In shop safety device? - Fall safety

[BertoBuckeye]

So my wife is concerned about my safety while i'm in the shop. Worried i'll fall off a ladder or have something drop on me, ETC ETC. She is concerned and wants me to have some sort of safety device on me. Which I get. I'm out there for several hours at a time and things could get ugly quick.

Are there any devices folks use or are aware of that would help address this? I was thinking about some device for seniors where you press a button if you need help. But that won't help if i'm unconscious.

Didn't know if anyone had experience with a device that would help with this?

 

[The Cobbler]

alarm companies have options. I had one for my mother in the last bit of her life. it would sound the siren & if no one answered the phone, they would call 911. I had to buy some equipment from them, pay a a small install fee and it was tied into the regular monthly monitoring and that remained the same

 

[Nocuffs]

How About if you have a wall switch that turns on a outside light you could make a safety system. If you install a motion/occupancy switch on it, if you stop moving for a set time the light would go off. If she sees the light “off” she could come investigate.

 

[BenDaPirate]

The newer Apple Watches have a fall detection on them. If it indicates a fall it waits for your response, if no response then it contacts emergency services.

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[ard]

My wife insists 'no chainsawing if Im not home'

I dont have the heart to tell her that if she WAS here and I had a chainsaw accident that was serious enough that I couldnt dial 911 that her being in the house wasnt gonna matter.

I wonder if there is a 'dead mans swithc App' for a phone? You need to reset it every X minutes, otherwise it calls a number (911, house, neighbor, spouse) Basically a countdown from 10 miutes to 0, then an alarm for say 30 seconds until you reset it. If you dont it calls your wife. or 911

There are a few apps around like this, but more for 'seurity' and not 'workshop safety'. Like going on a hike, out at night, foreigh country, etc deadmantracker is one

 

[matt_i]

IP camera (security system) so she can see you moving around out there?

 

[gunguy]

Google, "fall detection" and you'll get a lot of hits. Some are watches or pendants, and some are apps . I'm not familiar with any of them in detail, but you've got me thinking.

My suggestion is that you do some research and reading to find something that fits your particular situation. Have your wife help in the research as she is the one who knows what she wants in a system and she may also have to respond to an alarm.

Jim

 

[ratdoggy]

Can't she be out there if you're doing something iffy?
Or just bump up the life insurance so she can sleep better...

 

[harley jim]

Firemen have a device that they wear on there person that detects no movement if you dont respond it sets off an alarm.
I think the apple watch has a similar feature that can be set to dial a preset number. I get some of the same concerns from my wife. They care it's not always on target but that's how they are wired.

Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk

 

[Jagmandave]

Amongst all these good workable ideas I saw two that would be applicable to my situation -

1) get the wife involved before any solution is chosen

2) camera idea works for me, newer cameras have sound as well as picture, so she might be able to hear you yell if you fall or get hurt - tempered by the fact that a shop can be a noisy place at times with power tools, grinders , compressors etc running.....but a couple of well placed cameras would allow her to at least take a peek once in a while to check on you.

This is a particularly good idea if the shop is not attached or easily accessible from where she is.

 

[kellymc]

Apple Watch

Has Fall Detection capability - calls friends first then 911
Can use Hey Siri to call 911 or call someone else
and it tells time

 

[BDT/NWMN]

You need a puppy

 

[logical]

You need a puppy

Lassie saved several children who fell into wells or otherwise got into trouble so I agree.

Sent from my garage.

 

[CraigStu]

To me the cameras idea would be the best as long as they can see the entire shop. I haven't done any research but I 'think' you could buy how ever many needed to cover the entire shop and an old laptop to display them on. Thinking 2-4 cameras and having the feed from all of them on the screen at the same time. You see this type setup in 7-11s etc so it can't be too expensive especially since you don't need to store the feed like they do.

 

[jpcjguy]

I have a Sonos music setup with alexa in the house. I plan to add the garage to the system. You can tell alexa "announcement" and it will broadcast to every speaker in the system. As long as I am conscious, I can call for help. My wife can also call and if I don't respond she can come out to the garage. Overrides any music playing.

 

[BertoBuckeye]

Thanks everyone I'll do some more research. I always have my phone on me so an app that detects motion would be good.

We already have a camera in the shop but she would have to be watching it all the time to satisfy her needs. And I wasnt allowed to have music on so she could hear. Deal breaker! Haha

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Thanks everyone I'll do some more research. I always have my phone on me so an app that detects motion would be good.

We already have a camera in the shop but she would have to be watching it all the time to satisfy her needs. And I wasnt allowed to have music on so she could hear. Deal breaker! Haha

Well... I have to say... what do you think? I mean, if you think some kind of motion or fall sensor is a good idea go, for it. No one wants to die of exposure unconscious on the garage floor. I get that!
But if your health and balance are good and if her concerns are unreasonable... maybe she can reconsider that. I'm not saying your wife is one, but there are hypochondriacs out there.

 

[jmarkwolf]

As I recall, there is a device that firemen wear that senses when the wearer is horizontal and/or not moving, and either sounds an alarm, and/or flashes a strobe, and/or sends a signal of some type.

I considered designing such a device as my senior project in engineering school, but decided it was too ambitious for a single semester. Plus the signalling part was problematic 30 years ago.

Nowadays, such a device could be realized with a smart phone app, due to the integrated accelerometers and signalling.

Perhaps the firemen among our ranks could comment.

Oops, Harley Jim already mentioned this.

 

[Fatboy148]

Thanks everyone I'll do some more research. I always have my phone on me so an app that detects motion would be good.

It will be interested to see if these work in real life. Standing still talking on the phone or using the bathroom may be interesting. I know the PASS alarms that firemen wear that were mentioned earlier can be a pain if you aren't actively doing something. They will do a warning beep and if you don't move, the alarm will activate.


Please let us know....

 

[PhantomEB]

My girl comes out to the garage from time to time to check up on me. Lately it’s less due to being mostly self isolated these days and I am a little chatterbox when I get social time. I really should bump up my life insurance!

 

[930dreamer]

Daughters father in law died after a ladder fall in his shop. He was in his late 50's.

 

[Cardboard Man]

Thanks everyone I'll do some more research. I always have my phone on me so an app that detects motion would be good.

We already have a camera in the shop but she would have to be watching it all the time to satisfy her needs. And I wasnt allowed to have music on so she could hear. Deal breaker! Haha

My thoughts:
Safety is always a good thing, especially around equipment and when alone.

As I read further through your posts I begin to think it's less about safety and more about control. You already have your phone on you, you already have cameras that watch you. You're not allowed to play music. Christ, what's next? I don't mean to be rude but it sounds like she has you on a short leash already. If she's really concerned with your safety, she should come check on you or hang out with you more.

 

[23ford]

Go to ebay and buy an emergency box just like on the commercials that you do not have to pay amonthly fee for. set it to call her cell bought one for dad years ago $100

 

[Samh]

When I am sick normally, my wife checks up on me all the time instead of just leaving me be. So one time she doesn't do this, and I need to go to the bathroom to puke. Sitting in front of the toilet, and realize I have to ****. So I have a decision to make, do I **** all over the floor and puke in the toilet, or **** in the toilet and puke all over the floor? So I grab a smal garbage can, and sit on the toilet while holding the garbage can in front of my face. Apparently, I pass out, fall off the toilet, land face first and break my nose, *** is sticking up in the air, with the garbage can between my legs and the toilet. When I came to, I was laying in a pool of blood, praying I didn't bust my front teeth out. Wife never comes up.

So while that apple watch would've been handy, it would have meant my wife would've seen me in that situation...lol

 

[chrisp123]

My wife insists 'no chainsawing if Im not home'

I dont have the heart to tell her that if she WAS here and I had a chainsaw accident that was serious enough that I couldnt dial 911 that her being in the house wasnt gonna matter.

I wonder if there is a 'dead mans swithc App' for a phone? You need to reset it every X minutes, otherwise it calls a number (911, house, neighbor, spouse) Basically a countdown from 10 miutes to 0, then an alarm for say 30 seconds until you reset it. If you dont it calls your wife. or 911

There are a few apps around like this, but more for 'seurity' and not 'workshop safety'. Like going on a hike, out at night, foreigh country, etc deadmantracker is one

I was at a safety conference for work last year and a company came out with an app just as you are describing, cant remember what the name of it was. the purpose was to get around the working alone policies implemented in some areas.

 

[Wrench97]

Mine upped the life insurance and bought me a new chain saw..............hmmmmmmmm.

 

[D.J.]

It’s called a cell phone!

 

[ard]

Some apps:

deadman tracker

https://www.deadmantracker.com/

This is more general- like you are hiking.... taking a trip... wilds or borneo... but there is a customizable interval feature that asks 'are you ok'. Set it to every hour. or 30 seconds. Or adjust it to a shorter interval when you will be on the top of the ladder- you know, ignoring the warning and up on the tip top. (So their notification will startle you.... )


ANother:

https://kineticglobal.com/personal.php

This is more of a personal safey/attacker focus. Arm it and put your fingre on the screen- then make the run to your car. If your finger comes off, it alerts. 5 seconds to enter a code or it calls .

another: deadman app
https://deadman-app.soft112.com/

dunno about this one....



Anyone else find any?

 

[ncfireman1918]

As I recall, there is a device that firemen wear that senses when the wearer is horizontal and/or not moving, and either sounds an alarm, and/or flashes a strobe, and/or sends a signal of some type.

I considered designing such a device as my senior project in engineering school, but decided it was too ambitious for a single semester. Plus the signalling part was problematic 30 years ago.

Nowadays, such a device could be realized with a smart phone app, due to the integrated accelerometers and signalling.

Perhaps the firemen among our ranks could comment.

Oops, Harley Jim already mentioned this.

It's called a PASS device. If it doesn't detect movement within a certain time frame (most are 60 seconds), it starts making a "chirping" noise. If you shake your **** (the sensor is typically on your waist), it will shut up for 60 seconds. If you don't move within a few seconds (most are ~10 seconds), then it goes to full alarm mode, which is a REALLY loud alert. It helps your compadres locate you.

That being said, I put an Amazon Echo in my shop. I can use it as an intercom to the house. I'm also planning to install an Echo Bridge, which will connect the Echos to my home phone. The idea being that if I need help, I can say, "Alexa call 911". Not gonna work if I'm knocked out, but better than nothing. I often think about the fact that I work alone most of the time, and the "What ifs" can take over.

 

[BertoBuckeye]

My thoughts:
Safety is always a good thing, especially around equipment and when alone.

As I read further through your posts I begin to think it's less about safety and more about control. You already have your phone on you, you already have cameras that watch you. You're not allowed to play music. Christ, what's next? I don't mean to be rude but it sounds like she has you on a short leash already. If she's really concerned with your safety, she should come check on you or hang out with you more.

Eh its not about control at all sorry to disappoint. Her mentor died falling off the ladder within the last 5 yrs. For a while she didn't want me on ladders unless her or someone was around to spot me. When the shop went up she realized that wasn't a realistic expectation. This all re-ignited a week or so ago when i asked her to help me hang something up high, and she realized how tall a 12ft step ladder feels.

Phone won't do much for me if I'm knocked out or its not in reach for some reason.

The no music thing, maybe it wasn't clear. But she wants to be able to hear if I fall.

She does come out, somewhat infrequently. Its a separate building, we have a 3 yr old. It not super easy to just get on over there.

 

[BertoBuckeye]

Following the PASS recommendation I found the app linked below which is a great idea (but missing some functionality). Like maybe after the alarm goes off it sends a SMS message to a pre-deteemined number?

https://m.apkpure.com/firefighter-pass-alarm/com.firerescuetech.passalarm