Wearable devices: Cross benefits from healthcare to construction

The use of smart wearables provides an opportunity to improve construction safety and productivity. Because the healthcare industry has been at the forefront of applying such technologies, this paper investigates available ubiquitous wearables, their metrics, and types of measurements; how existing healthcare systems detect hazards and unhealthy behaviors; and the potential for cross-fertilization between healthcare and construction domains. A comprehensive review of 173 papers is used to examine existing developments in the use of smart wearables in the construction and healthcare industries. The literature survey identified applicable healthcare metrics, measurements, and ranges that can be readily utilized in the construction industry. This information can facilitate further studies related to improving work ergonomics, health and safety, and worker stress analysis. Future research can also help develop efficient construction schedules that dynamically monitor workers' fatigue, and accordingly devise corrective actions that minimize the impact on workers' safety and work productivity. • This paper reviews existing work in construction and health care fields towards using wearables to enhance health and safety. • Over 170 papers from construction and healthcare related journals were reviewed. • Existing applications for wearables towards health and safety are discussed. • Healthcare metrics related to fatigue and work intensity that could be translated to the construction industry are featured. • Technical and social challenges towards the adoption of wearables and IoT systems are identified.