Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The future is here and construction companies are starting to adopt wearable technology for their workers to reduce and prevent injuries from occurring on their jobsites. Wearable technology can be defined as any device that construction workers wear on his/her body. Since the construction industry accounts for nearly half of all fatal work injuries, this new type of personal protective equipment (PPE) is going to look radically different in the years ahead and should reduce both fatal and non-fatal injuries on jobsites worldwide. Below is an overview of five technologies in use today or soon to be in use in the near future.

Smart Watches
Many people wear smart watches daily, but the powerful sensors in smart watches can provide significant benefit to the construction industry.  These devises can monitor vital signs like heart rate and step counts to prevent overexertion. They can also detect falls, which is a leading cause of serious injury on a jobsite and provide an immediate alert to site and emergency personal.  In addition, smart watches allow employees hands free communication.

Smart Hard Hats
Hard hats are a vital piece of PPE on every jobsite. But, these aren’t your fathers’ hard hat. By adding a sensor band around the inside of a hard hat, employers will be able to detect fatigue, prevent mircosleeps (when sudden moments of sleep occur in a fatigued individual) and proximity sensing. Proximity sensing will alert both workers and equipment operators of a potential collision and prevent serious injuries. In addition, the outside rim of the smart hard hat is equipped with a ring of LED lights that allow for visibility from a quarter mile away. This feature is especially useful for any contractors performing work at night.

Clip-Ons
Clip-ons are not part of the usual construction PPE but are proving to be very helpful. A clip-on can identify zone-based worker locations and detect free falls. With a direct line of communication, workers can immediately report injures by pushing a button. 

Smart Boots
Steel toe boots are already an essential for construction workers, but in the next few years the soles in these boots will be capable of detecting shocks and falls sustained by workers, track the location of the workers more accurately and will recharge themselves by walking in them.

Smart Vests
Highly visible vests are a staple on jobsites. These new vests can track body temperature and will alert workers when a break in the shade or a drink of water is necessary to prevent heat-related illnesses. The built-in sensors can also alert workers when they are nearing or entering a hazardous area. If used in conjunction with GPS equipped equipment, they can detect nearby equipment and slow them down to avoid any safety issues.

The future of construction safety will include some form of smart device that alerts the wearer and/or the safety manager when it detects a hazard. While these wearables are not a replacement for traditional PPE and best practices, they can help prevent hazards created by human error. As they are deployed across jobsites, we’ll be able to prevent workplace injuries before they happen.

For questions about managing your jobsite risk, contact me at sclayton@ranchomesa.com or (619) 937-0167.