Enhancing Workplace Safety in Agriculture with IoT

Many agricultural businesses continue to rely on outdated, manual safety protocols, making it difficult to ensure compliance and prevent incidents effectively. iTRAKASSETS’ mission is to address these challenges by providing technology-driven solutions that automate safety protocols, help build better safety habits, and mitigate risks across farms and remote properties. 

Improving Safety Practices with GPS Technology 

In a recent project with a large dairy farm in Victoria, iTRAKASSETS addressed the challenge of maintaining safe working conditions, to prevent hazards, incidents, and even fatalities across farming operations. This initiative introduced a technology-driven safety solution, providing: 

• Tracking Assets in Remote Locations: Real-time monitoring of quad bikes, RVs, tractors, utilities, and trucks across vast and isolated farmland 

• Configurable Alerts and Geofencing: Alerts for speeding, after-hours movements, SOS/duress signals, and impact detection. Geofences mark “Slow Go Zones” (speed limits) and “No Go Zones” (restricted areas like steep terrains or dams), alerting riders to hazardous areas and ensuring they stay within safe zones 

• Trip History and Asset Monitoring: Detailed reporting on routes, speeds, idle times, and asset usage 

Tailored Device Selection for Safety and Operational Needs 

For effective monitoring and safety enforcement, iTRAKASSETS leveraged Digital Matter’s range of durable and versatile hardware and software solutions, selected to address the varied conditions encountered on agricultural sites: 

• G70 Bluetooth®: Rugged and durable for extreme environments, ideal for use on quad bikes, side-by-sides, and heavy machinery 

• Dart3 Bluetooth®: Provides robust tracking for utilities and vehicles, ensuring constant monitoring 

• Bolt2: Offers a ‘Plug n Move’ capability, perfect for vehicles frequently shared among workers, allowing for quick and easy transfers 

• Yabby3 GPS: Integrated with livestock monitoring technology, such as Pasture.io, to track and manage livestock movements across paddocks accurately 

• Telematics Guru: A front-end asset tracking platform designed to visualize assets and geofences, report on asset data, receive alerts, and more 

This technology helps enforce safe operational practices by identifying asset states (on or in-use) and offering configurable actions in response to speeding, unauthorized movements, or other emergencies. 

Results and Improved Safety Outcomes 

The iTRAKASSETS solution, utilizing Digital Matter devices, has significantly improved farm safety culture. During an initial pilot program, reported incidents dropped by over 50%, from 1,500 alerts per month, as safer behavior and compliance improved. This success earned recognition, winning the 2021 WorkSafe Victoria Awards for Commitment to Work and Safety on a Farm. 

“Our WorkSafe GPS solution has automated the change in workplace habits and created greater safety for our clients. The versatility and ruggedness of Digital Matter devices have been key in achieving the results needed across different vehicle types and conditions,” said Stewart McConachy, Managing Director at iTRAKASSETS. 

For more information about iTRAKASSETS and their agricultural safety and tracking solutions, please visit https://www.itrakassets.com.