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These innovations are enhancing safety in the construction industry     

By Joe Brandel and Dan Birch

Wearable technology
    Wearable technology is nothing new for consumers, but we’ve yet to see widespread adoption in the workplace. For those at risk of injuries throughout the day, wearable technology can sound the alarm when workers are injured, or even before an accident occurs. For example, safety vests can be equipped with sensors that are either embedded into or clipped onto the vest. These vests can monitor workers’ physiological conditions, such as blood pressure, body temperature, or pulse rate, all of which could indicate if a worker was at risk of heat stress or high blood pressure. Through a connection to smartphones or a remote computer, these sensors can send an alarm if workers’ vital signs indicate a high risk of a medical emergency. Additionally, by utilizing GPS technology, smart vests can actively monitor a worker’s location, and alert them if they enter a danger zone on a job site.
    Wearable technology has extended to safety helmets as well. Sensor bands can be installed in helmets that detect workers’ health factors, such as falling asleep or fatigue. By tracking electroencephalogram (EEG) brain waves, sensor bands can identify vital signs indicating fatigue, and alert connected devices of the risk. Similar to smart vests, smart helmets can also deploy proximity sensors to detect whether objects or others are close to the worker, to give them a better sense of their surroundings. In other words, proximity sensors can sound the alarm before a potential collision and accident occurs.

Addressing rotational motion
    Another helmet addition: rotational motion mitigation. First things first, rotational motion can result from oblique impacts to the head and consists of a combination of rotational forces (angular acceleration) and rotational energy (angular velocity). The transfer of this rotation to the head can result in shearing and damage to the brain’s axons, the cable transmitters of the neurons.⁶ Given the brain has shear properties similar to water or gel, it is typically more sensitive to rotational motion than linear motion,⁷ or an impact that occurs to the crown of the head. When different parts of the brain move relative to each other as a result of rotational motion, the stretching of tissues can cause concussions or other brain injuries.
    This is critical for the construction industry to understand, given that research indicates when most people make an impact with the ground, or are struck by a falling object, it typically occurs at an angle. However, there are safety systems developed that are intended to help redirect rotational motion that might otherwise be transferred to the user’s head. In the event of an impact or a fall, a low- friction layer is designed to move slightly inside the helmet to help redirect forces away from the head.

Next-generation tools
    A number of new developments have led to innovative tools that have brought an added level of efficiency and safety to construction job sites. For example, deploying drones for site inspections and monitoring can prevent workers from being put in unsafe scenarios and prevent the risk of a fall or other accident. Additionally, drones equipped with thermal imaging sensors can detect heat signals, giving them the ability to identify hazards such as overheated electrical wiring or equipment.
    While the number of technological advancements in safety technology continues to grow, it is up to employers and safety managers to remain up-to-speed on the latest improvements to provide a safe environment for workers. The risks that workers face have changed very little over the years, but the tools and technology are continuing to evolve.