Method and apparatus for enhancing safety within a work zone

1. An apparatus for enhancing the safety in a work zone surrounding operating equipment including:

a portable unit carried by a worker used for identifying the worker within said work zone and for providing information about the worker; and

a control unit carried by the operating equipment for communicating with the portable unit carried by the worker in the work zone, said control unit distinguishing between an authorized worker and an unauthorized worker in said work zone, said control unit communicating with said portable unit to cause said portable unit to warn an unauthorized worker within said work zone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for warning an operator of the equipment of presence of the unauthorized worker within said work zone.

3. An apparatus for enhancing the safety in a work zone surrounding operating equipment comprising:

a portable worker carried unit carried by a worker for receiving signals and for transmitting signals indicative of worker information;

an equipment mounted control unit including means for communicating with said portable worker carried unit in said work zone, means for transmitting a warning signal to said portable worker carried unit when said worker is not authorized to be within said work zone, and means for providing an operator of said equipment a warning of the presence of said unauthorized worker in said work zone; and

said portable worker carried unit further including means for receiving said transmitted warning signal from said equipment mounted control unit and for providing a warning to the worker in response thereto.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said portable worker carried unit transmits a worker information code and wherein said equipment mounted control unit determines worker presence authorization in response to the worker information code.

5. A method for enhancing the safety in a work zone surrounding operating equipment including the steps of:

identifying workers within said work zone;

determining if an identified worker within a work zone is an authorized worker or an unauthorized worker permitted within that work zone for the associated operating equipment; and

warning only determined unauthorized workers within said work zone.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of warning an operator of the equipment of presence of the determined unauthorized worker in the work zone.

7. A method for enhancing the safety in a work zone surrounding operating equipment comprising the steps of:

carrying a portable worker carried unit by a worker for receiving signals and for transmitting signals indicative of worker information;

providing an equipment mounted control unit for communicating with said portable worker carried unit in said work zone, transmitting a warning signal to said portable worker carried unit when said unit is not authorized to be within said work zone, and warning of the presence of said unauthorized worker in said work zone; and

the portable worker carried unit further receiving said transmitted warning signal from said equipment mounted control unit and providing a warning to the worker in response thereto.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the portable worker carried unit transmits a worker information code and wherein the equipment mounted control unit determines worker presence authorization in response to the worker information code.

9. An apparatus for enhancing the safety in a work zone surrounding operating equipment including:

a portable unit carried by a worker used for identifying the worker within said work zone and for providing information about the worker; and

a control unit carried by the operating equipment for communicating with the portable unit carried by the worker in the work zone, said control unit distinguishing between an authorized worker and an unauthorized worker in said work zone and providing a warning only when an unauthorized worker is within said work zone.