Garney Construction has recently trialed a new smart device from Kenzen to help protect workers from heat stress.
The devices, which were worn on the arms of 28 Garney workers at 10 worksites throughout the U.S., monitor key physiological indicators of each worker, including core body temperature, heart rate, and exertion level. Detecting changes in these factors can lead to proactive prediction and prevention of heat injuries and illnesses.
The wearable sensors alert workers by sending vibrations to the device and notifications to their smart phones. Notifications are also sent to supervisors via their phones and a web dashboard that provides the real-time health status of each worker. The alerts escalate from an initial “stop work” message to subsequent alerts for additional measures to avoid emergency situations. Follow-up alerts indicate when a person’s core body temperature has returned to a safe level to resume work.
The collected data can be analyzed to create custom heat stress prevention and treatment strategies at various locations and climates. Garney used the location-specific information to adjust break times and educate employees about the best clothing choices and how to acclimatize to warm working conditions.
Related Stories
Architects | Apr 5, 2018
Tech Report 5.0: The Human Touch
Can studying humans at a behavioral level produce better buildings? Cognitive architecture experts are working to find out.
Building Technology | Apr 4, 2018
Tech Report 5.0: Digital Immersion
Indoor digital media changes the identities of buildings by stimulating occupant interaction.
Building Technology | Apr 3, 2018
Tech Report 5.0: AI Arrives
From construction scheduling to risk management, AEC firms see promise in budding artificial intelligence platforms geared for commercial building projects.
Building Technology | Mar 1, 2018
Small construction businesses will continue to lag other sectors in tech spending this year
A survey of 800 companies found tepid interest overall in investing in “big data.”
Hotel Facilities | Feb 13, 2018
6 trends shaping smart hotels
From real-time guest feedback to AI-driven hyper-personalization, the hotel of the future will emphasize service, convenience, authenticity, and just the right amount of technology.
Great Solutions | Feb 8, 2018
Stackable steel modules speed building core construction
With this patented, steel-and-concrete hybrid system, the service core will no longer be the schedule bottleneck on new construction projects.
Events Facilities | Jan 18, 2018
Gamers paradise: The rise of eSports arenas
More than 380 million fans take in professional video gaming events each year, but most do so without leaving home. Dedicated eSports arenas could change all that.
Building Technology | Jul 28, 2017
Stanford develops a robot that grows like a vine and carries with it inestimable applications
For construction, the robot could be used for wiring the ceilings or floors of a building.
Building Technology | Jul 7, 2017
An elevator that moves sideways? Germany is about to take that ride
Thyssenkrupp’s cable-less MULTI system promises higher transport capacity and lower peak power demand.
Building Technology | Jul 6, 2017
Construction sites will be human-free by 2050, according to Balfour Beatty
The new paper also makes 10 predictions for the industry in 2050.