Technology continues to define the way we work, play and even, sleep. But now it’s finding a role in how we manage risk at work too.
Wearable technology was once confined to a few applications in health and fitness. Apple launched its eponymous watch back in 2013. And since then a bunch of competitors, like Fitbit, have sought to cash in on the opportunity. But until recently, it was all been about very specific consumer applications. Wearable technology didn’t penetrate the workplace.
But that’s all finally changing as the price of wearables come down. Everybody, from construction workers to hiring managers are looking for new ways to use the technology. And it’s all with the view to improving worker safety. As one Taradash workers comp and injury lawyer points out, serious accidents are devastating for workers. And so any technology that reduces accidents will prove a massive boon to industry.
The Problem Of Work Related Injuries
Right now, worker injuries across all industries cost the US economy more than $250 billion. And according to the BLS, the biggest component is injury of the lower back. Bricklayers, miners, construction workers and other manual laborers are all at immediate risk. It might be common today for the average workers to suffer from some type of back pain. But innovators want to change the status quo, and turn it into something that is unacceptable in the future.
Wearables Could Solve The Problem
But here’s where things really start getting interesting. Thanks to the miniaturization of sensors and gyros, wearables have become very sensitive to movement. In fact, they’re now so sensitive that they can be used to record data every time a worker takes a step or bends over. That means that wearables can now report back whenever an operator assumes a poor posture. They can also indicate when a worker is twisting and turning too fast or incorrectly.
As a result, wearable technology promises to deliver personalized movement information. For the first time, managers will be able to see exactly how each one of their employees is approaching manual tasks. And they’ll be able to identify problem areas in their production process.
Identify Danger Zones
The cool thing about wearable tech is that they’ll get location information on dangerous “red zones.” Wireless sensors placed around the workspace and on workers’ bodies will be able to find where the significant injury risks lie. And then managers will be able to do something to sort them out.
One construction company is already trialing the technology. VINCI, a UK construction firm, is using wearable sensors on its bricklayers. It wants to understand why so many of them end up with debilitating back injuries. The results told the company where some of the problems might be emerging. They then put the findings into effect. They saw an 84 percent reduction in back muscle activation. And they achieved a 17 percent increase in productivity, measured in bricks laid per hour. Thus, wearable tech has the possibility to make working environments both safer and more productive.