Securing sanitation stations and porta potties for construction workers has become even more important in the age of Covid-19; one company has come up with a simple but high-tech solution.
Leaving these facilities unlocked and unsupervised during off hours can literally leave the doors open to anyone. Not only can vandals or the general public trash the amenities or deplete supplies, rendering them unusable for the job site crew, but they can also introduce bacteria.
Tapp’s Tapplock one+ is a smart padlock that utilizes a fingerprint scanner as the key and can hold up to 500 prints to allow a large number of users to access it. It also has a waterproof rating of IP67, meaning it can be used outdoors and unlocked in virtually any weather condition—even when submerged.
The capacitive fingerprint sensor allows unlocking in under 0.8 seconds, and an adaptive algorithm means the lock becomes faster and more accurate with each access.
Managers can use an app to monitor remaining battery power, which is set for one year of life per charge, or 3,500 “unlocks.” The app, available from the Apple App Store or Google Play, will show the battery percentage remaining on the lock. The lock itself blinks red when power is below 10 percent.
In the event the battery does run out, an 8-second charge using any portable battery pack will awaken the device for use.
Construction companies can also utilize the Tapplock enterprise platform to control worker’s access with parameters set for day and time access, and the ability to add or revoke access permission at any time remotely if an employee is fired.
The locks can also be unlocked remotely via Bluetooth if needed, and the platform stores access reports, so managers always know who was accessing what, when. This is information that could become important for contact-tracing purposes.
Locks are built with 7-mm reinforced stainless-steel shackles, designed, the company says, with anti-shim and anti-pry technologies. They can easily be wiped clean with disinfectant.
