Smartwatches have evolved beyond mere fitness trackers and timekeeping devices. They are now proving to be beneficial for workers’ health and safety, especially within the construction industry. As health and safety should be one of the most paramount concerns, it is essential to recognize as many health and safety hazards as possible and understand what to do in case of an emergency to ensure all workers are safe. However, as we all know, it can be challenging to keep track of people on-site unless they are all in one space. There is only so much a site manager/supervisor can do from a distance. Therefore, a significant amount of trust is placed in workers to ensure they are following health and safety regulations for their own safety.
Smartwatches now can download applications that can serve as the new ‘essential’ work kit, ensuring all safety regulations and guidelines are followed. Everything from biometric monitoring to emergency response features; smartwatches are now making a significant impact on the well-being of workers in construction sites.
Heart rate monitoring for Worker Well-being:
Smartwatches now go beyond tracking daily steps and calories burned. They include features such as heart rate monitoring! This is not only a good feature for runners and athletes, it’s great for people that have strenuous activities within their job role. By giving workers, the opportunity to monitor their heart rate, they have the ability to track their stress levels and physical exertion on site. For workers that struggle to have a break, or over do their physical limits at work, this can be a great way to manage their well-being more effectively and healthily when doing strenuous activities.
Fall Detection monitoring and location trackers:
Construction sites can be hazardous, with various environmental factors impacting workers’ health. News sites aren’t shy in posting about the consequences workers can now include a fall detection app which adds a layer of safety for anyone working on site. These apps can automatically alert contacts in case of accidents. This is a wonderful addition for lone workers who don’t have the advantage of site managers being near to keep track of them. The same app can also have location tracker features, enabling supervisors to pinpoint the exact location of workers, ensuring prompt assistance during critical situations.
HAVS prevention apps:
Where once the only option was to pay £200 for a device that detects vibration, we now have the option to download an app and put it onto our smart watches. Even though this vibration app may not as accurate as a profession HAVS tool watch, it just shows the rapid evolvement of technology. This app will detect excessive vibration coming from tools, and alert workers when they have spent too long using it so their risk of developing HAVS gets reduced.
Noise Level Monitoring:
According to statistics, around 51% of all workers in the construction industry have been exposed to hazardous noise and 52% of noise – exposed construction workers report not wearing hearing protection. This shows that many workers lack the education of the implications of not wearing ear guards when working. Or do not realise when and where they have to wear their ear guard. There are now apps that you can download onto your smart watch which measures ambient noise to ensure compliance with safety regulations. This app will notify workers when they are in a noise corrupted area, to reduce the chances of loss of hearing. According to the CDC Centres for disease Controls and Prevention, 14% of construction workers currently have hearing difficulty and 7% of construction workers have tinnitus, something that could have been prevented with heath and safety ear guards.
The evolution of smartwatches has only added to the new era of evolving technology within the construction industry. We are now able to utilize these apps in our daily practices to optimise our health and safety efficiency for the wellbeing of our workers, Smartwatches can now serve as indispensable tools for monitoring biometric data, tracking movement, and providing instant notifications for HAVS prevention and noise pollution. As the development of smartwatches continues, their applications in the construction industry are likely to expand, contributing to safer and healthier work environments for all.