Wireless Sensor Network for Safety Tracking of Construction Workers through Hard Hat

Abstract

In industrial or construction site, potential threats to the safety of the workers are abounding everywhere. Construction is being accounted as one of the most unsafe workplaces due to occurrence of accidents and other similar untoward incidents. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a protocol strictly observed by employees, one of which is wearing of safety helmet or hard hat. By exploiting available technologies, hard hat can also be used to track the on-site occupational safety of the workers. The objective of this project is to configure a wireless sensor network (WSN) applicable in construction site setting which monitors the health and safety of the workers. The WSN system has sensor nodes in the hard hat with the tasks of getting the pulse rate and body temperature of the worker, measuring impacts from falling objects or debris, determining the location of the worker, and has the capability of distress alert system. These nodes forwards data to the data logging unit serving as the base station. These data are monitored and distress alert is triggered when received data exceeds the threshold limit. Results showed in the functionality test that accurate data are transmitted from sensing nodes to the base station. This WSN project demonstrated 98.86% accuracy for pulse, 97.23% for temperature, 96.77% for the GPS location tracking, and 100% for impact and distress signal. This system may help in improving practices in terms of construction safety management.