Smart wearables for workplace safety: The benefits and challenges

The use of new digital technologies in the workplace can benefit occupational safety and health in many ways but, if not managed correctly, they can also bring new challenges, says Becky Spencer.

Smart digital systems, such as wearables and monitoring software, have been developed with the aim of enhancing safety in the workplace, reducing accidents and protecting workers’ health. They enable employers to collect and analyse data from workers and/or the working environment to identify hazards, assess risks and prevent or minimise harm.

Smart wearables can be placed on different body parts to gather data about the worker and the working environment. They incorporate data collection devices such as sensors, cameras, microphones, and transmit data via Bluetooth, radio-frequency identification or the ‘Internet of Things’ to a cloud platform. Examples include:

• Smart hardhats embedded with sensors which can detect falls and impacts, and issue alerts in emergencies
• Smart armbands which collect both biometric and environmental data to monitor workers’ physical state in real-time. These armbands could be particularly beneficial in physically intense or thermally challenging work environments
• Smart bracelets with embedded sensors to prevent heat stress. The sensors detect any increase in body temperature in real-time, detecting heat stress at an early stage and alerting the worker to stop work immediately. A case study from Spain can be read here
• Smart insoles which provide additional safety support for workers in isolated or remote locations by monitoring motion patterns to detect incidents such as falls or immobility
• Smart watches designed to reduce the risk of long-term injury from exposure to vibrations caused by power tools
• Smart belts can provide real-time safety alerts to correct the wearer’s posture during bending or lifting tasks, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries occurring.

On a bigger scale there is smart PPE, which combines traditional personal protective equipment with sensors to, for example, monitor gases and hazardous substances, and wearable exoskeletons or exosuits which function as a mechanical extension of the wearer to assist in a range of motions such as bending, gripping and heavy lifting. The technology is well suited to physically demanding sectors like logistics, construction and manufacturing. 

Benefits

All these smart devices enable real-time hazard detection thereby preventing or minimising harm to workers, and they are already being used in many sectors, particularly construction, manufacturing, oil refining and chemical manufacture. A fascinating case study showing how smart ear defenders were used on HS2’s London construction sites to protect workers’ hearing is available on the HS2 Legacy Learning website.

While these devices are not a substitute for eliminating hazards at the source, they are incredibly useful tools for risk prevention as part of proactive OSH management. Studies have found they can improve OSH compliance, identify training needs, and prevent accidents and injuries through the use of real-time data which enables better-informed decision-making by managers and workers. Smart digital systems can also help organisations meet OSH legal requirements more effectively by supporting compliance with regulations and enabling a proactive approach to OSH.

Challenges

However, research has also shown that new digital technologies, such as wearables, present some challenges if their use is not implemented correctly. For instance, wearable devices that are uncomfortable for the wearer and not a proper fit can lead to non-compliance. Workers can also become over-reliant on automated warnings instead of maintaining situational awareness and attention. This is significant because these devices are not foolproof, they can suffer technical glitches meaning data collected through them may sometimes be inaccurate. In addition, frequent warning alerts could cause ‘warning fatigue,’ leading wearers to miss critical safety notifications.

Studies have suggested that smart digital systems may also blur lines of responsibility, shifting the focus towards individual monitoring, potentially weakening collective protections and obscuring accountability. It is therefore essential that their adoption complements and not replaces established OSH frameworks.

One of the most prevalent concerns about the use of smart wearables in the workplace is around worker surveillance, privacy and data protection, including how data is going to be used, stored and shared. To effectively address these concerns, employers really need to engage workers and their representatives from the outset, so they are fully informed about how smart wearables operate and about their benefits and risks. This transparency will encourage greater worker buy-in and help reduce concerns over being continually monitored, which can be a stressor in the workplace.

How can challenges be addressed?

• Regular risk assessment and management remain essential. It is important to regularly evaluate the impact of any new technologies introduced to the workplace to ensure that they are having a positive impact in terms of health and safety risks. Feedback should be sought and listened to from those using it
• Employers should adopt a human-centred and human-in-command approach, which means that digital technologies support and not replace human control and decisions
• Smart digital systems should complement other occupational safety and health measures, such as workplace adaptations and worker training, rather than being relied upon as the sole solution
• Involve and consult workers and their representatives in the decision-making process linked to the design, implementation and use of digital technologies and systems
• Ensure transparency and information about how digital tools operate and their benefits and risks. Make any limitations of their use clear
• Awareness-raising initiatives play a critical role in spreading information and encouraging safe and healthy practices to ensure that new technologies contribute to safer and healthier workplaces.

Smart wearables and other digital technologies are already improving safety and health at work. However, as their use increases, particularly in smaller companies, continued efforts are needed to ensure these technologies positively support safety and health and that any challenges they introduce are addressed.

Becky Spencer is a writer and editor on health and safety and accident prevention at work, in the home, during leisure activities and on the road. She was previously Managing Editor of RoSPA’s occupational safety & health journals and is currently editor of the European Association for Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion (EuroSafe) newsletter.