Smart hard hats sound alarm as workers tire

Aaron Morby 8 years ago
Share

BAM Nuttall is trialling a new kind of hard hat that measures brain activity to trigger an alarm when workers suffer mental fatigue.

Brain wave sensor has been fitted to hard hats to warn of mental tiredness during long shifts
Brain wave sensor has been fitted to hard hats to warn of mental tiredness during long shifts

The SmartCap technology was first developed for truck drivers in Australia’s mining industry. It is now being put to work on BAM Nuttall’s rail sector projects in Wales and is due to be rolled out next in Scotland.

A sensor fitted to the inside of safety helmets measures brain activity to provide operator fatigue alerts wirelessly to an app, as the risk of microsleep is identified.

The Life app then gives out early warning alerts to vehicle drivers or operators of plant if they show the early signs of fatigue.

This wearable technology is the most accurate fatigue monitoring solution on the market at 94.7%. BAM believes it could prove crucial to protecting lives of workers who work unsociable hours and whose role includes extensive travelling.

Smartcap

The headband sensor can also be used without a hard hat

BAM Nuttall’s head of innovation Colin Evison, said: “After hearing about SmartCap’s success with drivers of vehicles in Australian mining operations, we made initial contact last year with their team to see whether they could transfer their technology to suit more of a construction environment.

“Things have progressed and we now have five units being tested on our rail framework in Wales and a trial in Scotland is imminent too.

“It’s still early days, but early results indicate that fatigue awareness is already raised by those wearing the LifeBand. This device is effective in detecting symptoms of fatigue; something many people may be unaware of when at work, ensuring our workforce is safe on and off site.”

He added: “BAM Nuttall has a real appetite to explore technology solutions around the issues regarding health and safety on site.”

Darryn Fisher, Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing at SmartCap said: “We are delighted to have expanded into the UK construction market with BAM Nuttall.

“Our predictive technology will help to develop techniques to effectively manage fatigue and raise alarms to guarantee BAM Nuttall’s workforce is safe.”

Latest news

M&E firm J S Wright collapsed owing £19m

Trade creditors hit for £11.4m by employee-owned Midlands firm
2 hours ago

Right to work checks to be extended to self-employed

Government plans crackdown on illegal working and rogue employers
3 hours ago

Vistry go-ahead for 353 homes at Rochester Riverside

Work to start on next phase of Kent town regeneration at end of this year
5 minutes ago

Midlands developer turns to London with £1bn resi schemes trio

SevenCapital plans 1,000 flats in Kensington, Islington and the Isle of Dogs projects
3 hours ago

Deck falls off huge scissor lift at Winvic site

Two men seriously injured as platform plunges to the ground
3 days ago

Weston targets Build to Rent with new division

Weston Partnerships signs first deals with asset managers and councils
2 hours ago

Bouygues seals deal for £119m Cardiff college campus

Construction to start in June on two new buildings
3 days ago

£140m cash injection to speed-up flood defence schemes

Funding part of £2.65bn investment over the next two years
3 hours ago

Bid race starts for £15bn schools framework refresh

DfE throws framework open to more contractors
3 days ago

Berkeley’s £600m Borough Triangle project approved

Controversial scheme features two towers of 38 and 44-storeys
4 days ago

London Mayor calls in blocked 600-bed student scheme

Refused 20-storey London PBSA block may still be built
3 days ago

HG to build 500-bed London Stratford student scheme

Work will start later this year subject to gateway 2 safety approval
4 days ago

Arrest after pedestrian death on construction site

Tragedy during site preparation works for new Wigan car park
3 days ago

British Steel threatens closure of Scunthorpe blast furnaces

Chinese owners say sectional steel and rail supplies will be maintained
4 days ago

Planning green light for Sheffield warehouse site

Existing factories to be demolished in new scheme for Rula Developments
3 days ago

New rail property company to unlock land for 40,000 homes

First four sites released in Newcastle, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham
4 days ago

Drainage specialist Subscan files administration notice

Specialist employing 131 people files court notice
4 days ago

Four win Network Rail £300m engineering design deal

Eastern region deal will include design for Northern Powerhouse Rail
4 days ago

Funding go-ahead for Banwell bypass after fresh cost hike

Galliford Try contract rises £14m to £64m after final design change
4 days ago

Graham wins Southport £75m Marine Lakes Centre

Firm replaces Kier which parted ways with backer Sefton Council
4 days ago

Chancellor unveils extra £2bn capital spend a year

Construction promised a defence dividend in military base and homes upgrade work
5 days ago

McLaren confirms subcontractor team on £135m warehouse job

Work starts on TN2 Gateway site in Kent.
5 days ago

Vistry profits slump after site costs reporting debacle

House builder launches internal whistle-blowing service in business culture review
5 days ago

Severfield chief to step down

Alan Dunsmore to leave structural steel group by end of June
5 days ago

Funding hurdle remains as Lower Thames Crossing gains consent

Government claims £9bn project may start in 2026 as private finance options explored
6 days ago

Mace wins £600m Euston Tower overhaul

1970s tower's foundations and core to be retained as floor plates extended
6 days ago

Summer start for main works on London green tower

Axa sanctions start at 50 Fenchurch Street 36-storey office block
5 days ago

Japan’s leading flats builder JVs with L&G for UK push

Partners plan to build over 1,000 rental homes in London
5 days ago

Wates submits plan for 1,000 homes Harrow council scheme

Former civic centre Poets' Corner site kicks off housing partnership
5 days ago

Morgan Sindall upgrades forecast for next 12 months

Overbury fit-out arm gets off to a flying start in 2025
6 days ago

Contractor services