OPERATIONS

New device to weed out users

VICTORIA-based safety product supply company Andatech has released a contactless and automatic alcohol breath testing and facial recognition device that it claims can help employers and occupational health and safety officers detect and prevent drug and alcohol abuse at work.

 Soberlive FRX

Soberlive FRX

 

Soberlive FRX uses facial recognition technology and a breathalyser to stop anyone who may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs from starting their shift.

The unit is already being used at mine sites across the country including Carrapateena and Olympic Dam in South Australia and in Western Australia's Pilbara, with contractors and subcontractors such as Universal Cranes and Exact Contracting also using the device.

Soberlive FRX can be connected to any access control system for results in less than 10 seconds.

The unit also doubles as an employee time attendance system by logging the employees ID, blood alcohol concentration and time of entry.

The unit has a large internal memory and can store 10,000 registered faces and 2000 test results.

To prevent a sober co-worker taking an alcohol test on a drunk friend's behalf, Soberlive FRX checks facial verification three times in the process.

Andatech workplace specialist Jaka Exstrada said the wall-mounted unit was highly accurate.

"I expect it will become an integral part of not only offices and workplaces, but also construction sites, airlines and logistics companies where alcohol testing is conducted daily and employers are after a fast, efficient and cohesive system," he said.

"Because results from tests are recorded instantly and synched with the andalink account, administrators can conduct live monitoring of a workplace's screening and alcohol testing policy."

Exstrada said this provided photographic evidence of every test taken by employees and visitors.

According to the Australian Drug Foundation 5% of all workplace deaths and 11% of accidents in the country involved alcohol use, with an estimated 62% of harmful drug and alcohol users in full-time employment.

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