SmartPro – Smart protective solutions for industrial safety and productivity in the cold

Abstract

Year-round activity involves challenging climatic conditions for the industries in the North. Especially in the winter cold disturbs not only the machinery of industrial processes and vehicles, but is also very crucial factor to reduce worker’s thermal comfort, performance, and occupational health and safety. In the cold, work capability and productivity decrease, the risk of mistakes and errors increases and stress level elevates. Peripheral body parts, such as hands, are the first to cool when humans are exposed to cold resulting in reduced manual and psychomotor performance. This report describes possibilities of sensor-based heating systems integrated into gloves to prolong the safe and efficient working time in the cold. The project was carried out in co-operation with SINTEF and it was part of Saf€ra program.