Access Control Systems Ensure West Gate Tunnel Workers’ Safety

The Monash Freeway upgrade, access improvements for Webb Doc and the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel are city-shaping projects that will provide quicker and safer journeys for Melbourne commuters.

West Gate Tunnel – 5 Years in the Making

Providing an alternative to the West Gate Bridge the West Gate Tunnel will be a much needed second river crossing.

Two state-of-the-art boring machines building the twin tunnels started their journey at the northern portal on Whitehall Street, Footscray and are moving south-west towards the southern portals in the West Gate Freeway.

Behind the boring machines, a mobile factory installs a concrete lining, forming the walls, roof and base of the tunnel. Followed by crews of up to 20 people who build the road surface and install electrics, ventilation and safety system.

For more information about the West Gate Tunnel Project visit the West Gate Tunnel webpage

Managing the Workforce 

With over 3,000 people currently working on the project keeping track of, managing and protecting every person on site is a mammoth undertaking.

Underground excavation and tunnelling is a high risk, hazardous activity. As such mining operators are responsible for ensuring strict compliance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations to protect workers from injury or death.

Controlling access to high risk or restricted areas and managing the movement of the site-based workforce, contractors and visitors is crucial to the prevention and minimisation of risks to the health and safety of both employees and the public.

A leader in workforce management software as a service, Damstra Technology is providing essential systems for mining operators and other project construction contractors to monitor, manage, keep track and protect their employees.

Australian-made turnstiles – on the job

Requiring reliable, high-performance physical entry and exit barriers that could be teamed with their sophisticated site and access control technology Damstra chose Rotech.

Eight F21 full height turnstiles have been delivered to various tunnel project locations. Their role is to secure perimeters, prevent unauthorised entry and control access to high danger zones.

Rotech’s Australian made TriStar F21 full height turnstiles work seamlessly with the Damstra’s hi-tech workforce management and access control software.  Performing a vital role in creating a safe and secure operating environment for all personnel the turnstiles allow:

• Employee swipe cards record arrival and departure times for calculating wages
• The access control system records and monitors who is on site and their location. Critical information in an emergency where site management and safety crews need to know the location and how many personnel on site
• Limits access to one person at a time – there’s no tailgating of an unauthorised person following an authorised one
• A bi-directional turnstile means the TriStar can be set to entrance only, exit only or used in both directions
• High, wide entrance allows easy entry for personnel wearing hard hats and carrying tools.

Rotech

Why Rotech’s TriStar F21 Full Height Turnstile?

The TriStar is the first Australian-made product of its type, created to provide customers with a safe and secure method of access control with multiple optional features and customisation options:

• Ideal for construction sites, a portable base and solar power options allow it to be used in remote locations or situations without access to mains power
• A high-capacity drive mechanism with a 5 year warranty
• Strong galvanised frame and rotor preventing forced entry
• The turnstile roof design prevents unauthorised and unseen entry at unattended exits
• Status indication system provides the ability to see whether the turnstile secure i.e. the entry/exit is closed or freewheeling
• On power failure, the built-in relay automatically initiates the battery back system and sets off a warning siren. This means in situations where power is down the turnstile can continue to function normally for up to 3000 cycles without mains power.

Make an enquiry

If you would like further information about this or other safety and security combinations for your premises call us on 07 3250 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au