After years of research and development work, Pro-Active Safety Systems Technologies Inc. is working to attract investors for an innovative safety system.
The system uses radio-frequency identification technology to help workers prevent collisions with dangerous mobile equipment in the workplace.
Considering the number of injuries and deaths from such collisions in Canada and the United States, there is clearly a need for good safety innovations.
This safety invention is significant for several reasons.
It could help to create jobs throughout the Okanagan as companies are needed to build the various components for the devices.
The assembly work would then be done in Summerland, resulting in some job creation here.
After coping with significant job losses in the last few years, anything which could add jobs deserves a careful look.
Summerland needs a wide range of businesses if the community is to be vibrant.
Developing the technology is important and it has been a time-consuming task, but the work does not end with the device.
Since the beginning of the year, three devices, developed in Summerland, have been unveiled.
The others are a rescue cart for firefighters, developed by four members of the Summerland Fire Department, and a device which combines hot water heating, space heating, air conditioning and backup electricity into one unit.
Each of the innovations this year deserves further consideration. There is a lot of creative work coming from this community.
We have the ideas in Summerland.
Now we need the investors to step forward to help bring these ideas beyond the concept stage and into full production.