Improving Personnel Safety Across Tank Terminal Operations

Tank terminals combine large outdoor operating areas with confined spaces and elevated work locations. Personnel may need to enter storage tanks, perform work at height, or operate near edges where visibility and access can be limited.

These conditions create challenges for tracking worker locations, counting personnel in confined spaces, and understanding whether workers require assistance.

At a tank terminal operated by Vopak, the need was to improve personnel visibility and safety management across both confined and open working areas.

The Challenge: Visibility in Confined Spaces and Elevated Work Areas

The site's safety requirements extended across several operating conditions:

  ·  Tracking and counting personnel inside storage tanks.

  ·  Monitoring workers in confined spaces with limited visibility.

  ·  Supporting safety management during high-altitude and edge operations.

  ·  Identifying hazardous areas and unsafe behaviors.

  ·  Improving awareness of worker condition and emergency response needs.

Without real-time location visibility and health-related information, it could be difficult to establish how many workers were present in a confined area or identify when additional assistance might be required.

The Solution: UWB Positioning with Wearable Safety Monitoring

Vopak adopted Woxu's UWB-based personnel safety solution to improve visibility and control across confined and open working areas.

The system integrates UWB positioning with wearable devices to support real-time personnel tracking inside storage tanks and 3D positioning for outdoor operations.

Combined with barometric sensing and health monitoring, the solution provides information about both worker location and condition.

Key capabilities include:

  ·  Confined-Space Personnel Tracking: Track and count personnel inside storage tanks.

  ·  Health Monitoring: Integrate heart rate and SpO₂ monitoring through wearable devices.

  ·  3D Positioning: Support positioning for elevated and edge operations.

  ·  Intelligent Safety Alerts: Help identify hazardous areas and unsafe behaviors.

  ·  Centralized Visibility: Provide an overview of personnel across the tank terminal.

Results: Better Awareness of Personnel Location and Condition

The solution enabled real-time visibility of personnel in confined tank environments, supporting accurate tracking and safer operations.

With integrated health monitoring and positioning for elevated work, the system helped reduce safety risks and improve on-site control.

Enhanced location awareness also supported more efficient emergency response and a more proactive approach to personnel safety management.

For tank terminals and other industrial facilities with confined spaces and elevated work areas, combining real-time positioning with wearable safety monitoring can provide a more comprehensive view of workforce safety.

Discuss Your Tank Terminal Safety Requirements

Woxu provides UWB-based positioning and personnel safety solutions for complex industrial environments. Contact our team to discuss requirements for confined-space monitoring, 3D positioning, and worker safety management.