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CIB Conferences

Abstract

This study evaluated the role of innovative wearable technologies in enhancing the health and safety (H&S) of construction workers in South Africa’s energy sector. While current management tools, such as H&S audits and incident investigations, remain foundational, they are limited in their ability to detect dynamic and physiological hazards in real time. Grounded in Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory and the Cognitive Systemic Technology Acceptance Index (C-STAI), this study examined worker perceptions of current H&S practices, organisational H&S culture, and the adoption of innovative wearables. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 161 construction professionals. Descriptive statistics and reliability analysis (Cronbach’s alpha) were conducted using SPSS. The findings indicated that current systems are structurally sound but predominantly reactive, with gaps in near-miss reporting, real-time hazard detection, and limitations in implementing corrective action. Respondents reported the usefulness of wearable technologies, particularly for fatigue monitoring, hazard detection, and emergency response. However, adoption was constrained by cost, limited knowledge, training deficits, and organisational readiness. The study concluded that wearable technologies should complement existing systems and offer practical insights for implementation in resource-constrained construction environments.

Keywords

Health, safety and wellbeing, Internet of Things, Predictive risk management, Wearable technologies

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