During pushed shunting movements there is often a lack of visibility, increasing the risk of accidents. Efficiency is also impacted because you either need at least 2-man operations or have to walk back-and-forth between either ends of the convoy.
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Certain shunting operations require a second or third person besides the locomotive driver. These workers give directions and manually couple wagons. This means the shunter is often in dangerous places such as between wagons, tracks or at the front of the convoy.
Besides the shunter there are many other dangers to be aware of. Objects below field-of-vision such as track workers working, other vehicles, low-visibility from industrial processes and debris.
When shunting with one person, they have to change position from the front of the convoy to the locomotive and back. This means walking multiple kilometers, which increases the risk of falling and makes shunting operations take up two to three times longer.
If you use multiple people for shunting, it has to be performed a lot slower. You want to ensure safety and relying on others for directions is much more ineffective than seeing it for yourself. Instructions can be unclear and walkie-talkie communication might not work in longer convoys.
Locomotive driving is a challenging job, involving night shifts, physically demanding work, and exposure to all weather conditions. The rail industry faces an increasing labor shortage, with nearly 50,000 employees, including drivers, expected to retire by 2030.
OTIV addresses these challenges by reducing the workload, combating fatigue, and enhancing working conditions. By enabling operators to handle greater train capacity with the same workforce, OTIV helps bridge the labor gap and supports a more sustainable rail workforce with assistance, remote control and autonomous driving systems.
In single man operations efficiency can be boosted by up to 30% by reducing the walking distance during shunting. In multi-man operations the same efficiency gain can be observed, allowing rail employees to be better allocated across sites.
It is impossible to put a fixed cost on an accident involving rail, but it is never small. Be it the cost to human life or the large cost for maintaining or renewing rolling stock. With better visibility, OTIV helps your drivers reduce incident rate to 0.
OTIV really made my job a lot safer so I can work a lot quicker and I have to worry less about having an accident
Geoffrey
CEO BASF
