Gwangyang Steelworks Implements Enhanced Worker Safety System

Installation of AI-Based CCTV and Lidar Sensors
Application of the Smart Fool Proof System

Gwangyang Steelworks of POSCO, led by General Manager Ko Jaeyoon, is accelerating the deployment of its Smart Fool Proof system to enhance worker safety by installing Lidar sensor-based barriers and AI-powered CCTV in the passageway of the Steelmaking Slab Correction Plant.

The Smart Fool Proof system is an advanced safety solution independently developed by Gwangyang Steelworks to prevent equipment failures and safety accidents caused by human error. It utilizes a variety of technologies, including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, to serve as a safety device that prevents accidents.

A CCTV installed on the passageway is detecting people in real time. Photo by Gwangyang Steelworks

The passageway of the Slab Correction Plant is an area where crane movement zones and vehicle traffic, such as trailers, are mixed, making it a location that requires measures to prevent safety accidents.

The Smart Fool Proof system implemented here uses Lidar sensors to automatically lower the barrier when a person is detected, thereby protecting the safety of workers.

The barrier remains closed under normal conditions. If no crane movement is detected in the area and a vehicle or person is detected, the barrier opens to allow passage. Conversely, if crane movement is detected, the barrier remains closed to ensure safety.

The key feature is the use of Lidar sensors, which enable precise detection and accurate identification of workers, cranes, and vehicles.

In addition, the Smart Fool Proof system has been applied to sections where internal factory passageways and crane movement zones overlap. Previously, workers had to constantly check for crane movement visually while using the passageway, but this method was limited by the need for manual observation.

To address this, AI-powered CCTV cameras have been installed throughout the passageway to continuously monitor for crane movement and eliminate the risk of accidents caused by falling crane loads. When a worker is detected, the system automatically stops crane movement.

Another notable feature is that thousands of images have been used to train the AI, allowing the CCTV to accurately detect and distinguish between workers, cranes, and equipment, thereby improving the accuracy of identification through accumulated data.

Moon Hojung, Head of the Steelmaking Division at Gwangyang Steelworks, stated, "The implementation of the Smart Fool Proof system will be a turning point in significantly enhancing the safety of workers and vehicles in the Slab Correction Plant. We will continue to improve the system and introduce advanced technologies tailored to on-site conditions to further raise the level of safety in industrial workplaces."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.