b'CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES: TECHNOLOGYSMART CONSTRUCTION WEARABLESTECHNOLOGY MAKING CONSTRUCTION SITES SAFER By Warren HeeleyEVOLVING TECHNOLOGY is playingcan routinely prevent illnesses and injuryREAL-TIME LOCATORS ANDan important role in makingas well as increase workflow efficiencyFATIGUE MONITORINGthe construction site more productive,and productivity. This technology features a wearable efficient and less costly. Another areadevice woven into a safety vest to that has been receiving a great deal ofSecurity and privacy issues arise whenmonitor location, worker physical health attention in the last few years is safetyworkers are using the constructionand alarm devices to alert workers to and reducing risk. Technology calledwearables. Initially, privacy issueshazards such as entering restricted construction wearables uses devicesseemed to revolve around companiesareas. It can also be used to track tools on workers to monitor their environmentmonitoring worker movements on theor equipment. The locator is equipped for safety risks. jobsite throughout each day. Morewith a call button to alert site managers important concerns have been raisedto accidents and tags that interface with Wearable construction technology isabout the company collecting personalheavy machinery to slow down or stop being placed into worker apparel andhealth data about each worker. Thesewhen workers are present.protective equipment such as gloves,issues need to be dealt with when hard hats, boots and safety vests. Thiswearables are brought into use at Location can also be determined by technology features environmentalthe jobsite.SMART work boots that continually sensors, biometrics, GPS and suchrecharge as the worker walks through things as electrical detectors to keepthe site. Besides GPS, the boots can tabs on workers and potential risk.EXAMPLES OF also monitor worker fatigue as well as Alarms can caution workers to stayCONSTRUCTION WEARABLES motion and temperature. One company clear of hazardous areas. BiometricsThere are a wide variety of wearablehas developed a SMARTBAND that can track worker physical health and vitaltechnology that is now being used onmonitor fatigue of workers using heavy signs and can alert managers to workerthe construction jobsite. Here are a fewequipment and help decide when the exhaustion or overheating. Wearablesexamples of wearable technology. workers need to take breaks.28Quarter 12025 BUILDERSDIGEST'