Brigade Electronics: upping safety for overnight roadworks

Nighttime road works hold many advantages for using the road network. They minimize disruption whilst reducing diversions. Despite this, there’s an issue with safety among workers which needs to be addressed.

Not only does poor visibility increase potential hazards and the risk of injury, but worker fatigue can also result in serious injury or even death during nighttime hours. This could be as a result of incorrectly using machinery or the inability to see and react to moving vehicles.

The construction industry is well known as one of the world’s most dangerous fields of work to be employed in. It’s been revealed that over half of incidents happen within the work zone and most of these involve an injury or death involving a moving vehicle.

It has been suggested that blind spots on vehicles is one of the major contributing factors to injury whilst working at night, dusty worksites and bad weather also contribute to this issue. The inability to hear approaching vehicles can also be a large problem for those who are required to wear a form of hearing protection.

Global leader in vehicle safety systems, Brigade Electronics. Has unveiled a range of products in efforts to increase visibility and overall safety whilst working on-site at night.

Advanced camera monitoring systems offered by the company, such as its VBC-300C unit, is a flush-mount side-view camera which offers useful blind spot coverage so drivers can look our for other employees or objects which they may be unable to see without the aid.

A system can also be fitted to the nearside of the vehicle which is able to alert the driver of the presence of workers or vulnerable road users.

Meanwhile, the SS-BC-08 speaking alarm system is an “audible vehicle manoeuvring warning to warn vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning left”.

One of the companies award-winning solutions is the Backeye®360 which, as the title suggests, provides a comprehensive 360 view of the surroundings of the vehicle, making any hazards or workers totally visible, even in complete darkness thanks to the high-specification, HD camera technology.

Corey Heniser, CEO of Brigade Electronics, said: "Worksites present a number of challenges when it comes to visibility. Not only are they dusty and dirty places to be, but when this is combined with nighttime hours or difficult weather conditions, it can become increasingly dangerous for construction workers to be spotted by those operating moving vehicles.” 

He then said: “Active safety systems are therefore crucial to assisting drivers and enhancing safety for workers operating in these conditions. This is why we always recommend that a combination of both passive and active systems, such as cameras and alarms, are fitted to vehicles for the ultimate safety solution."