Keep your distance (in the workplace) with a Social Distancing Sensor

Maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters requires a huge change in our behavior. It’s a new custom that we need to turn into a habit. The Social Distancing Sensor (SDS) helps people remember to keep a safe distance from each other, for example, in the workplace. It enables people to work together more safely and protect each other’s health.

This distance sensor uses ultra wideband (UWB) technology to measure distances. The SDS tag warns you by emitting a signal when you are too close to someone else with a tag.


Did you know?
It is even possible to connect tags, so people from the same household can be near each other.


How does the Social Distancing Sensor work?

The Social Distancing Sensor alerts employees with a signal that vibrates, emits a sound, and displays a light when they are within 1.5 meters of a coworker with a tag. The SDS not only makes the working environment safer, but production locations, warehouses and construction sites can also benefit from this solution.

How does the Social Distancing Sensor work?

Hoe does the SDS work? Step 1: Each person receives a tag upon arrival. Step 2: As soon as the distance between two tags is less than 1.5 meters, both tags will emit a signal. Step 3: The signal stops when the distance is greater than 1.5 meters.

Compared to similar solutions that work via Bluetooth, UWB is much more accurate, much quicker and more reliable. The Social Distancing Sensor provides measurements that are accurate to 10 cm. What’s more, no infrastructure is required; all you need are tags for measuring the distance.

The small tag is easy to carry by means of a bracelet around the upper arm or on a key cord. It is splash-proof and it can be disinfected after use. The rechargeable battery lasts about 8 to 12 hours, depending on the number of signals it sends.

Connect one or more tags

Visitors from the same household are allowed to be near each other when tags are connected as a set. These users will only receive a warning signal if they are within 1.5 meters of a non-connected tag.

Accuracy to 10 cm

SDS tags are produced by Sentech in collaboration with Focus Technologies. The system has been developed based on the ultra wideband technology. The wireless signal consists of high-frequency short pulses. These signals are not sensitive to other wireless signals, which allows for reliable measurements.

Guaranteeing privacy

When in use, the privacy of employees is protected because the tag is not linked to a person. With an optional extra, you – as employer – can read out the tags. This will allow you to see when the tags are together at a specific place, such as the coffee machine. This knowledge helps you to make your employees aware of maintaining a proper distance at a certain location.

If we all comply with the 1.5-meter distance rule, we will prevent the spread of viruses such as Covid-19. With an SDS, you limit the possibility of your employees becoming ill at work and spreading viruses.

More possibilities through options

If you choose the SDS Access Point option, you can improve the insights and possibilities offered by the SDS tag. This add-on connects to your own computer network, which offers benefits such as:

  • If a visitor leaves your building or grounds with the SDS tag, both you and the user will be warned.

  • Normally, the SDS is delivered with sound, vibration and light signals, but with the SDS Access Point you can turn signals off and on yourself.

  • The Access Point allows you to activate the ‘Time indication’ function on the tags. Tags measure the duration of each incident and you can read what amount of time two tags have been within each other’s minimum distance. This information tells you who is at increased risk because they have been in contact with colleagues or visitors for a longer period of time.

Social Distancing Sensor helpt bij afstand houden

The small tag is easy to carry with a bracelet around the upper arm or on a key cord. It is splash-proof and it can be disinfected after use.

From 80 to 150 cm of distance

Our 1.5-meter society is now a reality and it represents the new custom. Frank Wijnveld, Crowd Management Expert at Event Safety Institute, explains what this new society means for groups: “Normally, we are busy managing crowds at large events. We try to fit as many people as possible into a small space. But now, the tables have turned. We can do a lot of crowd management by separating the flows of people and determining the routes but guaranteeing 1.5-meters’ distance for individuals is still difficult.”

How do you maintain the correct distance in the workplace, at the coffee machine, on the stairs, and at your desk? In our 1.5-meter society, it is a challenge for employees to maintain the right distance and work safely.

According to Wijnveld, we are used to keeping 80 cm of distance between us and someone we are talking to but, he adds, “Now that distance must be doubled. That requires a change in behavior where we have to make a connection from the point of view of behavioral psychology. We need to be reminded of it, because it’s not in our nature to do so. With a tool like the SDS tag, we can get used to this new custom.”

Also for the leisure sector

The SDS tag also helps visitors in the leisure industry to keep a distance of 1.5 meters. Business owners of hotels, catering establishments and amusement parks are testing the limits of allowing – with a safe distance – the maximum number of visitors.

The Crowd Management Expert shares his vision on maintaining distance in the leisure sector: “There are areas with enough space, such as a nature reserve. Especially in places like museums and restaurants, it is important to use the area as effectively as possible in order to be profitable. For these types of locations, it would be great for people to carry around a tool that reminds them to maintain that 1.5-meters’ distance.”

Make people aware of the correct distance

We were used to keeping an 80-cm distance, so the 1.5-meter distance rule really requires a huge change in behavior. How do you make people aware of this?

Especially in workplaces, where people’s attention is focused on their work, there is a good chance that maintaining the right distance will be forgotten. A tool like the Social Distancing Sensor helps to make people aware.

Make it easier to keep your distance with these distance sensors.

ask Marco your question

Expert:

Hendrik-Jan Dreuning

"Maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters requires a huge change in behavior. How do you keep the right distance from people, for example, in the workplace?"

e-mail Hendrik-Jan

or call: +31 73 2200 335

Downloads:

Specifications Social Distancing Sensor

Would you like to know more about the SDS? In the brochure (713 kb) you will find specifications about this tool.

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