parent device that can connect to the Internet in a location where it can communicate with the worker's child device, and in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to install a wireless LAN access point in a location where it can communicate with the RFID tag reader.

[0006] Fig. 6 shows an example of a conventional method of installing communication devices, in which a general stand is prepared and the devices are installed on the stand. In this example, a communication base unit 11 and a measurement unit 12 of the communication base unit are installed on the stand.

[0007] However, when installing the device using the conventional installation method shown in Figure 6, unless an installation location can be secured in an indoor office or other location near the work site, measures must be taken to protect the device from falling and from environmental factors such as dust and water when installing it at a work site or outdoors. A stand must also be installed so that it does not get in the way of work. Furthermore, when using measuring instruments such as altimeters, whose measurements are affected by the distance from the ground, adjustments must be made whenever the height at which the measuring instrument is installed changes.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a safety belt usage status confirmation device and a communication master unit storage device for the device, in which the communication master unit, which is a component of the safety belt usage status confirmation device, can be installed relatively easily while being protected from the work environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] (Configuration 1) One form of the present invention provides a safety belt usage confirmation device for confirming the usage of a safety belt consisting of a safety belt body worn by a worker, a safety belt hook, and a lifeline connecting the safety belt body and the safety belt hook, and comprises: a communication handset that can be attached to the safety belt body or the worker wearing the safety belt body; a communication base unit that can communicate wirelessly with the communication handset; and a storage device that stores the communication base unit, wherein the storage device comprises a hollow housing, an installation section defined inside the housing and having a space for storing the communication base unit, and a support section that fixes the communication base unit to the housing stored in the installation section, and the support section has a buffer support that engages with the housing and supports the communication base unit in a buffer state at a position spaced from the inner surface of the housing.

[0010] According to the safety belt usage status confirmation device of the present invention, since the communication base unit is stored in the storage device, the storage device containing the communication base unit can be installed directly on the ground without preparing a stand for the communication base unit. Also, since the communication base unit is stored inside the storage device, it is possible to protect the communication base unit from the on-site environment, such as dust and water. Furthermore, since the storage device has a buffer support that supports the communication base unit in a buffer state at a position separated from the inner surface of the housing, the communication base unit can be protected from impacts, etc.

[0011] (Configuration 2) A further embodiment of the safety belt usage confirmation device of the present invention is the safety belt usage confirmation device described in configuration 1, characterized in that the communication base unit stored in the installation section is held at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface of the housing.

[0012] According to the safety harness usage monitoring device of the present invention, the height at which the communication base unit is installed is always constant from the ground. Therefore, if the communication base unit is equipped with a measuring unit with an altimeter and provides reference altitude information to the communication slave unit, the height of the communication base unit from the ground is constant, so there is no need to adjust the value of the "reference height" when installing it.

[0013] (Configuration 3) A safety belt usage status checking device according to a further aspect of the present invention is the safety belt usage status checking device according to the first aspect, characterized in that the support part further comprises a waterproof case part.

[0014] According to the safety belt usage status confirmation device of the present invention, the communication base unit is stored inside the waterproof case of the support unit, so that the communication base unit can be prevented from getting wet and breaking down. Therefore, the communication base unit can be installed in places where it is likely to get wet or outdoors.

[0015] (Configuration 4) A further embodiment of the safety belt usage confirmation device of the present invention is the safety belt usage confirmation device described in any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that the communication base unit is provided with a measurement unit having an altimeter, and the altimeter measurement unit provides reference altitude information to the communication slave unit through the communication base unit.

[0016] According to the safety harness usage confirmation device of the present invention, the base unit is equipped with a measuring unit with an altimeter and can provide reference altitude information to the slave unit, so that the altimeter of the controller of the worker wearing the slave unit can measure the worker's working altitude more accurately. By accurately knowing the working altitude, the safety harness usage status can be confirmed more accurately.

[0017] (Configuration 5) A further aspect of the present invention is a safety belt usage status checking device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing has a cone-shaped structure with a hollow interior.

[0018] According to the safety belt usage status monitoring device of the present invention, the housing of the storage device is a cone-shaped body with an inner cavity capable of storing the communication base unit. Because the housing is a cone-shaped body that expands toward the ground, it is stable and can prevent the storage device from tipping over.

[0019] (Configuration 6) A safety belt usage status checking device according to a further aspect of the present invention is the safety belt usage status checking device according to configuration 5, wherein the housing is a road cone.

[0020] According to the safety belt usage status confirmation device of the present invention, the housing of the storage device is a road cone. Road cones are safety devices placed on roads, construction sites, etc., so they do not interfere with the work of workers. Furthermore, when used as a housing, by attaching a support to the road cone, it can be used as a storage device for the safety belt usage status confirmation device. Therefore, it has excellent versatility.

[0021] (Configuration 7) A storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a storage device that stores a communication base unit capable of wireless communication with a communication handset that can be attached to the safety belt main body or a worker wearing the safety belt main body in order to check the usage status of a safety belt consisting of the safety belt main body worn by the worker, a safety belt hook, and a lifeline connecting the safety belt main body and the safety belt hook, the storage device comprising: a hollow housing; an installation section defined inside the housing and having a space for storing the communication base unit; and a support section that fixes the communication base unit to the housing stored in the installation section, the support section having a buffer support that engages with the housing and supports the communication base unit in a buffer state at a position spaced from the inner surface of the housing.

[0022] According to the storage device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the communication base unit can be stored inside, the storage device containing the communication base unit can be installed directly on the ground without the need for a stand for the communication base unit. Also, by storing the communication base unit inside the storage device, the communication base unit can be protected from the on-site environment, such as dust and water. Furthermore, since the storage device has a buffer support that supports the communication base unit in a buffer state at a position separated from the inner surface of the housing, the communication base unit can be protected from impacts and the like.

[0023] (Configuration 8) A further aspect of the present invention provides a storage device according to the seventh aspect, further comprising a waterproof case.

[0024] According to the housing device of the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the housing device has a waterproof case, it is possible to prevent the communication base unit housed inside the case from getting wet and breaking down. Therefore, it is possible to install the communication base unit in a work site where it is likely to get wet or in an outdoor work site.

[0025] (Configuration 9) A further aspect of the present invention provides a storage device according to the seventh or eighth aspect, characterized in that the housing is a cone-shaped structure having a hollow interior.

[0026] According to the storage device of the present invention, the housing of the storage device is a cone-shaped body with an inner cavity capable of storing the communication base unit inside. Because the housing is a cone-shaped body that widens toward the ground, it is stable and can prevent the storage device from tipping over.

[0027] (Configuration 10) A further aspect of the present invention is a storage device according to the ninth aspect, wherein the housing is a road cone.

[0028] According to the storage device of the present invention, the road cone used as the housing is a safety device placed on roads, construction sites, etc., so it does not interfere with the work of workers. By attaching a support to the road cone, it can be used as a storage device for the safety belt usage status confirmation device, making it highly versatile. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] The safety harness usage monitoring device of the present invention is a system that not only notifies workers of the safety harness usage status, whether the harness is being used correctly, but also shares the status with supervisors who are not on-site. The communication base unit for sharing the safety harness usage status can be easily installed at the work site. Furthermore, the communication base unit can be protected from drops and impacts, and from the environment at the work site, such as dust and water. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a storage device for a safety belt usage status monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed view showing a specific example of a support portion of the enclosure device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of installation of a communication master unit of the usage status confirmation device of FIG. 1 at a work site. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the safety belt usage status confirmation device. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing a safety belt use status determination routine executed by a controller of the safety belt use status confirmation device. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an installation state of a communication master unit of a conventional safety belt use status confirmation device at a work site. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the shapes of the drawings referred to in the following description are conceptual or schematic diagrams for explaining preferred shapes and dimensions, and the dimensional ratios do not necessarily correspond to the actual dimensional ratios. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the dimensional ratios shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the embodiment described below merely illustrates one specific example of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0032] In one embodiment of the safety belt usage status confirmation device of this embodiment, the communication base unit is used mainly at work sites such as outdoors, and the storage device for the components of the safety belt usage status confirmation device protects the communication equipment from the work environment while facilitating its installation. The components will be described below.

[0033] 1 to 3, a storage device 100 for a safety belt usage status confirmation device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention and its installation method will be described in detail. Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the storage device 100. Fig. 2 is a detailed view showing a specific example of the support part of the storage device. Fig. 3 shows how the communication base unit of the usage status confirmation device of Fig. 1 is installed at a work site.

[0034] A safety harness usage status confirmation device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a communication slave unit 14 that can be attached to a worker, and a communication master unit 11 that can communicate wirelessly with the communication slave unit 14. As shown in Fig. 4, the communication master unit 11 includes a measurement unit 12 and a communication unit 13, and the measurement unit 12 includes a communication master unit altimeter 12a that provides the communication slave unit 14 with information relating to a reference height.

[0035] The storage device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a hollow housing 110, an installation section 120 defined within the housing 110 and having a space for storing the communication base unit 11, and a support section 130 stored in the installation section 120 and for fixing the communication base unit 11 to the housing 110. The support section 130 includes a buffer support 131, a case section 132 for storing the communication base unit 11, and a support material 133. The communication base unit 11 stored in the case section 132 is supported in a buffered state at a position spaced apart from the housing 110.

[0036] Furthermore, since the case 132 is waterproof, the communication base unit 11 is protected from water and dust in the work environment. Since the housing 110 has a cone-shaped structure, the storage device 100 can be installed in a stable state. More specifically, the storage device 100 may be a road cone used at construction sites, etc. If the housing 110 is a road cone, it is possible to use commercially available weights for road cones (weights called cone heads or cone weights), and the use of the weights can increase the stability of the storage device.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a specific example of support section 130 of the storage device of Fig. 1. Installation section 120 is defined by support material 133 and housing bottom surface 111 inside housing 110. Support section 130 supports case section 132, which stores communication base unit 11, in installation section 120 at a position spaced apart from housing 110 in a buffered state.

[0038] The case 132 includes a case bottom plate 132a, a case peripheral wall 132b, a case top wall 132c, a case protrusion 132d, and an antenna 132e. The antenna 132e penetrates a screw hole at the top of the case protrusion 132d and protrudes outward from the case 132. The case bottom plate 132a closes the lower side of the case peripheral wall 132b and protrudes radially outward. The case 132 may be made of any material that is strong enough to support the communication base unit 11 and waterproof, such as synthetic resin or metal. Waterproofing may be achieved by waterproofing. Furthermore, the case has a sealed structure that prevents water from entering through the screw holes in the case top wall 132c, the screw holes in the case protrusion 132d, or the contact area between the case protrusion 132d and the top wall 132c. The case peripheral wall 132b and the case top wall 132c may be integrally formed.

[0039] The support member 133 is formed in a doughnut shape to fit the case portion protrusion 132d. The support member 133 is made of an elastic material such as urethane foam. Because the housing 110 is a conical road cone, when the support member 133 is inserted from the bottom of the road cone toward the apex of the road cone, it stops at a position where the outer diameter of the support member 133 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the road cone. When the case portion protrusion 132d fits into a cylindrical hole provided in the center of the support member 133 and the case portion bottom plate 132a engages with the housing 110 at its edge via the shock-absorbing support member 131, which is made of vibration-isolating rubber, the case portion 132 is pressed vertically upward from the case portion bottom plate 132a. Support 133, formed of an elastic material, is sandwiched between the inner wall of the road cone (which is housing 110) and case 132, and is compressed by pressure from case top wall 132c. This generates friction between the inner wall of the road cone and case protrusion 132d, holding case 132 inside housing 110. That is, case 132 is supported in a buffered state within installation section 120 via support material 133 and buffer support 131. Communication base unit 11 is placed on case bottom plate 132a, which is supported at a constant height. It is desirable that communication base unit 11 be fixed to case bottom plate 132a. That is, communication base unit 11 is supported by support 130 in a buffered and fixed state so that its height from the ground is always constant. This makes communication base unit 11 resistant to external impacts and reduces the effort required to adjust the value of the "reference height" each time the communication base unit is installed.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an example of installation at a work site of a communication base unit 11 of a safety harness usage confirmation device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The housing 110 of the storage device 100 is a road cone. Road cones are safety devices placed on roads, construction sites, etc., and therefore do not interfere with the work of workers. FIG. 3 shows a worker wearing a safety harness 30, with a safety harness hook 30b (in an unused state) connected to the safety harness main body 30a by a lifeline 30c. A control unit 20 is attached to the safety harness 30. A tilt sensor 31 is attached using a recess on the inside of the hook of the safety harness hook 30b. The tilt sensor 31 outputs a signal indicating that the safety harness hook is not in a position with the hook facing upward. A beacon 32, which is a type of wireless ID tag, is provided near the base of the hook-shaped part of the safety belt hook, and in this embodiment, the beacon 32 is used as a distance or distance detection means for simply detecting the distance between the beacon 32 and a beacon communication interface 24 (a device provided in the controller 21 of the control unit 20, which will be described later), or the distance or distance from the beacon communication interface 24. More specifically, the beacon 32 is used to detect whether the safety belt hook 30b equipped with the beacon 32 is near the worker wearing the beacon communication interface 24, or far away from the worker.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 4, an outline of the electrical configuration of a safety belt usage status confirmation device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, a control unit 20 is incorporated into a communication handset 14 that can be attached to a worker. A communication base unit 11 is installed in a location where it can communicate with the worker's communication handset 14. The communication base unit 11 and the communication handset 14 can communicate with each other using a short- to medium-range wireless communication standard such as Wifi (registered trademark).

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 21 of the control unit 20 includes an arithmetic processing unit 22 incorporating at least a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a timer, a communication interface 23 for the tilt sensor, a communication interface 24 for the beacon, an altimeter 25, a group of push buttons 26, and an alarm buzzer 27 as an alarm sound generating means.

[0044] The tilt sensor communication interface 23, which can be attached to the safety belt hook 30b, is, for example, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module, and performs wireless data communication with the tilt sensor 31 of the safety belt hook 13b.

[0045] The beacon communication interface 24 receives radio waves (ID signals) transmitted from the beacon 32 of the safety belt hook 13b. The beacon communication interface 24 is capable of adjusting the detection sensitivity of the radio waves from the beacon 32, and by adjusting the sensitivity appropriately, the beacon 32 can be used as a simple distance or nearness detection element.

[0046] The altimeter 25 is a sensor that measures altitude based on the ambient air pressure and measures relative altitude from a reference height, the value of which is provided by an external device (communication base unit 11).

[0047] The alarm buzzer 27 is a means for generating an alarm sound to notify the operator of an abnormality. The group of push buttons 26 are manual switches that an operator operates to initialize the settings of the controller 21 or to stop the thunder (alarm sound) of the alarm buzzer 27.

[0048] Communication base unit 11 includes measurement unit 12 and communication unit 13. Communication base unit altimeter 12a included in measurement unit 12 is a reference station for altitude measurement, and the value measured by communication base unit altimeter 12a is transmitted to controller 21 via communication slave unit communication unit 29.

[0049] The communication base unit 11 can communicate with multiple communication slave units 14 (i.e., devices for checking the usage status of safety belts used by multiple workers), and can collect, save, and manage information provided by each communication slave unit 14. In particular, the communication base unit 11 can store in its internal memory, for each worker, the working altitude and the locking status of the safety belt hook at each point in time (i.e., the result of locking judgment).

[0050] The communication base unit 11 is also connected to the Internet via wireless and / or wired communication lines. The communication base unit 11 can communicate data via the Internet with a communication terminal device 40 (e.g., a smartphone) of a manager (a person responsible for managing and supervising on-site workers) and a management computer 41 installed in a remote location (e.g., a head office building) far away from the work site. This allows the manager to use the communication terminal device 40 at hand to grasp the safety harness usage status of each worker in real time and appropriately manage safety and supervise. Furthermore, the management computer 41 can monitor the status of on-site work from a remote location and back up all information stored in the internal memory of the communication base unit 11.

[0051] Next, the method of use and operation of the safety belt use status confirmation device will be described.

[0052] First, a worker wearing the safety belt 30 of this embodiment turns on the power of the control unit 20. Then, standing near the communication base unit 11, the worker presses the push button 26 of the controller 21 to initialize the controller 21 and establish a communication linkage between the communication handset 14 and the communication base unit 11. Then, the worker heads to the target work location (high place).

[0053] Once the controller 21 has started operating, the arithmetic processing unit 22 performs real-time monitoring of the safety belt usage status in accordance with the safety belt usage status determination routine (determination program) shown in Fig. 5. The arithmetic processing unit 22 internally holds a binary abnormality determination flag (F) that takes on either a value of "0" or "1," and in this determination program, F = 0 signifies "a state in which the safety belt is being used properly," and F = 1 signifies "a state in which the safety belt is not being used properly (improper use state)." The abnormality determination flag (F) may be realized by either hardware (for example, a flag register) or software (a specific memory address).

[0054] Upon initialization via the push button 26, the controller 21 (arithmetic processing unit 22) first initializes the abnormality determination flag F to 0 in step S1. Subsequently, in step S2, it determines whether the worker's altitude (relative altitude) is higher than a predetermined threshold altitude H (e.g., 2 m). This threshold altitude H is set according to the minimum working altitude at which wearing a safety harness is mandatory. The worker's altitude (relative altitude) is calculated based on the value displayed by the altimeter 25 built into the controller 21 and the value of the "reference altitude" acquired from the communication base unit altimeter 12a. Therefore, the worker's altitude (absolute altitude) can be calculated by adding the "reference altitude" to the worker's altitude (relative altitude). One reason for using the value of the "reference altitude" from the communication base unit altimeter 12a is that the altimeter 25 uses atmospheric pressure, and atmospheric pressure changes due to weather changes can adversely affect altitude measurement as a disturbance. Therefore, the influence of atmospheric pressure changes can be corrected or eliminated. Here, since the height of the communication base unit 11 stored in the storage device 100 is always constant, there is no need to adjust the numerical value related to the "reference height" (such as changing the specified threshold height H) each time the communication base unit 11 is installed, making it easier to install the communication base unit 11.

[0055] If the determination in step S2 is NO, it is assumed that the worker has not yet reached a high altitude where usage status monitoring is required, and the process returns to step S1. If the determination in step S2 is YES, that is, if the worker has reached a high altitude where usage status monitoring is required, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0056] In step S3, it is determined whether the worker is ascending or descending. "Climbing or descending" refers to a situation where the worker is ascending or descending stairs, for example. This determination is made based on the change in altitude within a predetermined observation time. For example, if a change in altitude of 0.5 m or more is measured within a 30-second observation time, it is considered to be "ascending or descending." If the determination in step S3 is YES, it is assumed that the worker is still in the middle of moving and has not yet arrived at the destination (high place), and is not yet in a condition to use the safety belt, and the process returns to step S1. If the determination in step S3 is NO, it is determined that there is a high probability that the worker has arrived at the destination (high place), and the process proceeds to step S4.

[0057] In step S4, it is determined whether the safety belt hook 30b is separated from the worker's body. This determination is made based on the establishment status of data communication between the beacon 32 on the safety belt hook 30b side and the beacon communication interface 24 of the controller 21. Specifically, if the distance between the beacon 32 and the communication interface 24 exceeds, for example, 700 mm, the radio waves directed from the beacon 32 to the communication interface 24 become extremely weak, and depending on the reception sensitivity setting of the communication interface 24, it may become impossible to detect the ID signal from the beacon 32. On the other hand, if the distance between the beacon 32 and the communication interface 24 is, for example, 700 mm or less, the beacon communication interface 24 receives the ID signal from the beacon 32 in real time and is able to detect the ID signal. In this way, the distance or proximity between the beacon 32 and the communication interface 24 can be indirectly determined (or grasped) based on whether the beacon communication interface 24 can receive the ID signal from the beacon 32 in a timely manner with sufficient radio wave strength.

[0058] If the determination in step S4 is NO, that is, if the safety belt hook 30b is not more than, for example, 700 mm away from the controller 21 (body position of the worker), that is, if the safety belt hook 30b is near the worker, a timer in the calculation processing unit 22 is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time t1 (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed (step S41). If the determination in step S41 is NO, that is, if the state in which the safety belt hook 30b is near the worker does not continue for t1 = 30 seconds, the process returns to step S1 (that is, F = 0 is maintained). On the other hand, if the determination in step S41 is YES, that is, if the state in which the safety belt hook 30b is near the worker continues for at least t1 = 30 seconds, the process proceeds to step S42, where the abnormality determination flag is set to F = 1, that is, it is internally determined that the "safety belt is not being used properly (improper use state)." Then, in response to the change in flag value F from 0 to 1, the controller 21 generates an alarm sound from the alarm buzzer 27. This alarm sound continues to sound until the operator operates the push button 26 to stop it.

[0059] If the determination in step S4 is YES, that is, if the safety belt hook 30b is located, for example, more than 700 mm away from the controller 21 (body position of the worker), that is, if the safety belt hook 30b is located to a certain extent (more than a predetermined distance) away from the worker, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0060] In step S5, it is determined whether the safety belt hook 30b is in a state where the hook-shaped portion faces upward. This determination is made using information from the tilt sensor provided on the safety belt hook 30b. Specifically, it is determined whether the signal from the tilt sensor 31 is a signal suggesting that the safety belt hook is in a position where the hook-shaped portion faces upward or not (whether the signal is a signal suggesting that the safety belt hook is not in a position where the hook-shaped portion faces upward).

[0061] If the determination in step S5 is NO, i.e., if the safety belt hook 30b is not in a position with its hook-shaped portion facing upward, a timer in the calculation processing unit 22 is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time t2 (for example, 3 seconds) has elapsed (step S51). If the determination in step S51 is NO, i.e., if the state in which the safety belt hook 30b is not in a position with its hook-shaped portion facing upward does not continue for t2 = 3 seconds, it is considered that the safety belt hook 30b is not properly fastened or is swinging and its position is not sufficiently stabilized, so the process returns to step S5 and continues to determine again. On the other hand, if the determination in step S51 is YES, i.e., if the safety belt hook 30b has continued in a position with its hook-shaped portion facing upward for at least t2 = 3 seconds, the process proceeds to step S52, where the abnormality determination flag is set to F = 1, that is, it is internally determined that the "safety belt is not being used properly (improper use state)." Then, in response to the change in flag value F from 0 to 1, the controller 21 generates an alarm sound from the alarm buzzer 27. This alarm sound continues to sound until the operator operates the push button 26 to stop it.

[0062] If the determination in step S5 is YES, that is, if the safety belt hook 30b is in a position with the hook-shaped portion facing upward, the process returns to step S1 (that is, F=0 is maintained).

[0063] That is, according to the usage status determination routine of FIG. The S2 determination is YES (the worker's relative height is higher than the predetermined threshold height H), and S3 judgment is NO (the worker is not ascending or descending), and The determination in S4 is YES (the safety belt hook 30b is positioned at a certain distance from the worker), and S5 determination is YES (the safety belt hook 30b is in a position with the hook-shaped portion facing upward), As long as the above four conditions continue to be met, the arithmetic processing unit 22 of the controller 21 maintains the abnormality determination flag F=0, and continues to confirm that the safety belt hook 30b is being used properly.

[0064] On the other hand, if the state in which the safety belt hook 30b is not separated from the worker by a certain distance continues for t1=30 seconds (the judgment in S4 is NO and the judgment in S41 is YES), or if the state in which the safety belt hook 30b does not assume a position in which the hook-shaped portion faces upward continues for t2=3 seconds (the judgment in S5 is NO and the judgment in S51 is YES), the calculation processing unit 22 of the controller 21 determines that the safety belt hook 30b is not being used properly, changes the abnormality judgment flag from F=0 to F=1, and generates an alarm from the alarm buzzer 27.

[0065] The following describes the effects of the safety belt usage status confirmation device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] According to the safety belt usage status checking device 10 of this embodiment, since the communication base unit 11 is stored in the storage device 100, the storage device containing the communication base unit 11 can be installed directly on the ground, etc., without preparing a stand for installing the communication base unit 11. Furthermore, since the communication base unit 11 is stored in the storage device 100, the communication base unit 11 can be protected from water, dust, etc. Since the case portion 132 of the storage device 100 is waterproof, the communication base unit 11 can be installed in a location where it may be exposed to water, where dust may be generated, or where it is outdoors. Since the storage device 100 has the buffer support 131 that supports the communication base unit 11 in a buffer state at a position separated from the inner surface of the housing 110, the communication base unit 11 can be protected from impacts, etc. Therefore, the communication base unit 11 can be prevented from being damaged by an impact. Since the communication base unit 11 can be held at a predetermined distance from the housing bottom surface 111 of the housing 110, the height of the communication base unit 11 from the ground is always constant, and there is no need to adjust the value related to the "reference height" each time it is installed. Therefore, when installing the safety belt usage status confirmation device 10, it is possible to reduce on-site work such as adjusting the value related to the "reference height."

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Modifications of the present invention will be described below.

[0068] (1) The safety belt usage status monitoring device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the housing of the storage device is a cone or a road cone, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the storage device has a housing, an installation part, and a support part that supports the communication base unit in a buffer state, the housing may be a columnar body such as a cylinder or a rectangular pillar.

[0069] (2) The safety belt usage status monitoring device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In FIG. 2 showing the above embodiment, the buffer support is an anti-vibration rubber, and the buffer support is engaged with the housing at the edge of the bottom plate of the case. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The buffer support may be, for example, a metal spring or a rubber spring. Furthermore, when the buffer support engages the case with the housing, it is not limited to a configuration in which the bottom plate of the case is engaged with the housing. For example, the side or bottom of the case may be engaged with the housing. Furthermore, the case may be engaged with the housing at multiple locations.

[0070] (3) The safety belt usage status monitoring device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment shown in Figure 2, the support material is made of urethane foam or the like, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be made of a material that can absorb shock, such as rubber or polystyrene foam.

[0071] (4) The safety belt usage status monitoring device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the case has a protrusion on the top surface, and the support member is formed in a doughnut shape to fit the protrusion, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the top surface of the case may be flat, and the support member may be disk-shaped with a flat surface that abuts against the top surface of the case.

[0072] (5) The safety harness usage monitoring device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, a beacon is attached to the safety harness hook, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an RFID tag may be used, and an RFID reader may be used instead of the beacon communication interface. While a beacon is an active wireless ID tag that autonomously and periodically transmits an ID signal, an RFID tag is a passive wireless ID tag that returns an ID signal in response to radio waves from an RFID reader. However, there is no essential difference between the two in that both are "wireless ID tags" that can be used in the present invention.

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be implemented in various forms within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10 Safety belt usage status confirmation device 11 Communication base station 12 Measuring part 12a Communication base station altimeter 13 Communications Department 14 Communication adapter 20 Control Unit 21 Controller 22 Processing unit 23 Communication interface for tilt sensor 24 Beacon communication interface 25 Altimeter 26 Group of push buttons 27 Alarm buzzer (alarm sound generating means) 29 Communication sub-unit communication section 30 Safety harness 30a Safety belt body 30b Safety belt hook 30c Lifeline 31 Tilt sensor 32 Beacons (radio frequency identification tags) 40 Administrator's communication terminal device 41 Management Computer 100 Storage Device 110 Case 111 Bottom of the housing 120 Installation section 130 Support part 131 Buffer support 132 Case part 132a Case bottom plate 132b Case peripheral wall 132c Top wall of case 132d Case protrusion 132e Case antenna part 133 Support material

Claims

1. A safety belt usage status confirmation device for confirming the usage status of a safety belt that is worn by a worker and that consists of a safety belt body, a safety belt hook, and a lifeline that connects the safety belt body and the safety belt hook, a communication handset that can be attached to the safety belt body or a worker wearing the safety belt body; a communication base unit capable of wirelessly communicating with one or more specific communication slave units; a storage device for storing the communication base unit; Equipped with The storage device includes: A hollow housing; an installation section defined inside the housing and having a space for storing the communication base unit; a support part for fixing the communication base unit to the housing stored in the installation part; Equipped with A safety belt usage status checking device, characterized in that the support portion has a buffer support body that engages with the housing and supports the communication base unit in a buffer state at a position spaced from the inner surface of the housing.

2. 2. The safety belt usage status checking device according to claim 1, wherein the communication base unit stored in the installation section is held at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface of the housing.

3. 2. The device for checking the usage status of a safety belt according to claim 1, wherein the support part further comprises a waterproof case part.

4. the communication base unit includes a measurement unit having an altimeter, The measurement unit provides reference altitude information to the communication slave unit through the communication master unit.

4. The safety belt use status confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the safety belt is used in a manner that the safety belt is not in use.

5. 4. The device for checking the usage status of a safety belt according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a cone-shaped structure having a hollow interior.

6. 6. The safety belt use status checking device according to claim 5, wherein the housing is a road cone.

7. A storage device for storing a communication base unit capable of wireless communication with a communication slave unit that can be attached to a safety belt body or a worker wearing the safety belt body, the communication base unit being attachable to the safety belt body or a worker wearing the safety belt body, in order to check the usage status of a safety belt that is composed of a safety belt body worn by a worker, a safety belt hook, and a lifeline that connects the safety belt body and the safety belt hook, A hollow housing; an installation section defined inside the housing and having a space for storing the communication base unit; a support part for fixing the communication base unit to the housing stored in the installation part; Equipped with The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion has a buffer support that engages with the housing and supports the communication base unit in a buffer state at a position spaced from the inner surface of the housing.

8. 8. The storage device according to claim 7, wherein the support portion further comprises a waterproof case portion.

9. 9. The storage device according to claim 7, wherein the housing has a cone-shaped structure having a hollow interior.

10. 8. The storage device of claim 7, wherein the enclosure is a road cone.

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