The Perceived Impacts of Using Wearable Sensing Devices to Monitor Construction Workers’ Falls from Height Incidents

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of wearable sensing devices for monitoring construction workers’ falls from height. Wearable sensing devices (WSDs) must be used to proactively monitor construction workers for falls from height (FFH) in order for projects to be completed on schedule. The purpose of having construction workers adopt WSDs to address FFH issues was advanced by using the case study research approach. Semi-structured interviews were used as part of the case study to collect qualitative data. By means of purposive sampling 69 construction workers across 4 case projects were selected to participate in the study. The investigation explored the factors affecting construction workers working on heights by assessing their work environment, health and safety effects, nutrition, and their perceived need for WSDs to monitor latent H&S problems leading to FFH on site. The results showed that a lack of knowledge and training to use WSDs as well as cost implications impedes the adoption of WSDs, leading to sustained H&S challenges such as FFH. Despite the limited knowledge of WSDs, the general perception of using WSDs by construction workers is positive. However, there is a need for future studies to consider how its use would not violate the right of workers to privacy and the nature of cost-efficient H&S monitoring that can be done.