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Title:

Utilization of Bluetooth Technology to Assess Worker Proximity to Construction Health Hazards

Accession Number:

01334248

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

Numerous health hazards on the construction site can lead to chronic illness and death, beyond the immediate traumatic injuries and fatalities that are well quantified in construction accident statistics. This paper provides information on a new system that utilizes unique Bluetooth electronic signals, found on common consumer electronics, to assist in quantifying the proximity of a construction worker to health hazards such as noise and respirable silica dust. There are numerous consumer devices that use Bluetooth technology to send information over a short distance. A series of tests were designed to investigate the viability of leveraging low cost consumer Bluetooth enabled devices as a platform for proximity sensing to determine the proximity of a construction worker to potential hazards such as moving construction equipment or construction equipment that is associated with the dispersion of potential hazards. Bluetooth enabled devices and a Bluetooth receiver were tested in open, unobstructed areas to determine the characteristics of the signal detection and signal strength. A data collection platform was developed to log the signal information at various distances and configurations. The information gathered from the controlled field studies provide a quantitative estimate of the distance between a Bluetooth receiver and emitting device by utilizing the Bluetooth signal strength. Testing also indicated that obstructions, such as the human body, may interfere with the signal strength and detection capabilities. The results of the study indicate that there is significant promise in using Bluetooth signals to quantify exposures to health hazards on the construction site and that further research is warranted on an active construction site.

Monograph Accession #:

01329018

Report/Paper Numbers:

11-0411

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Hubbard, Bryan John
Middaugh, Beauregard
Bullock, Darcy M

Pagination:

17p

Publication Date:

2011

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2011-1-23 to 2011-1-27
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

DVD

Features:

Figures (8) ; References (23) ; Tables (1)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Construction workers

Subject Areas:

Construction; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2011 Paper #11-0411

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Feb 17 2011 5:25PM