During the spring of 2017, SJ introduced unmanned and automated daily alcohol controls for its employees. The alcohol testing system “Senseair Safe Start” ensures that all train drivers nationwide clock in sober before a work shift.

With only 33 unmanned units covering the entire country, all SJ train drivers can undergo alcohol testing before each work shift. Daily alcohol tests have been used in many industries, but as far as I know, we have the first nationwide, network-based system ensuring sobriety every day. Upon arrival reporting, train drivers must identify themselves with an ID card and then breathe towards a sensor that checks for any alcohol in the exhaled air. Since no mouthpiece or physical contact with any part of the system is required, the process is very quick and hygienic. The equipment is wall-mounted in staff areas, and a new user can be tested every tenth second (up to 360 people per hour), preventing any queues.

The system is fully integrated with operational traffic management and sends an immediate alert if alcohol is detected in a test. This way, any train delays can also be minimized, as actions can be taken swiftly.

SJ has been using Senseair Safe Start since April 2016 for train drivers in the Götaland region. I see their decision to now implement a nationwide system as clear support for the entire concept of daily alcohol tests. Our system is not only useful in the transportation industry but also well-suited for other areas such as the construction industry, emergency services, and logistics centers. Raimo Gester, Head of Business Unit Alcohol Sensing