GB2577960A

GB2577960A - System and method for tracking personnel

Info

Publication number: GB2577960A
Application number: GB1910825.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas James Anthony
Original assignee: Installation Testing & Commissioning Uk Ltd
Current assignee: Installation Testing & Commissioning Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-21
Filing date: 2019-07-30
Publication date: 2020-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-30
Also published as: GB201910825D0; GB2577960B; GB201903902D0

Abstract

A system is provided for tracking the location of a personnel such as those working on railway assets, infrastructure and/or networks. Each person 10a-10c is assigned with a uniquely identifiable GPS tracking device 12a-12c. The location of each person is passed wirelessly to receiving aerial 16 connected to server 18. The server 18 may be connected to the internet 20. The receiving aerial 16 and server 18 may be provided within a remote computing device 22. The location of each person is overlaid on a map and displayed on a screen of the remote computing device 22. A virtual geographic perimeter is assigned to a predetermined worksite location A on the map shown on the remote computing device, and an alarm condition is generated to a user if a person departs from the predetermined worksite location A.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING PERSONNEL

LECIEVIC1I FIELD OF l'HE INTENTION

This invention relates to a system and method for tracking personnel. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for tracking deployed personnel working on electrical and/or transportation assets, infrastructure and/or networks. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for tracking deployed personnel working on railway assets, infrastructure and/or networks.

CKGROUVD

When teams of workers are utilised for temporary repair works, maintenance, installation and/or refurbishment of railway assets, infrastructure and/or networks, they have to report to an engineering supervisor who has responsibility for the teams of workers. The engineering supervisor maintains a paper-based system to record which assets are being worked upon, by whom and for what duration. This paper-based system is therefore an entirely open-loop system meaning that misunderstandings and miscommunication can lead personnel working on incorrect railway assets without the knowledge of the engineering supervisor. This can be an extremely dangerous situation where there is a significant risk of injury and/or death to the deployed personnel, and other railway staff and passengers.

It is desirable in the industry for there to be an alternative means for monitoring the location of such maintenance personnel and for improving visibility and communication between maintenance teams and the engineering supervisor at all times.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for tracking personnel which overcomes or reduces the drawbacks associated with an open-loop records system. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for tracking personnel being particularly suitable for use in-and-around electrical and/or transportation assets, infrastructure and/or networks, which automatically notifies the engineering supervisor should the personnel not be working in a predetermined work location solvtitRi-OF i 'HE INVENTION The present invention is described herein and in the claims.

According to the present invention is provided a method for tracking the location of a person being assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, comprising the steps of displaying the location of the person on the screen of a remote computing device; assigning a virtual geographic perimeter to a predetermined worksite location; and generating an alert or alarm condition to a user if the person departs from the predetermined worksite location.

An advantage of the present invention is that the user can in real time, or near real time, track the person to prevent loss of life or injury.

Preferably, the uniquely identifiable tracking device is a Global Positioning System (UPS) tracking device.

Further preferably, the GPS tracking device passes location information wirelessly via satellites to a ground-based receiving aerial connected to a server.

In use, the location of the person can be displayed via a remote application software and/or user interface embodied on the remote computing device and/or a mobile communications device being uniquely connected to the server.

Preferably, the remote application software being downloaded to the remote computing device and/or a mobile communications device via known digital media platforms.

Further preferably, the remote computing device may be selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: tablet computer, handheld computer, personal digital assistant, media player, desktop computer, notebook, virtual reality headset, smart watch, smart TV, any other digital media consumption device and the like.

In use, the mobile communications device may be a cellular mobile phone, smartphone, two-way radio and the like Preferably, the remote computing device and/or mobile communications device is connected to the server via wireless transmission protocols selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 standard), Bluetooth, LoRa, Sigfox, Global System for Mobile (GSM) cellular telecommunications network and the like.

Further preferably, the location of the person is transmitted continuously or intermittently, in real time, or near real time, from the tracking device, and remotely accessing and retrieving by the user.

In use, the person may initiate direct contact with the user by means of a two-way radio incorporated into the tracking device.

Preferably, the remote application mapping software displays or overlays the location of the nearest access point or points to the person and/or predetermined worksite location.

Further preferably, in the event of an emergency or accident situation the access point or points are highlighted on the display such that the user when reporting the incident to emergency/rescue services may additionally supply the post code and/or coordinates thereof.

In use, the geolocation data obtained from the tracking devices may be utilised in an automated time tracking application.

Preferably, if there is a confluence of persons working in separate working parties within a certain predetermined distance, then the tracking devices of both persons emit an audible and/or haptic proximity warning or alert to signify that another working party is nearby.

Further preferably, the method further comprises the steps of assigning a uniquely identifiable tracking device to at least one mobile asset selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: engineering train, freight train, machinery, passenger train, plant, road-rail vehicle, trailer, trolley, worksite markerboard and the like; and displaying the location of the mobile asset on the screen of a remote computing device.

In use, the uniquely identifiable tracking devices may be removably securable to the mobile asset by means of a magnetic attachment Preferably, a virtual geographic boundary is formed as a radius around the worksite markerboard assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, and wherein the application software being operable to issue an alarm condition if the person enters into the virtual geographic boundary, and wherein the tracking device deployed on the worksite markerboard and/or the person emits an audible and/or haptic proximity warning or alert and/or notifies the user.

Further preferably, in the event of an emergency or accident, or possible emergency situation, the remote application software being operable to send to each person in a working party a group message via a push or in-app notification or alert and/or short message service (SMS) text message and/or e-mail notification and/or a group GSM cellular telecommunications call and/or a two-way radio call to communicate a warning to each person's mobile communications device.

In use, the remote application software and/or user interface may display or overlay the 30 Engineer's Line Reference (ELR) mileage and chains of the railway network.

Preferably, the remote application software and/or user interface is additionally displayed to a driver or operator of any vehicle travelling on railway assets, infrastructure and/or networks, the vehicle being selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: engineering train, freight train, passenger train, road-rail vehicle and the like.

Also according to the present invention is provided a system for tracking the location of a person being assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, comprising: means for displaying the location of the person on the screen of a remote computing device; means for assigning a virtual geographic perimeter to a predetermined worksite location; and means for generating an alert or alarm condition to a user if the person departs from the predetermined worksite location.

Preferably, a plurality of uniquely identifiable tracking devices are stored and charged in a charging cradle for deployment.

Further preferably, the charging cradle comprises a USB port for connection to a mobile communications device, the mobile communications device being uniquely associated with each of the plurality of uniquely identifiable tracking devices on the charging cradle.

In use, the plurality of uniquely identifiable tracking devices may be arranged to automatically contact the mobile communications device of the user in the event of an emergency situation whereby the person activates an SOS signal.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a computer program product for tracking the location of a person being assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, comprising: computer program means for displaying the location of the tracking device on the screen of a remote computing device; computer program means for assigning a virtual geographic perimeter to a predetermined worksite location; and computer program means for generating an alert or alarm condition to a user if the person departs from the predetermined worksite location.

It is believed that a system and method for tracking personnel in accordance with the present invention at least addresses the problems outlined above.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations of the present invention are possible and it is intended that the present invention may be used other than as specifically described herein.

BRIEF DINCRIP210N 0 I, THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a high-level schematic illustration of a system and method for tracking personnel in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 illustrates a high-level diagram of a charging cradle for storing and charging a plurality of trackers in accordance with the present invention.

D1,21111,ED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EAISOIMAIEN'IS The present invention has adopted the approach of utilising a system and method for tracking personnel. Advantageously, the present invention provides a system and method for tracking personnel which overcomes or reduces the drawbacks associated with an open-loop records system. Further advantageously, the present invention provides a system and method for tracking personnel being particularly suitable for use in-and-around electrical and/or transportation assets, infrastnacture and/or networks, which automatically notifies the engineering supervisor should the personnel not be working in a predetermined work location.

Referring now to the drawings, a system and method for tracking personnel according to the present invention is shown in Figure L Figure 1 shows that individual workers 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. each carry their own Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking device 12a, 126, 12c, etc., respectively. The GPS tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. each being one that is known in the art and which is designed for lone working. As is known in the art, the UPS tracking device 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. passes location information wi elessly via satellites 14 to a receiving aerial 16 connected to a server 18. The server 18 can be connected to the Internet 20. In one embodiment, the receiving aerial 16 and server 18 may be provided within a remote computing device 22.

Location information about each of the personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc as monitored by the system can be accessed via a remote application software or user interface embodied on a remote computing device 22 and/or a mobile communications device 24, which is uniquely connected to the server 18. The application software can be downloaded to the remote computing device 22 and/or a mobile communications device 24 via known digital media platforms, such as, for example, the App Store for i0S-enabled devices and Google Play for touchscreen mobile devices 24 based on the Android operating system, and Microsoft Store for devices running a Windows operating system In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the remote computing device 22 or mobile communications device 24 is connected to the server 18 via the Internet 20. The skilled person will appreciate that other wireless transmission protocols, such as, for example, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 standard), Bluetooth, LoRa, Sigfox or a GSM cellular telecommunications network would also be appropriate, or the remote computing device 22 could be connected to the server 18 via a wired connection.

As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of personnel 10a, 101), 10c, etc. are all monitored by the single server 18, with the information from each of the tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc being accessible by a user having unique login credentials, as is known to someone skilled in the art The application software also includes a map function having the physical location of each of the tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. overlaid thereon The value of such information, which is transmitted continuously or intermittently, in real time, or near real time, from each of tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc., and remotely accessing and retrieving such information can be extremely useful. In effect it allows for the location of maintenance personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. to be known at all times, and for improving visibility and communication between the personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. and the engineering supervisor.

The application software or user interface embodied on a remote computing device 22 or mobile communications device 24 can be programmed to provide a constant tracking of the personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., and alerting the user if the personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. are not working in a predetermined work location and/or require action. The geolocation resolution of each of tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. being such that the system can discriminate between personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. working, for example, on track A as opposed to a track B, as shown in Figure 1. If the personnel I Oa, I Oh, 10c, etc, were supposedly scheduled to work on track A, but had inadvertently begun work on track B, an alarm condition would be raised and reported to the user on the remote computing device 22 and/or mobile communications device 24.

The tracking of personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. is achieved by assigning a virtual geographic perimeter to the worksite location, such that the software triggers a response when any of the tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. enter or leave such a virtual perimeter assigned to the worksite location. The virtual perimeter is configurable in software and can formed as a radius around a point location or by utilising a line segment tool or formed by multi-touch touchscreen gestures or the like.

The present invention therefore provides a system and method for tracking personnel which will reduce incidents, and reduce the significant risk of injury and/or death to deployed personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., and other railway staff and passengers, and provides an electronic audit trail The present invention therefore enabling supervisors to have a visual identification of all teams of personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. at all times simply by carrying tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. The system has been designed to improve safety around two main principles, namely Prevention and Rapid Response, as described below.

Prevention Preventing teams from straying onto open lines or tracks which is unfortunately a common occurrence Preventing teams from accessing track too early.

Preventing teams accessing at incorrect locations Preventing teams from making mistakes and working under live overheads. Preventing teams still being out on track if the possession is handed back early. Preventing clashes with other work parties.

Rapid Response II' an incident ever occurs on track the system can raise an alarm almost immediately, enabling direct contact between the working personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. and a remote user with the aid of a two-way radio built into the tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. update their positions to the mapping software around every 30 seconds so the system could not only display the near real time geographic coordinates of the incident, it can also give the nearest access points saving the rescue teams and emergency services valuable time.

In the event of an emergency or accident, the mapping software is also overlaid with the various "access points"; these being the points at which access is made to the rail asset from the public highway, and these are highlighted so that the person reporting the incident can supply the post code/geographic coordinates to the rescue teams or emergency services. The geographic coordinates being the longitude and latitude to specify the exact location of the incident and/or appropriate access point. The mapping system and method can also alert train drivers of any team working along track, the train driver would need to log into the system using a remote computing device 22 or mobile communications device 24 to pinpoint the trackers.

In a preferred embodiment, the remote computing device 22 may be selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: tablet computer, handheld computer, personal digital assistant, media player, desktop computer, notebook, virtual reality headset, smart watch, smart TV, any other digital media consumption device and the like. The mobile communications device 24 being a cellular mobile phone, smartphone, two-way radio and the like.

The tracking system and method can also be used on pipelines, road construction and overhead powerline assets, infrastructure and/or networks I0 Whilst the present invention primarily provides a system and method for tracking personnel which will reduce incidents, and reduce the significant risk of injury and/or death to deployed personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., it is possible to utilise the geolocation data obtained from the tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. to provide an automated electronic time tracker, by logging the time spent by individual workers 10a, lob, 10c, etc. in the predetermined work location, and/or, for example, time spent travelling to and from the work location, and/or on other assigned tasks. In this way, supervisors and key stakeholders are able to break down projects by personnel hours, and ascertain productivity and profitability in near real time.

The present invention can also be utilised in the following manner where two or more work parties are working in close proximity to one another and which provides a proximity alert or alarm condition, as detailed below.

The occurrence of accidents involving road-rail vehicles (RRVs) on railway assets, infrastructure and/or networks is particularly concerning. Whilst the driver of an RRV is often guided by a "Banksman" or spotter looking out for hazards, the incidence of accidents involving RRVs is still disproportionately high. The tracking system and method of the present invention can therefore be configured such that when if there is a confluence of two separate working parties within a certain predetermined distance, for example 10m to 30m, the trackers 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. of both parties emit an audible and/or haptic proximity warning or alert to signify that another working party is nearby, and to be extra vigilant. This is often the case where an RRV is travelling down a section of track on which another party is already working.

Trackers 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. could additionally be attached to the RRV and also to engineering, passenger and freight trains to monitor the location of such mobile assets in real time, or near real time. Monitoring the location of the RRV and trains on the user interface embodied on a remote computing device 22 or mobile communications device 24 is extremely useful information that can be used, for example, by the user to validate that an RRV has entered the line (track) at the appropriate access point and/or is on the correct section of track.

Tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. can also be attached to trolleys and trailers which are towed by RRVs and/or which are hand-propelled. Occasionally, trolleys and trailers can be erroneously left on track by personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., and the engineering supervisor, when using the present invention, is able to check in real time, or near real time, that the worksite is clear, before that section of track can be handed back to the network operator.

Geolocation information about RRVs, trolleys and trailers can also be useful if the trailer or trolley becomes detached from the RRV, as this again can be tracked in real time, or near real time. This is a particularly dangerous occurrence since inadvertently detached trolleys and trailers can build-up significant speed even on very shallow gradients. This fact, coupled with their almost silent running, means that the risk of collision with a working party would be high, and therefore the present invention serves to mitigate this risk since the engineering supervisor is able to alert the personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. should this a dangerous situation arise.

In order to quickly warn personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. working on the track of impending danger, the application software or user interface embodied on a remote computing device 22 or mobile communications device 24 can be programmed to provide a group alert or call to all personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc, assigned to that worksite location. Such a group alert can be via a push or in-app notification or alert and/or short message service (SMS) text message and/or e-mail notification and/or a group GSM cellular telecommunications call and/or a two-way radio call to communicate a warning to all personnel's mobile communications device or tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. The skilled person will understand that the engineering supervisor also has responsibility to position worksite markerboards which are usually placed a short distance from each end of the worksite location. Tracking devices 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. can be also be located and associated with such worksite markerboards, so that the engineering supervisor is able to confirm their correct position user interface embodied on a remote computing device 22 or mobile communications device 24. The skilled person will appreciate that the present invention also allows the engineering supervisor to, amongst other things, ensure that the worksite markerboards are removed before the track is handed back to the network operator.

The engineering supervisor markerboard, having a tracking device 12a, 12b, 12c, etc. located thereon, may also automatically generate an alert condition for the engineering supervisor if personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. come within a defined proximity, for example 40 metres of the tracked markerboards deployed at each end of the worksite. This response can be triggered in the software itself, or it is envisaged that the tracking devices I2a, 12b, 12c, etc. deployed in the markerboards are Bluetooth-enabled, and any local detection of personnel 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. entering within a predetermined distance generates an automatic audible/visual alert to the personnel 10a, lob, 10c, etc. and/or the engineering supervisor to warn that personnel 10a, lob, 10c, etc. may be leaving the predetermined work site location.

The display or user interface embodied on a remote computing device 22 or mobile communications device 24 can also display or overlay further location or mapping attributes of the worksite, including, for example, the Engineer's Line Reference (ELR) mileage and chains of the railway network to increase flexibility and the ease of use for the engineering supervisor.

It is further envisaged that a display or user interface can be displayed in the cockpit of every train (RRV/engineering/freight/passenger), so that the driver can easily see each and every tracked asset (machine/plant/vehicle/personnel 10a, lob, 10c, etc.) and can slow down or stop the train in the event of a dangerous situation occurring.

Figure 2 shows that the present invention can be implemented as charging cradle 26 for storing and charging a plurality of trackers 12a-12t simultaneously. The charging cradle 26 will also have a USB port 28 for connection to a smartphone 24 which is uniquely associated with the trackers 12a-12t on the charging cradle 26. The plurality of trackers 12a-12t are all programmed to contact this smartphone 24 in the event of an emergency, if one of the workers presses the SOS button on any of the trackers 12a-12t. The charging cradle 26 being connected to a mains electric supply 32 via cable 30.

Therefore, the system and method for tracking personnel according to the present invention greatly improves safety and reduces the administrative burden of established paper-based monitoring systems.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The Features disclosed in the Foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed 11) result, as appropriate, separately, or in any combination of such features, can be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof The invention is not intended to be limited to the details of the embodiments described herein, which are described by way of example only. It will be understood that features described in relation to any particular embodiment can be featured in combination with other embodiments.

It is contemplated by the inventor that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMSA method for tracking the location of a person being assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, comprising the steps of: displaying the location of the person on the screen of a remote computing device; assigning a virtual geographic perimeter to a predetermined worksite location; and generating an alert or alarm condition to a user if the person departs from the predetermined worksite location.
2 The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the uniquely identifiable tracking device is a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking device
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the GPS tracking device passes location information wirelessly via satellites to a ground-based receiving aerial connected to a server.
4. The method as claimed in claim I, wherein the location of the person is displayed via a remote application software and/or user interface embodied on the remote computing device and/or a mobile communications device being uniquely connected to the server.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the remote application software being downloaded to the remote computing device and/or a mobile communications device via known digital media platforms.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: tablet computer, handheld computer, personal digital assistant, media player, desktop computer, notebook, virtual reality headset, smart watch, smart TV, any other digital media consumption device and the like.IS
7 The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mobile communications device may be a cellular mobile phone, smartphone, two-way radio and the like
8. The method as claimed in claims 6 or 7, wherein the remote computing device and/or mobile communications device is connected to the server via wireless transmission protocols selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following. Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 standard), Bluetooth, LoRa, Siglox, Global System for Mobile (GSM) cellular telecommunications network and the like.
9. The method as claimed in claims 1 or 4, wherein the location of the person is transmitted continuously or intermittently, in real time, or near real time, from the tracking device, and remotely accessing and retrieving by the user.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the person can initiate direct contact with the user by means of a two-way radio incorporated into the tracking device.
11. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the remote application mapping software displays or overlays the location of the nearest access point or points to the person and/or predetermined worksite location.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein in the event of an emergency or accident situation the access point or points are highlighted on the display such that the user when reporting the incident to emergency/rescue services being able to additionally supply the post code and/or coordinates thereof
13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the geolocation data obtained from the tracking devices being utilised in an automated time tracking application.
14. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein if there is a confluence of persons working in separate working parties within a certain predetermined distance, then the tracking devices of both persons emit an audible and/or haptic proximity warning or alert to signify that another working party is nearby.
15. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of assigning a uniquely identifiable tracking device to at least one mobile asset selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: engineering train, freight train, machinery, passenger train, plant, road-rail vehicle, trailer, trolley, worksite markerboard and the like; and displaying the location of the mobile asset on the screen of a remote computing device.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the uniquely identifiable tracking devices being removably securable to the mobile asset by means of a magnetic 10 attachment.
17. The method as claimed in claims 15 or 16, wherein a virtual geographic boundary is formed as a radius around the worksite markerboard assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, and wherein the application software being operable to issue an alarm condition if the person enters into the virtual geographic boundary, and wherein the tracking device deployed on the worksite markerboard and/or the person emits an audible and/or haptic proximity warning or alert and/or notifies the user.
18. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the event of an emergency or accident, or possible emergency situation, the remote application software being operable to send to each person in a working party a group message via a push or in-app notification or alert and/or short message service (SMS) text message and/or e-mail notification and/or a group GSM cellular telecommunications call and/or a two-way radio call to communicate a warning to each person's mobile communications device
19. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the remote application software and/or user interface displays or overlays the Engineer's Line Reference (ELR) mileage and chains of the railway network.
20. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the remote application software and/or user interface is additionally displayed to a driver or operator of any vehicle travelling on railway assets, infrastructure and/or networks, the vehicle being selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: engineering train, freight train, passenger train, road-rail vehicle and the like.
21. A system for tracking the location of a person being assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, comprising: means for displaying the location of the person on the screen of a remote computing device; means for assigning a virtual geographic perimeter to a predetermined worksite location; and means for generating an alert or alarm condition to a user if the person departs from the predetermined worksite location.
22 The system as claimed in claim 21, wherein a plurality of uniquely identifiable tracking devices are stored and charged in a charging cradle for deployment.
23. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the charging cradle comprises a USB port for connection to a mobile communications device, the mobile communications device being uniquely associated with each of the plurality of uniquely identifiable tracking devices on the charging cradle
24. The system as claimed in claims 22 or 23, wherein the plurality of uniquely identifiable tracking devices being arranged to automatically contact the mobile communications device of the user in the event of an emergency situation or whereby the person activates an SOS signal.
25. A computer program product for tracking the location of a person being assigned with a uniquely identifiable tracking device, comprising: computer program means for displaying the location of the tracking device on the screen of a remote computing device; computer program means for assigning a virtual geographic perimeter to a predetermined worksite location; and computer program means for generating an alert or alarm condition to a user if the person departs from the predetermined worksite location.