Wearable airbags and health in the workplace: application experiences

N. Petrone,¹ E. Meggiolaro,² V. Cafaggi² | ¹Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua; ²D-Air Lab, Vicenza, Italy

Introduction. Workplace health has recently taken on the dimensions of an emergency rather than a right for workers and a duty for employers and prevention institutions.¹ With millions of workers in Europe and around the world, the need for safety must be increased not only through the adoption of safety rules and procedures, the availability, certification, and acceptance of prescribed PPE, but also through all innovative technologies, such as wearable airbags that reduce the probability of even secondary injuries that affect workers’ health and company productivity.

Objectives. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and potential of wearable airbag technology for workers at height and at altitude. The development of wearable inertial sensors, the evolution of gas generators and bags, and the development of risk situation identification algorithms enable the development, testing, and application of wearable impact protection airbags.

Methods. Based on the needs expressed by leading companies in national energy production and distribution, synthesizing the requirements for anatomical protection, rapid intervention, user ergonomics, and economic sustainability, wearable airbags have been designed, developed, certified, and produced and are available for the most diverse sectors.

Results. The development process has drawn on the experiences accumulated over years of racing in motorcycle and skiing competitions: Synergy with certification and research bodies has led to the validation of the functional, protective, ergonomic, and safety characteristics that are essential requirements for personal protective equipment.² Current wearable airbags are characterized by their high wearability and complete compatibility with both fall protection systems and workwear. They are tested with in vitro trials on anthropomorphic dummies in terms of overall activation and inflation time, with the aim of ensuring a preventive intervention capability for the declared height of possible fall. They are also verified with in vivo tests to ensure the absence of unwanted activations and portability even in case of accidental activation. Industrial experiences are leading to their increasing spread, both in combination with and without fall arrest systems.

Conclusions. Wearable airbag protection technologies are additional protective devices that have the potential to extend protection to vital body parts and from even secondary impacts: They do not replace fall protection systems where prescribed, and require proper information and communication for conscious and cautious use.