It’s a sweltering summer day on the loading dock at a manufacturing plant. A foreman supervising the offloading of a key parts shipment gets an alert on his smart watch. Based on his body temperature, other vital health signs, and the afternoon weather forecast, the alert recommends he immediately take a break and hydrate. The foreman’s safety manager receives the same alert and sends a text to the crew confirming that they should take a break.
This break alert exemplifies emerging safety practices throughout the manufacturing industry. Numerous types of construction wearables connected through wireless networks –everything from hardhats, belts, boots, vests, watches, wristbands to patches that attach to the arm –offer innovative approaches to enhance worker safety.
The potential benefits are enormous. In manufacturing, safety is paramount because hazards like injuries from heavy machinery, falls and exhaustion-related decisions abound. Wearable safety technology can provide a first line of defense to keep workers safe.