Workplace Research Monthly

The role of wearable technology in preventative health

Wearable technology is increasingly used in healthcare contexts as a form of early detection and intervention.

Two recent reviews investigated the effectiveness of wearable technology. One review focused on the prevention of heat stress symptoms in outdoor workers. Another looked at wearable sensor technology for evaluating work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Wearable technology is found to offer significant advantages over traditional risk assessment methods. Real-time feedback is provided by recording:

• posture
• repetitive movements
• manual handling
• heart rate
• body temperature.

Health alerts are issued as early warnings and provide tailored recommendations for behaviour change, helping to improve users’ understanding of environmental health factors.

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