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does not interfere with work responsibilities, and is easy to interact with. Make sure workers can access their own data so they can make decisions pertinent to their individual well-being.
Device capabilities refer to what wearable technology actually does. Learn what sensors it has and the types of measurements it takes. Understand what data it provides to individual workers, supervisors, medical staff, and company leaders. Metrics that provide the most benefits include accurate CBT prediction, heart rate, activity levels, sweat rate and hydration monitoring. Consider whether some or all of this data is continuously monitored, who has access to view it, and its ability to prompt an alert or notification of impending danger.
Data access refers to the people who have access to the data. Data is only useful if it is both collected and accessible to those who need it. Ensure the company providing the technology uses proper data security measures. Consider who needs access to real-time data. Individuals need access to their information to make empowered decisions. Supervisors need access to alerts or safety notifications when an individual is at risk so they can immediately identify anyone who needs medical intervention.
Return on investment is important to weigh the benefits against the costs of wearable technology. Conduct a Return on Investment (ROI) analysis to assess the value of implementing wearable technology in your organization. The chart below offers several ROI scenarios. It also includes the possibility
of worker death because heat-related mortality is expected to increase by 70 percent to 100 percent with climate change.8 A single worker death costs an average of $1.2 million.9 Using the following assumptions, if you prevent two injuries/illnesses and one death within a fifive-year period, your wearable technology implementation will experience an ROI of 298 percent. The key question is: can your company afford not to implement wearable technology as part of its HRI prevention program?
Cheryl Lynn Palmer is customer success manager with Kenzen. REFERENCES
1. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Extreme- Heat-Report-2021.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4657558/ 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.03.001
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4657558/ 5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19295956/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29726698/
7. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/24/13126
8. https://web-a-ebscohost-com.kckpl.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/ pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=a95b0c7c-3c96-456b-adfb-4bd1b4d6c3cb%40sdc- v-sessmgr03
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28877241/
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