Worker safety confirmation device

Abstract

To provide a worker safety confirmation device which has a simplified structure and can detect a fact that, a safety hook is hooked to a safety bar or the like.SOLUTION: A worker safety confirmation device 1 comprises: an area sensor 6 for identifying a position where a safety hook should be fitted to a safety bar 5; detection sensors 35 each of which is provided on each safety hook 3, and detects whether the safety hook 3 is fitted to the safety bar 5; and a control unit which has, warning means for receiving waves from the area sensor 6, and if there is no signal from the two detection sensors 35, issuing a first warning for strongly encouraging to fit the safety hook 3, and if there is any one signal from the detection sensors 35, issuing a second warning whose level is lower than that of the first warning.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a worker safety confirmation device for preventing workers from forgetting to fasten a safety hook that is worn by workers at high places such as construction sites to ensure safe work. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 (JP 2004-18212 A) discloses a safety belt fastening device for a picking forklift. In Patent Document 1, the device includes a safety bar to which the safety belt is fastened, an optical sensor to detect whether the safety belt is fastened to the safety lever, and a red patrol lamp and an audio alarm to indicate that the safety belt is not fastened to the safety lever. When the safety belt is fastened to the safety bar, the light from the light-emitting part is blocked by the hook part, detecting that the safety belt is fastened to the safety lever. When the safety belt is not fastened to the safety lever, the light from the light-emitting part is not blocked, detecting that the safety belt is not fastened, and activating the red patrol lamp and audio alarm.

[0003] Patent Document 2 (JP 2006-313425 A) discloses a work safety belt device that can easily determine the use status of a safety belt and can also determine whether it is unnecessary to use it. The device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is equipped with a lifeline that has a hook at the tip and whose base end is wound into a case by the biasing force of a spring, a torque sensor that detects torque fluctuations in the lifeline, and an alarm that sounds an alarm if there is no torque fluctuation in the lifeline for a predetermined period of time, making it possible to easily determine the use status of the safety belt.

[0004] Patent Document 3 (JP 2009-165517 A) is a device for improving the efficiency of monitoring the proper use of safety belts for high-altitude work vehicles and issuing warnings and confirming the safety of workers. The device comprises a management computer connected to three or more RFID tag readers arranged at the work site so that the radio wave reach covers an area including the high-altitude work area; an active RFID tag that detects that the safety belt's lifeline has been pulled out by a predetermined length and transmits radio waves; a location transmission means consisting of a two-way communication active RFID tag; an alarm means that receives an alarm command from the management computer and becomes active; and an alarm confirmation means that stops the alarm means by operating a switch and transmits an alarm confirmation signal from the RFID tag; and a calculation means that receives radio waves from the RFID tag using the RFID tag reader and calculates the position of the RFID tag from the strength of the radio waves.

[0005] Patent Document 4 (JP 2020-402 A) discloses a safety harness hook-forget prevention management system that prevents workers from forgetting to fasten their safety hooks and allows managers to grasp the current location of each worker to ensure safety. The safety harness hook-forget prevention management system disclosed in Patent Document 4 includes a safety harness including a safety hook that generates a contact signal and a safety hook-forgotten alarm that issues an alarm until the contact signal is received and generates and transmits an alarm signal in response to the alarm, a first mobile communication terminal carried by a worker wearing the safety harness and capable of receiving the alarm signal, acquiring and transmitting data on the worker's location, and a second mobile communication terminal carried by a manager that receives the alarm signal and the location information data and, based on these, displays the worker's working location and indicates whether the safety hook is hooked on the support rope.

[0006] Patent Document 5 (JP 2021-166685 A) discloses a safety belt hook attachment / detachment confirmation system that can determine whether a safety belt hook is being used correctly without complicating the configuration of the hook or lifeline.In Patent Document 5, a safety belt includes a belt worn around the worker's body, a lifeline connected to the belt, a hook attached to the end of the lifeline, and a hook holder for attaching the hook to the belt.The system detects whether the hook is attached to the hook holder and issues an alarm if it is attached.

[0007] Patent Document 6 (JP Patent Publication No. 2022-139618) is a system that ensures that high-altitude work can be carried out safely by ensuring that the safety belt hook is not forgotten when working at high altitudes, even when work is being carried out on multiple floors.The system estimates the floor on which the worker is located based on the detected atmospheric pressure value output from the worker's atmospheric pressure sensor, the detected atmospheric pressure value output from the first reference atmospheric pressure sensor, and the detected atmospheric pressure value detected from the second reference atmospheric pressure sensor.If it is determined that the worker is at a high altitude and it is detected that the hook is not attached to the fall prevention member, it alerts the worker that an unsafe condition exists. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-18212 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-313425 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-165517 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-402 [Patent Document 5] Patent Publication No. 2021-166685 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-139618 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] As disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documents, it is essential for the safety of workers that the wire rope extending from the safety belt worn by workers working in dangerous work locations such as high places is securely fixed to a safety bar or support rope installed in the dangerous work location.

[0010] For this reason, it is important to detect whether the hook attached to the end of the wire rope is securely attached, and if the hook is not attached, it is preferable to have a means to notify the worker that the hook is not attached, such as by sounding an alarm.

[0011] However, Patent Document 1 has the drawback that it cannot be used for support ropes because it uses an optical sensor, and Patent Document 2 has the drawback of frequent malfunctions because it uses a torque sensor.

[0012] In addition, Patent Document 3 detects when the safety harness of the safety belt has been pulled out by a specified length, so if the amount of the safety harness wound up is small, it cannot be detected even if the safety harness is being worn, which is a problem. Furthermore, Patent Document 4 uses a contact sensor, so there is a risk that it will mistakenly determine that the safety hook has been hooked onto the support rope even when the safety hook is hooked onto the hook of the safety harness for storage.

[0013] Furthermore, Patent Document 5 differs from the devices disclosed in the above patent documents in that it detects whether the hook is not attached to the hook holder of the safety belt and confirms that the hook is attached to the lifeline, but has the drawback of detecting it as attached even when it is not if it is detached from the hook holder.Furthermore, Patent Document 6 uses atmospheric pressure to determine whether the worker is at a high altitude, but because atmospheric pressure itself fluctuates, a system to correct this is required, resulting in a complex configuration.

[0014] As described above, it is extremely important to detect whether the lifeline hook attached to the safety belt worn by the worker is securely hooked onto the safety bar or safety wire, and this is also an issue in each of the patent documents. In particular, there have been many cases where workers continue work with the safety hook in the unsecured state when attaching it to the safety belt, resulting in accidents.

[0015] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a worker safety confirmation device that has a simple structure and can reliably detect whether a safety hook is caught on a safety bar or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] Therefore, the worker safety confirmation device of the present invention is a worker safety confirmation device consisting of a safety belt worn by the worker, a safety bar installed at the work site, and a pair of wire ropes each having a safety hook at one end fixed to the safety belt and at the other end detachably attached to the safety bar installed at the work site, and is also composed of an area sensor installed at a position where the safety hook of the wire rope must be attached to the safety bar, emitting radio waves within a predetermined range of that position, a detection sensor installed at each of the safety hooks, detecting whether the safety hook is attached to the safety bar, and a control device equipped with alarm means having receiving means for receiving radio waves from the area sensors, which, when the receiving means receives radio waves from the area sensors, determines that the worker must attach the safety hook to the safety bar, and if the safety hook is not attached to the safety bar and there are no signals from the two detection sensors, issues a first alarm to strongly urge the worker to attach the safety hook, and if either signal from the detection sensors is detected, issues a second alarm of a lower level than the first alarm.

[0017] In the above worker safety confirmation device, when a worker works in a dangerous place such as a high place, the worker puts on the safety belt and heads to the work site. Until the worker puts the safety hook on the safety bar installed at the work site, the safety hook is hung on a storage hook for the safety hook provided at a predetermined position on the safety belt, for example, at the chest position or the waist belt position, so as not to get in the way of the worker.

[0018] The area sensor is installed at a location where the safety hook must be attached to the safety bar, i.e., a location indicating the worker's work location, and indicates that the worker wearing the safety belt must attach the safety hook to the safety bar or the like.

[0019] When a worker wearing a safety belt reaches the location indicated by the area sensor, he or she receives a signal from the area sensor, and if a pair of safety hooks are not yet attached to the safety bar, a first alarm is sounded, thereby recognizing the need to attach both safety hooks to the safety bar.

[0020] When one safety hook is attached, the quality of the alarm changes to a second alarm, which is lower than the first alarm, so it is possible to recognize that only one safety hook is attached, and then attach the other safety hook. When both safety hooks are attached, the erection stops, so it is possible to recognize that both safety hooks are attached to the safety bar.

[0021] As described above, with the worker safety confirmation device of the present invention, the alarm is released only when both safety hooks are attached at a location where safety hooks are required, allowing the worker to confirm that the worker's safety hook is securely attached to the safety bar, thereby enabling the worker to work safely.

[0022] It is also preferable that the control device is attached to the safety belt as a single unit, which has the advantage that the control device can be attached to the worker's safety belt as a single unit, eliminating the need to build a large-scale system.

[0023] Furthermore, it is preferable that the detection sensor is composed of a switch unit fixed to the fixed claw of the safety hook and a flexible soft rod extending from the switch unit, and when a movable claw that is movable relative to the fixed claw opens and the safety hook is attached to the safety bar, the soft rod bends, turning the switch unit ON.

[0024] When the safety hook is attached to the safety bar, the safety bar bends the flexible soft rod, turning on the switch, so it can be detected that the safety hook is attached to the safety bar. Also, because the switch is turned on and off by the flexible soft rod, it can accommodate changes in the thickness and shape of the safety bar. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] The worker safety confirmation device configured as described above has the effect of allowing the worker to easily confirm, with a simple structure, that both safety hooks are attached to the safety bar at the location specified by the area sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a safety belt in a worker safety confirmation device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the worker safety confirmation device of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a safety hook, Figure 3(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the safety hook attached to the safety bar, and Figure 3(c) is an explanatory diagram showing the safety hook attached to the storage hook. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of control of the worker safety confirmation device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0028] A worker safety confirmation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a safety belt 2 worn by a worker. As shown in FIG. 1 , the safety belt 2 is composed of a waist belt 21 wrapped around the worker's waist, a back belt 24 placed on the worker's back, shoulder belts 22 and 23 positioned between the waist belt 21 and the back belt 24, and leg belts 25 and 26 attached on the extensions of the shoulder belts 22 and 23 and secured to the worker's left and right thighs, thereby supporting the worker at the shoulders, waist, and thighs. A fixed hook 11 is attached to the center of the back belt 24, and the base end of a wire rope 10, which has safety hooks 3 (3A and 3B) attached to its tip, is fixed to the fixed hook 11. The shoulder belts 22 and 23 are also provided with storage hooks 27 for storing the safety hooks 3 (3A and 3B). The safety hooks 3 are hung on the storage hook 27 and stored so as not to get in the way while the worker is moving, etc.

[0029] Signals from each safety hook 3 (3A, 3B) are transmitted to the control unit box 4 via signal lines 12, 13.

[0030] In the above basic configuration, the worker safety confirmation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, is at least composed of a safety bar 5 installed at the work site for the safety of the worker, an area sensor 6 installed in the work area where the safety bar 5 is installed, i.e., a location where the so-called safety hook 3 (3A, 3B) needs to be attached, a detection unit 35 (35A, 35B) composed of a switch unit 33 (33A, 33B) provided on the safety hook 3 (3A, 3B) and a soft rod 34 (34A, 34B) made of an elastic member that activates the switch unit 33 (33A, 33B), signal lines 12, 13 for transmitting signals from the switch unit 33 (33A, 33B) of the detection unit 35 (35A, 35B) to a control board 7 in a control unit box 4, an antenna 8 for receiving radio waves from the area sensor 6, and an alarm device 9 for converting two alarm signals transmitted from the control board 7 into sounds.

[0031] 3(a), the safety hook 3 comprises at least a U-shaped fixed hook portion 31 and a movable hook portion 32 that can be opened and closed relative to the fixed hook portion 31. A switch portion 33 is fixed at a predetermined position on the garment fixing hook portion 31, and a soft rod 34 made of a flexible material is detected by the switch portion 33. When a negative force is applied to the soft rod 34 and it is bent, the switch portion 3 outputs an ON signal. FIG. 3(b) shows the state in which the safety hook 3 is attached to the safety bar 5, and FIG. 3(c) shows the state in which the safety hook 3 is attached to and stored in the storage hook 27.

[0032] The control executed in the worker safety confirmation device 1 configured as described above is, for example, as shown in Fig. 4. When the switch of the control unit box 4 attached to the waist belt 21 of the worker's safety belt 2 is turned on, in step 110, it is determined whether or not a signal has been received from the area sensor 6 by the antenna 8. If no signal has been received, it is determined that the worker has not yet reached a dangerous work location, so the process proceeds to step 150, where no alarm is issued, and steps 110 and 150 are repeated, maintaining the state of waiting for a signal from the area sensor 6.

[0033] When a worker approaches a dangerous work area, a radio wave is received from the area sensor 6. If reception of the radio wave is confirmed in step 110, the process proceeds to step 120, where a signal from the switch unit (e.g., left switch) 33A of one safety hook 3A is used to determine whether or not the one safety hook 3A is attached to the safety bar 5 (ON) (OFF). If there is no signal from the switch unit 33A of the one safety hook 3A, it is determined that the one safety hook 3A is not attached to the safety bar 5, and the process proceeds to step 140, where a signal from the switch unit (e.g., right switch) 33B of the other safety hook 3B is used to determine whether or not there is a signal (ON) (OFF). If there is no signal from the switch unit 33B of the other safety hook 3B, it is determined that both safety hooks 3 (3A, 3B) are not attached to the safety bar 5, and the process proceeds to step 160, where a first alarm is issued from the alarm device 9. This first alarm is, for example, a loud sound issued at predetermined intervals (short cycles).

[0034] Furthermore, if the determination in step 120 determines that one switch unit 33A is ON and the determination in step 130 determines that the other switch unit 33B is OFF, or if one switch unit 33A is OFF and the determination in step 140 determines that the other switch unit 33B is ON, i.e., if one safety hook 3A or 3B is attached to the safety bar 5 and the other safety hook 3A or 3B is not attached to the safety bar 5, it is determined that only one of the safety hooks 3A, 3B is attached to the safety bar 5, so the process proceeds to step 170, where the alarm device 9 issues a second alarm. This second alarm is different from the first alarm, and may have a different sound quality, volume, or period, for example. In particular, it is desirable that the first alarm be lower in sound quality than the first alarm. Specifically, it is preferable to lower the volume, lengthen the period, etc.

[0035] As a result, when the worker's safety hooks 3A, 3B are both attached to the safety bar 5 in a location (dangerous work site) selected by the area sensor 6, no alarm is issued; when only one of the safety hooks is attached, a second alarm is issued; and when neither is attached, a first alarm that is stronger than the second alarm is issued to alert the worker. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Worker safety confirmation device 2 Safety harnesses 3(3A,3B) Safety hook 4 Control Unit Box 5 Safety Bar 6 Area Sensor 7 Control board 8 Antennas 9 Alarm device

Claims

1. a safety belt worn by a worker; a safety bar installed at the work site; and a pair of wire ropes each having one end fixed to the safety belt and the other end having a safety hook that is detachable from the safety bar installed at the work site. an area sensor that is provided at a position on the safety bar where the safety hook of the wire rope must be attached, and that emits radio waves within a predetermined range at that position; a detection sensor provided on each of the safety hooks for detecting whether the safety hook is attached to the safety bar, a control device having a receiving means for receiving radio waves from the area sensor, and when the receiving means receives radio waves from the area sensor, determining that the worker must attach a safety hook to the safety bar, and when the safety hook is not attached to the safety bar and there are no signals from the two detection sensors, issuing a first alarm with a volume that strongly urges the worker to attach the safety hook, and when there is only one signal from the detection sensors, issuing a second alarm with a volume lower than the first alarm; The detection sensor is composed of a switch unit fixed to the fixed claw of the safety hook and a flexible soft rod extending from the switch unit, and when a movable claw that is movable relative to the fixed claw opens and the safety hook is attached to the safety bar, the soft rod bends, turning on the switch unit.

2. 2. The worker safety confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is attached to the safety belt as a single unit.

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