Author: Patrick Edwards
The future of Workers' Compensation may very well lie in wearables. A well-implemented wearables technology program, effective in scope and embraced by employees, will help improve the productivity of an organization and bolster its financial position. Tangible benefits for employees include improved physical health and well-being.
What are Wearables?
When it comes to Workers' Comp, companies seek to manage risk and reduce liability, and wearables help move the needle by identifying potential problems with employees before they turn into claims.
Wearables include items like watches, bracelets and even safety glasses with sensors woven in. They sense and track the information being sought, based on the role of the employee.
Examples of the valuable data wearables can provide for different jobs include:
- Warehouse work: Detects if an employee is lifting more than the maximum weight.
- Moving/storage companies: Senses employees lifting above a designated height or weight threshold.
- Machinery work: Measures sound levels to detect excessive noise.
- Outdoor work: Measures UV exposure.
- Ergonomics: Indicates how long people have been sitting, especially important in the work-from-home era.