The Growing Role of Wearable Technology in Workers’ Compensation

The wearables market is experiencing consistent growth with implications, literally, from head to toe. In the workers’ compensation industry, wearable technology can now help impact costs through injury prevention and case management. Headgear with cameras can be used to help prevent injury in a job site, coupled with using an ear piece to help someone guide a worker to perform a task safely. Shirts with sensors can report physical activity, breathing, heart rates, skin conditions and even air quality while sensors in shoes can detect posture concerns and gait which can signal potential injury.

Technology is constantly changing the way we look at healthcare. A decrease in injuries in places like factories is on the rise with wearable sensors that can talk to machinery and equipment and issue a potential injury warning or trigger a shut down. As noted in the Risk & Insurance article, “Putting Wearables to Work,” written by associate editor Michelle Kerr, “The potential for eliminating entire categories of injuries is actually within reach.”

In the case of severely injured employees, especially those who have become paralyzed through an on-the-job injury, connectivity can be essential to regaining control of their lives. Zack Craft, vice president of rehab solutions and complex care at One Call Care Management, sees this space as instrumental to recovery, both physically and mentally. Craft states, “With wearable tech … I’m able to give them the control to their world.”

New technologies now offer cost effective options for both mobility and speech. With new smart devices and downloadable software, a person who has lost their voice can communicate again for a lot less than old speech models, which cost about $10,000 compared to new technological devices and software that can be obtained for less than $1,000.

Paralyzed patients that have some movement in at least one finger have the potential for access that can change their lives, giving them control of many daily activities that normally they would have to ask others to help them with including turning on and off lights, controlling a thermostat or driving an electric chair. As technology continues to advance with new and better, more efficient devices and software, the possibilities are endless. According to Craft, “The technology is moving so fast that it seems like weekly, if not daily, something new is coming out — something that gives us more capability than we even had eight hours ago.”

With this enormous potential there is risk to be considered however. There are concerns that employees may have issues with wearing technology that tracks every moment throughout the day, which is an issue that will be explored over time as the technology continues to develop.

As the article points out, wearable technology has the potential to reduce workplace injuries and workers’ compensation costs while improving worker safety.

If you’re in healthcare, insurance, technology or other professional services industries, and need help with a PR, marketing or social media campaign, contact Scott Public Relations.

Like what you’ve read? Follow Scott Public Relations on Facebook , Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Google+.