A modified version of D’Crypt’s BluePass contact tracing device will be issued to 4,000 people working on or visiting Shell’s Pulau Bukom Manufacturing Site to automate COVID-19 management
January 12, 2021, SINGAPORE − D’Crypt, a Temasek-owned security engineering company, today announced that it has embarked on a pilot project with Shell Singapore, to deploy specially modified BluePass devices for COVID-19 contact tracing for its employees, contractor workers and other visitors at Pulau Bukom.
As current versions of the contact tracing device are not certified intrinsically safe for use in environments where flammable gases may be present, this is the first time that a modified version will be tested in a live process plant environment. If successful, this pilot could pave the way for the modified devices’ use across the process industry in Singapore and abroad. A total of 4,000 pieces of these modified devices, named BluePass, will be distributed for this pilot which is expected to run until March. There are 60,300 workers involved in the petroleum, chemical & pharmaceutical products sector in Singapore as of Q3 2020, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s labour market report.
D’Crypt’s BluePass is a small and light wearable contact tracing device that exchanges proximity information with other BluePasses or interoperable devices via Bluetooth Low Energy technology, and stores that information for a stipulated period for contact tracing purposes. BluePass safeguards user privacy by not tracking location information.
Shell has evaluated the modified BluePass devices for their safe use at the process areas in the manufacturing site at Pulau Bukom using IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards commonly referenced by process industry companies worldwide, as well as guidance from EEMUA (Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association) and EI (Energy Institute).
Shell applies these standards for any equipment used in their facilities since there may potentially be flammable gases present. The evaluations included the ruggedness of the body of the modified BluePass device, protection from user tampering or maltreatment, the power source and size of the battery, as well as the energy level transmitted during use.
Hugues Bourgogne, Shell’s Vice President for Manufacturing in Singapore & Philippines and General Manager of Bukom, said: “Currently the contact tracing of individuals within the process areas can take hours, which slows down the process of identifying and isolating close contacts. The enablement of prompt contact tracing for process industry workers in Singapore will substantially mitigate the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in the community. Through this pilot of the modified BluePass devices, we are glad that Shell Singapore can play a role in enabling Singapore’s economic activities to ramp up while keeping our workers safe from COVID-19.”
Dr Antony Ng, CEO of D’Crypt, also noted: “Shell’s evaluation of BluePass gives us confidence to conduct further pilots of the device for use in real-world production environments. We have full confidence that process industry players will be able to successfully put the BluePass through a similar evaluation for effective contact tracing without endangering lives or compromising operations at their facilities.”
Once the pilot is completed, D’Crypt and Shell will proactively share results – both in terms of effective contact tracing and BluePass’ suitability for use in live process plant environments − with the process industry in Singapore.
“We hope this will contribute to a broad adoption of contact tracing devices in the process sector, dramatically improving Singapore and the world’s COVID-19 security.” said Dr Ng.
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About D’Crypt:
D’Crypt is a high-value design and development house. We work with our customers to deliver cryptographic technology and components that become an integral part of our customers’ information security appliances, systems and applications. With our extensive technology development program, we pride ourselves in being able to supply a variety of different technologies in the field of information security that have immediate practical use, and are full system secure.
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