Plant fire brigade at Pierre Fabre

An immense pharmaceutical complex, the Gien facility comprises several two-storey buildings and two larger 4 storey building, most of which stand adjacent to one another. There are two further buildings which rise even higher to accommodate four floors. Most buildings are interlinked, so it is possible to move around the complex without ever going outside. This proximity means that if a small localised fire should break out, it could quickly spread to other buildings – hence the need to be able to intervene quickly. In addition, there are vast basement areas. The layout of the site makes for a challenging environment to deploy an alerting network, meaning that detailed planning was required… There are around 500 people working on the site (internal and external), which encompasses a production area of almost 42,300 square metres. And because processing involves the handling of flammable chemicals, as well as the manufacture of chemical powders, there are significant risks present at the site.

In the event of an emergency requiring an internal emergency team response – firefighters and nurses – the message will be sent to Swissphone DE710 (400 MHz) pagers. There is an operations room which houses a set of twenty-five pagers complete with intelligent multi-chargers, each of which can charge up to eight units. ‘Intelligent’ means that these chargers will advise the transmitter and I.SEARCH software which pagers are actually present (i.e. being charged). From this information, it can then be deduced which personnel are absent, and therefore unavailable, because each pager is associated with a specific worker. I.SEARCH intelligent operation makes it possible to automatically deploy up to four response teams according to the human resources available.

As well as its transmitter function, I.SEARCH is also an alarm management server. Two computers are connected to the system (which facilitates redundant deployment): one is placed in the operations room (at the main entrance) and the second is sited at the switchboard (almost at the centre of the factory). Depending on the timetable, the operator responsible for supervising safety-related interventions will be based at one or other of these locations. When an internal phone call reports an accident, the operator will immediately transmit an alert to the firefighter pagers (from the switchboard or operations room). The I.SEARCH can also do this automatically, but in this instance, the customer has opted for the alarm to be triggered manually

Furthermore, arrangements have also been made to ensure the security of lone workers (internal or external) who work at the Gien site. This system uses another totally independent device: the light and compact Swissphone TRIO. This is a DATI unit with integrated GSM and GPS modules, which Swissphone has specially designed for lone workers. There is a full complement of around thirty of these units. Alongside its integrated alarm button facility, the TRIO can independently detect a fall or other discomforting dangerous and will then send an emergency call together with location data via GSM vector (GPRS, 3G and SMS). The TRIO also incorporates an onboard audio alarm as a further guide to those coming to assist the person in difficulty.

Indoors, where there is no GPS signal, the TRIO is located using terminals. A series of IBT10 indoor location senders have been installed for this purpose. These units, which have been strategically positioned in the hallways at all entrances, are used to track internal movements. So when a TRIO initiates a distress alarm, it simultaneously transmits the last terminal ID it has received. In normal circumstances, these units run from a 220-volt mains supply, but they also have two backup batteries. That means they will continue to function in the event of a power outage, and thus can continue to ensure the safety of any operator equipped with a TRIO terminal.

Also accessible via a computer, the Swissphone SOSPortal is a professional alarm system for managing lone worker emergency calls which can be associated with DATI devices such as the TRIO. When an alarm is triggered, the screen shows the approximate location of the casualty and the type of alarm used on a map displaying all of the factory buildings – including the different floor levels. Medical information can also be appended, and the portal opens a predefined event management process which includes a list of people to contact. And when the management intervention is finished, the system archives all the actions taken. In the absence of an operator, the SOS-Portal can alert rescuers automatically by TRIO, SMS, phone call (text to speech), and for a period of time by an app which can transform Smartphones into DATI devices.

Generally speaking, the maintenance technician Jean-Gilbert Suplisson reports that “the equipment is reliable and efficient”. The alerts are routed correctly, and he is pleased “there are not many false alarms, which is very reassuring”. Maintenance is taken very seriously, so the DE710s and TRIOs are regularly checked to ensure every piece of equipment is always in perfect working order. To achieve this aim, and with the agreement of the plant management, Mr. Suplisson has scheduled an annual cycle of pager replacement.