Wearable-based Monitoring System for Lineman in Power Utilities to Mitigate Workplace Health and Safety Risks

Abstract

In the context of power distribution utilities, improving safety practices at work is fundamental as it is a high-risk activity and fatalities still occur. To avoid these, standardization of processes, constant training and tight control are the actions typically adopted. However, such actions are limited by their strong dependence on human initiative. This research project proposes to apply the smart connected worker concept by using wearable sensing technologies to prevent, prior to near-miss, the unsafe actions/conditions defined in the DuPont pyramid. Sensing of parameters such as physiological (e.g., ECG, PPG, SpO2, etc.), physical (e.g., acceleration, electric field strength, location, etc.) and environmental (e.g., UV intensity and temperature) are applied to personal protective equipment (PPE's) and feed a mobile app and a cloud analytics platform to generate active (real-time) and reactive (offline) individual fitness statuses. As a result, accidents can be further prevented due to the addition of a new and remote layer of supervision; security procedures improved through data collection and processing; and operational performance enhanced due to increased connectivity.