Is the smart safety vest a brutal innovation? Evaluation of microclimate performance using a thermal manikin

Heat stress is a growing concern in the global construction industry due to its life threatening consequences. The Smart Safety Vest is a proposed 'internet of things' solution to the heat stress problem in construction. This innovative e-textile monitors the physiological parameters of construction workers in real time, communicates the data to the cloud, then visualises the data on the wearer's smart-phone, and in a web-based management system. Alerts warn of anomalies. The feasibility of this system has been validated through iterative design and by rigorous laboratory tests. This paper reports the experimental procedure used to investigate microclimate variations prior to field testing, which involved a sweating manikin placed in a thermal chamber. Various microclimate scenarios were tested on different layers of protective clothing, and during different activity levels with carefully chosen sweat rates and walking speeds to represent working conditions in construction. These tests showed variations in microclimates under different working and clothing conditions. This research provides initial evidence about microclimate variations, offering useful insights for regulators. The Smart Safety Vest has the potential to improve H&S in construction by addressing a key health risk. The research also significantly contributes to the application of innovations in a poor performing sector.