System and method for monitoring safety and productivity of physical tasks

A computer-based method for identifying risk during lifting activities comprising:

• receiving a first signal from a wearable device generated from dynamic activity of the first device over time;
• identifying, from the first signal, an initiation time for a physical activity performed by a wearer of the wearable device;
• excerpting a first signal segment from the first signal for a time period following the initiation time for the physical activity;
• calculating measurements of the wearer for the time period during the physical activity from the first signal segment;
• and
• calculating a risk metric from a risk model based on the measurements of the wearer for the time period during the physical activity, the risk metric being indicative of high risk lifting activity.

A computer-based method for enforcing safety rules comprising:

• receiving, at a processor, a first signal from a wearable device indicative of dynamic activity of the first device over time;
• identifying, in the first signal, a signal segment corresponding to one of several expected physical activities;
• and
• determining that the physical activity to which the signal segment corresponds requires a specified item of safety equipment;
• determining the presence of a specified item of safety equipment;
• and
• triggering an alert to a third party in the absence of the specified item of safety equipment.

A system for enforcing safety rules comprising:

• a wearable device for transmitting an activation key;
• and
• a piece of equipment to be activated upon receipt of the activation key;
• wherein use of the piece of equipment requires an item of safety equipment or a safety certification, and
• wherein the wearable device transmits the activation key only if the presence of the item of safety equipment or safety certification is confirmed.

A system for ensuring safety of workers in an environment, the system comprising:

• a first wearable device having a first and second communication interface;
• a plurality of secondary devices each containing an environmental sensor and a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal containing environmental data;
• a server;
• and
• a database associated with the server,
• wherein the wearable device is configured to:
• receive the wireless signal of a first of the plurality of secondary devices at the first communication interface when the wearable device is within range of the corresponding secondary device;
• transmit a secondary wireless signal comprising the environmental data and an identification of the corresponding secondary device to the server or a second wearable device at the second communication interface;
• and
• wherein the server is configured to record the environmental data with the identification of the corresponding secondary device in the database upon receipt of the secondary wireless signal.

A computer-based method for evaluating efficiency of workers comprising:

• receiving, at a processor, a first signal from a wearable device indicative of physical characteristics of the first device over time;
• identifying, in the first signal, a plurality of signal segment corresponding to at least one of several expected physical activities;
• correlating each of the plurality of signal segments with a corresponding physical activity;
• and
• generating a log of physical activity performed by a user wearing the wearable device.