Fast Company has recognized Rogers-O’Brien Construction with its World Changing Ideas Award for its implementation of a wearable sensor to protect its employees from heat-related illness.
The contractor, based in Dallas, Texas, rolled out VigiLife SafeGuard non-invasive wearables for its 98 workers after piloting the technology in 2023 across three major job sites in Texas. SafeGuard wearables continuously monitor workers to prevent heat exhaustion on job sites, reducing the risk of related injuries.
SafeGuard combines wearable sensors with physiological and environmental monitoring, to predict and address potential safety issues before they pose a problem, according to the supplier. It monitors heart rate and core body temperature and will alert the wearer if levels become elevated. If the levels continue to rise, an alert is sent to an on-site manager so that the worker can be removed from the heat and allowed to cool down. According to the supplier, many workers opt out of much-needed breaks, making it “crucial” to have safety managers step in when sensors pick up dangerous thresholds.
According to Fast Company, 80% of workers are using the device.
About the Author
Rod Sutton
Sutton served as the editorial lead of Construction Equipment from 2001 through 2025.