It’s common knowledge that roofing and other types of construction present a high risk of injury and death, especially due to falls. According to OSHA and the Census of Fatal Occupational injuries prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the second highest reason for injury at work is falls, slips, and trips, which increased 11% in 2019. Not only is the injury or death of a worker a terrible event for the crew, it also has high costs for the business owner. According to estimates by the National Safety Council, in 2017 the average cost per workplace injury that required medical attention was $39,000. And for a fatality? That average cost rose to $1,150,000 (including wage losses, medical and administrative expenses, and employer costs). This doesn’t even include potential fines if the employer is found negligent.
Standard safety methods of tie-off points, harnesses, and secure ladder mounts are important, but many companies have also developed high-tech products in recent years to protect the lives of roofers and other construction professionals. See a handful of options on the market here, developed for all-around worker safety:
Triax’s flagship wearable device provides a direct line of communication for workers to report injuries, safety incidents, and hazards with the quick push of a button. The rugged, compact Clip detects worker free falls, and sounds an evacuation alarm in the event of a job site emergency. A crew outfitted with these devices can benefit from zone-based worker location identification, which Triax states can improve injury and fall response time by over 90%. The lightweight device only weighs 2 ounces and can go months between recharging.
Kenzen, a smart PPE innovator focused on physiological monitoring and the prevention of heat injury and death among workers, offers a real-time worker heat monitoring system. The Cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) system includes a wearable device worn by roofers on their arm, which alerts both the worker and their supervisor when their core body temperature is too high. Real-time alerts allow for immediate intervention and worker safety from heat injuries.
The wearable device monitors multiple physiological and environmental metrics, including heart rate, activity, skin temperature, and ambient temperature. Together, this sensor data allows for the real-time prediction of core body temperature, providing alerts to workers and supervisors when temperatures approach unsafe levels.
Multi-level alerts are sent to workers via device vibration and iOS or Android app notification, and to supervisors via a web dashboard alert signaling that the worker should take a break and allow his/her temperature to return to safe levels. Alerts are accompanied by actionable recommendations to decrease body heat. A second “back to work” alert then indicates when the worker’s core body temperature has returned to a safe level.
FlowTech LTE® Belted Full Body Harness
This high-tech, lightweight, breathable full body harness by FallTech has been designed with exclusive aluminum camlock torso adjusters to provide a simple and secure upper-body fit. The harness has undergone thorough testing and complies with ANSI Z359.11-2014 Safety Requirements for Full Body Harnesses and OSHA 1926.502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices. A lightweight Flowscape® shoulder yoke, sub-pelvic leg, and 7″ waist support positioning pads deliver evaporative breathability, while a proprietary dorsal attachment sleeve supports the addition of personal self-retracting devices (SRLs).
This unique smart hard hat is engineered to provide time, location, and motion analytics for all site activity. The WakeCap connects with the purpose-built, scalable Site-Mesh-Network to enable accurate and consistent reporting for project management action as well as worker safety on industrial and construction sites. The standard ratchet on the back of a hard hat is replaced with the integrated chip system that has a battery life of at least 1½ years. Additional anchors are placed throughout the job site, which help determine the location of each worker’s helmet. An accompanying analysis platform and customizable dashboards offer detailed insight into job site operations such as work flow and safety.
Loner Mobile Worker App & Accessories
Blackline’s Loner Mobile lone worker app turns a smartphone into a simple and non-intrusive safety monitoring platform. Loner Mobile uses the Loner Duo and SOS Button accessories, which feature Bluetooth communications to pair with the app.
To request help manually, all safety monitoring apps (including Loner Mobile) require the user to access their smartphone, unlock it, access the app, and trigger an emergency request. This all takes time the employee may not have. Loner Duo or the SOS Button provide a physical interface to instantly call for help with both automatic and manual triggers. Safety incidents are communicated to live monitoring personnel through Loner Mobile; Duo and the SOS Button automatically communicate falls with Loner Mobile, which then initiates contact with monitoring personnel.
Designed for individuals and teams large or small, the WorkerSafety Pro app provides a comprehensive safety solution for iPhone and Apple Watch users. Already trusted by the construction, energy, aerospace, and agriculture trades, the app includes advanced detection that proactively prevents false alarms. It automatically notifies emergency contacts according to established safety protocols, and has a safety dashboard that enables centralized monitoring and response.
Developed in the time of COVID-19, the Triax TraceTag is a proximity alert system and contact tracing solution. Affixed to a hard hat or worn on the body, it is designed to emit an alert when workers are in close proximity, allowing them to comply with social distancing requirements of the specific job site. The device offers active feedback to the worker in the form of a visual and audible alarm, as well as the passive collection of worker interactions for contact tracing (should an individual test positive).
