Wearable Technology for Noise, Dust, Vibration Monitoring to Reduce Health Costs in Construction

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Construction is considered a dangerous industry but whilst the death rate from falls and machinery has been reducing, workers are still 100 times more likely to die from ill health than an accident in the construction sector. Exposure to dust for example is a common hazard that can lead to respiratory diseases such as occupational asthma and silicosis. Most people are fimiliar with the dangers of asbestos but prolonged exposure to the silica found in many construction materials can also lead to lung cancers and premature death. Health surveillance is often used to detect the effects of exposure but irreprable damage may have already been done. Existing monitoring equipment for a variety of chemical (e.g. dusts and vapours) and physical agents (e.g. noise and vibration) is burdensome for the employee and time consuming and expensive for the employer requiring specialist personnel. Wearable technology as a potential solution for monitoring in real-time is gathering pace which could alert workers and their supervisors to potential exposure. This will allow interventions and mitigation to take place thus improving health outcomes, productivity and a reduction in the costs of ill health. However, like many new ideas the market has to be tested before manufacturers like Casella can justify spending their development money and so this project is intended to deliver a proof of market report that will help make a business case.