Broadband alarms by Provix keep workers safe without excessive noise

Provix broadband alarms reduce noise complaints.

Provix Inc. supplies a wide range of vision-enhancement solutions for industrial use, but it also offers broadband alarms for trucks and cranes. These backup alarms warn workers to get out of the way of vehicles that are moving in reverse and cannot necessarily see people in their paths. By providing “white noise” alarms, Provix also eliminates noise complaints in outdoor work environments. These alarms are easy for workers to locate, and they also have self-adjusting volume levels.

Working with camera systems

The benefits of these Provix backup alarms in pits and quarries were recently profiled in Avenues, the trade magazine of the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. The article discussed common problems with conventional alarms: for one, they emit tonal sounds that traverse over long distances and irritate surrounding communities. In addition, employees get used to the beeping sounds and cannot determine from which directions the noises are coming.

These issues are eliminated with broadband alarms, which operate at lower frequencies that nearby workers can hear, but local residents cannot. They emit a unique “Shh” sound that is easy to locate. The self-adjusting sound levels enable automatic volume control when ambient noise levels are reduced. The volume decrease by up to 20 decibels during quiet evening shifts. This sound dissipates quickly and does not carry over long distances.

Many Canadian aggregate operations have been implementing Provix backup alarms, according to Avenues. A key example is the Lafarge operation in Caledon, Ont., which saw an immediate reduction in complaints about reversing alarms with no diminishing of workplace safety. Broadband alarms have been fully approved for surface and underground mining operations, and the Toronto Transit Commission has used them exclusively in a subway expansion project and in construction activity located near residential areas.

“White-noise” backup alarms may have a higher initial cost than that of conventional alarms, they also have a lifetime guarantee; the reduced repair and replacement result in significant cost savings over the long term. The alarms can work in partnership with Provix camera systems to detect and alert workers before accidents happen.

For more information, contact Provix.

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