Summary
MRC Ventures partnered with Jurong Port, one of Asia’s leading multipurpose ports, to deploy an advanced AI-powered computer vision system aimed at elevating workplace safety standards. Operating in a high-risk industrial environment, Jurong Port needed a solution to proactively identify and mitigate safety hazards in real time. Our system analyzes live video feeds to automatically detect safety protocol violations, such as non-compliance with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and unauthorized entry into restricted zones. By providing immediate alerts to safety officers, the solution has transformed Jurong Port’s safety culture from reactive to proactive, significantly reducing incidents and enhancing operational oversight.
Challenge:
Jurong Port is a bustling hub of activity, with constant movement of heavy machinery, complex cargo handling operations, and a large workforce. This dynamic environment presents inherent safety risks that are challenging to manage solely through manual supervision. Key challenges included:
- Manual Monitoring Gaps: With a vast operational area, it was impossible for safety officers to have eyes everywhere at once, leading to potential delays in identifying and responding to unsafe acts or conditions.
- PPE Compliance: Manually ensuring that every worker in every location is consistently wearing the required PPE (e.g., helmets, safety vests) is a resource-intensive and difficult task.
- Restricted Zone Security: Preventing unauthorized personnel from entering high-risk operational zones, such as areas with active crane movements or heavy vehicle traffic, was a critical but challenging priority.
- Reactive Incident Response: Safety interventions often occurred after an incident or a near-miss had already happened, rather than proactively preventing them.
Jurong Port sought a technology-driven solution to create a persistent, intelligent layer of safety monitoring across its facilities.
Solution:
MRC Ventures developed and integrated a custom computer vision platform that leverages Jurong Port’s existing network of CCTV cameras. The system acts as a tireless digital safety officer, continuously monitoring for potential hazards and policy violations.
The core functionalities include:
- Automated PPE Detection: The AI model is trained to identify standard PPE and instantly flags any individual within a designated zone who is not wearing a helmet or safety vest.
- Restricted Zone Monitoring: The system uses geofencing on the video feeds to define hazardous areas. If a person or unauthorized vehicle enters one of these zones, an immediate alert is triggered.
- Unsafe Proximity Alerts: The platform can detect when workers are in unsafe proximity to moving heavy machinery, helping to prevent collisions and crush injuries.
- Centralized Alert Dashboard: All detected events are sent in real time to a central dashboard monitored by the port’s safety team. Alerts include a video snapshot and location, allowing for rapid verification and dispatch of personnel.
Results and Impact:
The implementation of the MRC Ventures AI vision system has yielded significant and measurable improvements in safety and operational efficiency at Jurong Port.
- Reduced Safety Incidents: Within the first six months of deployment, there was a notable reduction in safety-related incidents and near-misses in the monitored areas.
- Improved PPE Compliance: Automated, persistent monitoring has driven PPE compliance rates up to over 98%, fostering a stronger safety culture among all personnel.
- Faster Incident Response: The real-time alert system has drastically reduced the time it takes for safety officers to respond to potential hazards, from minutes to mere seconds.
- Data-Driven Safety Insights: The system collects valuable data on the frequency and location of specific violations, allowing Jurong Port to identify high-risk areas and implement targeted training or engineering controls.