Staff from SA Water are taking part in a safety pilot with the University of South Australia (UniSA) to explore how new technology can lead to greater health and wellbeing outcomes.
General Manager of People and Safety at SA Water, Kylie Johnson said the safety initiative could have broad application across its Statewide workforce.
Ms Johnson said that for the study, 15 of SA Water’s field-based staff would don a range of smart wearable devices to explore how new technology could lead to greater health and wellbeing outcomes.
The General Manager said UniSA researchers would analyse physiological data captured in the field to identify opportunities for early detection and intervention of potential safety issues.
“Wristband sensors and smart shirts are among the devices now being tested by staff from SA Water’s Kadina Depot, and Trade Waste and water sampling teams,” she said.
“The idea to trial these devices was conceived by our own people, who over the years have seen the success of proactive measures in preventing harm during some of their daily tasks.
“Working together with UniSA, our people will undertake specific work activities, such as driving prolonged distances and pipe maintenance to explore how their bodies respond, measure their vital signs and monitor the effect of heat, fatigue and sleep.”
Project lead and Research Professor at UniSA, Jill Dorrian said findings from the study could set a new precedent for proactive safety practices.
“Our research continues to find that issues such as fatigue and sleep are prevalent across industries and can often increase the risk of workplace incidents, but our trial could open the door for the use of innovative technologies that support an even more proactive approach to safety and wellbeing,” Professor Dorrian said.
