U.K. Construction Company Works to Reduce Risk From Damaging Vibes

When the employee approaches a project truck on the worksite, a Wi-Fi access point installed in the vehicle wirelessly downloads the badge's data, including the individual's unique ID number and the amount and time of vibration exposure, then transmits that information to a back-end server via a GPRS signal. Lancaster University developed the software for the server that collects data from each ID badge and interprets it for Carillion's staff in the office.

The system is intended not only to provide the company insight into its workers' vibration exposure, but also to encourage employees to become aware of their own risk so they can make informed decisions. At this point, Kortuem says, it is still too early to determine whether the system is reducing the number of vibration-related injuries, or if it provides a return on investment. "A large-scale trial is being planned for later this year," he states, "to answer some of these questions."

The project began at the end of 2005, and researchers have since gathered data about the use of the technology at job sites, regarding how well the technology worked and how well users received it. During that time, Kortuem says, the team has added the display screen to the employee badge to indicate the hours and vibration levels the wearer has been exposed to. "That was a major factor for acceptance," he says. "People are much more resistant to the technology without the display." Being able to see exactly what the system was tracking, he says, has made employees more comfortable using it.

"Our goal is to investigate the issues and understand the consequences," Kortuem says. How the technology is used affects how well workers accept it. He notes that it is up to an employer to use the technology for beneficial purposes, such as ensuring employee safety, rather than for efficiency purposes—measuring how many hours it could require of a worker on a specific tool, for instance.

Currently, Kortuem says, about 10 badges are being used in field trials. The technology is performing well, though the research group continues working to make the badges smaller and more energy-efficient. "I think we have seen many more opportunities for this technology to measure health and safety risk," he says, including prolonged exposure to other types of work-related hazards, such as sound, light, chemicals or radiation. By the time the pilot ends, around December 2009, researchers hope to have data to evaluate whether use of the system resulted in reduced injuries, as well as how well it was received by construction workers, and whether it provided benefits for Carillion itself.

The project is being funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSC), a U.K. government agency that provides money for research and training in engineering and the physical sciences.