How to Keep Workers Safe and Improve Job Site Metrics with Wearable Technology

Wearables have become a fashionable topic in the construction industry. But it's not all just talk. Every day, wearables are promoting health, safety, connectivity, productivity, and accuracy on job sites.

 

A number of employee monitoring systems have been introduced to the construction industry with the aim of making employees safer.

 

Dash cams are being installed into truck cabs, not to record traffic, but to record the activities of the driver. Truck companies want to make sure drivers are checking their mirrors and aren't using their phones when behind the wheel.

 

The Spot-R fall alert and emergency evacuation system from Triax Technologies monitors employees' movements to alert safety personnel if the device changes elevation quickly, indicating a fall. And, it alerts workers of an emergency evacuation.

 

The Scan-Link RFID tags monitor employees' locations and alerts equipment operators of employees who are located behind the machine.

 

Some smart watches detect vibration; that technology is used to monitor the ramifications to the body from using power equipment for a long time. Alerts tell the end-user when power tool use exceeds what the body can safely perform, and this is to prevent hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

 

Smart helmets monitor several health elements, such as fatigue, heart rate, and stress, so workers and management can modify worker's activities in ways that promote employee health and job site safety and productivity.