This study investigated how wearable technology could help construction workers contract fewer occupational illnesses. A case study research strategy was used to collect qualitative data. The qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured interview, and 30 participants were interviewed from multiple case studies. A model for using wearable technologies for minimising occupational illnesses was developed. Additionally, it was determined that wearable technology supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 9. The use of wearable technologies for construction workers to monitor their health in real time is another option to support UN Sustainable Development Goal 3. Additionally, it was inferred that the construction workers’ use of wearable technology was significantly constrained by ethical considerations. To improve the usability and functionality of wearable technology, this study suggested that user acceptance, security, ethical issues and big data challenges be addressed.
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April 2024
Research Article|
November 03 2023
Using wearable technologies to minimise occupational illnesses among construction workers
Lesiba George Mollo, PhD
Department of Built Environment, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Received:
May 10 2023
Accepted:
October 17 2023
Online ISSN: 2043-9911
Print ISSN: 2043-9903
Emerald Publishing Limited: All rights reserved
2024
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Forensic Engineering (2024) 177 (2): 64–71.
Article history
Received:
May 10 2023
Accepted:
October 17 2023
Citation
Mollo LG (2024), "Using wearable technologies to minimise occupational illnesses among construction workers". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Forensic Engineering, Vol. 177 No. 2 pp. 64–71, doi: https://doi.org/10.1680/jfoen.23.00007
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