Telematics system for preventing collisions and improving worksite safety

A method of monitoring objects in a space having a piece of equipment and a worker, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a telematics system comprising a base station;
• b) securing a first portable unit to the worker, the first portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the worker;
• c) securing a second portable unit to the piece of equipment, the second portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine a first location of the piece of equipment;
• d) securing a third portable unit to the piece of equipment at a different position than the second portable unit, the third portable unit configurable to determine a second location of the piece of equipment;
• e) communicating the location of the worker and the first and second location of the piece of equipment from the first, second, and third portable units to the base station;
• f) comparing the locations of the worker and the piece of equipment;
• and
• g) issuing an alert to the worker if the worker and the piece of equipment come within a predetermined distance of each other.

A telematics system for monitoring objects in a space having a piece of equipment and a worker, comprising:

• a base station comprising a position sensor for determining the location of the base station;
• and
• a plurality of portable units communicably connected to the base station, each portable unit comprising a position sensor,
• wherein a portable unit comprises an airtight ambient air chamber, a temperature sensor for measuring temperature data, a humidity sensor for measuring humidity data, a volatile organic compound sensor for detecting volatile organic compounds around the volatile organic compound sensor, and a microphone for recording audio data,
• wherein the temperature sensor, the humidity sensor, the volatile organic compound sensor, and the microphone are disposed in the airtight ambient air chamber,
• wherein a portable unit is configured to secure to the piece of equipment, to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the piece of equipment using the position sensor, and to transmit the location of the piece of equipment to the base station,
• wherein a portable unit is configured to secure to the worker, to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the worker using the position sensor, and to transmit the location of the worker to the base station;
• wherein the base station is configured to receive the locations of the piece of equipment and the worker, compare the piece of equipment and the worker, and issue an alert if the piece of equipment and the worker come within a predetermined distance of each other.