A method for controlling drilling operations includes defining operation zones in a drilling operation area, each operation zone having equipment operating therein, and repeatedly performing the steps of: determining a position of at least one person in the drilling operation area, determining whether the respective determined position is within any of the operation zones and associating each person to the operation zone in which the person is located, determining whether the respective determined position is within a safety zone in proximity to the equipment, determining at least one action to be performed with regard to each operation zone in which the person has been determined to be present, and transmitting at least one control signal for controlling the drilling operations based on the at least one action determined. The at least one action is determined dependent on whether or not the position of the person is in the safety zone.