Revolutionizing Safety Management with Helmet Location Data! 5 Benefits That Change the Jobsite

Table of Contents

• What is helmet location data?

• Preventing accidents by detecting entry into hazardous zones

• Rapid emergency response through real-time monitoring

• Improved work efficiency and increased productivity

• Labor-saving and visualization of safety management tasks

• Continuous safety improvement through data utilization

• Further possibilities of helmet location technology: simple surveying with LRTK

• FAQ

In work environments such as construction sites where danger is ever-present, thorough safety management is paramount. However, on sites with large areas and many dispersed workers, relying solely on visual checks and roll calls has limits for monitoring everyone’s safety. It is difficult for site supervisors to constantly grasp every worker’s location and condition, and human error can lead to oversights.

In recent years, advances in IoT and wearable technologies have accelerated the digitalization (visualization) of safety management. Major construction companies have begun trial implementations of helmet location information systems, and these are expected to be a trump card for on-site DX (digital transformation).

What is drawing attention now is the innovation in safety management using helmet location data. By equipping workers’ helmets with position-measuring sensors such as GPS and visualizing each worker’s whereabouts in real time, this technology aims to revolutionize on-site safety management. This article explains in detail how "helmet location data" works and five benefits that transform the jobsite.

At the end of the article, we also introduce a new application of helmet location technology: simple surveying using our company’s LRTK. Now, let’s look concretely at what becomes possible by giving helmets location information.

What is helmet location data?

Helmet location data literally refers to obtaining location information from the helmets that workers wear. Specifically, by integrating small GPS receivers, accelerometers, communication modules, and so on into the helmet, each worker’s current position is automatically determined and transmitted wirelessly to the site management system. This enables site supervisors to know “who is where and when” in real time.

The basic configuration of a helmet location information system is as follows. A positioning device (GPS/GNSS module or transmitting tag) is attached to each worker’s helmet. For wide outdoor construction sites, satellite positioning such as GPS or Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite system “Michibiki” can be used to obtain positions with an accuracy of several meters (several ft), and by combining RTK (real-time kinematic) corrections, accuracy can be enhanced to the centimeter level (half-inch accuracy). In environments where GPS signals do not reach, such as tunnel construction or indoor plants, workers’ positions are measured using RTLS※ technologies such as ultra-wideband radio (UWB) or Bluetooth beacons. (※RTLS: abbreviation for Real-Time Location System. It determines position by measuring radio distances with multiple fixed receivers.)

The helmet location data obtained in this way is sent from the helmet itself or via a mobile communication device to base stations or cloud servers. By viewing that data on dedicated software from a PC in the site office or a supervisor’s smartphone, all workers’ current locations are displayed on a map, allowing real-time monitoring. Some systems can centrally collect and manage various information such as workers’ movement histories and areas where they stayed, fall/impact detection from the helmet’s accelerometer, and heatstroke alerts from temperature sensors. In other words, this is the core technology of “smart helmets” that turn helmets into IoT devices and leverage them for safety management.

The main benefits realized by helmet location technology are the following five.

Preventing accidents by detecting entry into hazardous zones

Location information obtained from helmets helps prevent accidents by detecting entry into hazardous areas. For example, if areas requiring caution such as the swing radius of a crane or high work zones are preconfigured as “hazardous areas” in the system, the helmet device will issue an alert when a worker approaches or enters that area, and a warning notification will be sent to the site supervisor’s device at the same time. The worker themselves can also be alerted by a warning sound or vibration, greatly reducing the risk of inadvertently stepping into a dangerous zone.

By utilizing geofencing (virtual no-entry zones) in this way, you can prevent near-miss incidents and serious accidents caused by human error. It is also possible to detect unauthorized entry into areas restricted to qualified personnel. Constant monitoring by the helmet location information system and immediate warnings when a dangerous condition is likely to occur dramatically increase overall site safety.

By supplementing human error with technology, major progress can be made toward achieving zero accidents (no incidents or disasters).

Rapid emergency response through real-time monitoring

The real-time monitoring effect of helmet location information enables rapid response even in the event of an accident. If a worker collapses due to an accident or poor physical condition, traditionally someone present had to find and report it, which could delay rescue. However, when an accelerometer built into the helmet detects a fall or a strong impact, it automatically detects the abnormality and immediately reports the worker’s current location to the management system. Alerts indicating an abnormality and the relevant worker’s location are displayed on the supervisor’s or control room’s monitor, so you can see at a glance who collapsed and where.

This eliminates wasted time spent “searching around not knowing where something happened,” enabling rapid emergency response. For example, even if a worker in a large plant facility is unable to move due to heatstroke, the helmet’s SOS button or automatic detection will instantly pinpoint their location so nearby personnel can rush to help. In serious accidents where every minute counts, those few minutes can be decisive in saving lives. The helmet location information system functions as a digital rescue whistle, greatly enhancing on-site first-response capabilities.

Moreover, in large-scale disasters or fires requiring emergency evacuation, location information allows immediate confirmation that no one has been left behind. Because you can quickly see on the map who has not arrived at the assembly point, rescue teams will know exactly where to go.

Being continuously monitored in this way also gives workers peace of mind that they will be noticed quickly if something happens.

Improved work efficiency and increased productivity

Position information from helmets contributes not only to safety but also to improving work efficiency. Site supervisors can see workers’ locations and movements on a map, enabling appropriate staffing and rapid instruction. For example, when urgent assistance is needed in a work area, supervisors can quickly assign the nearest team member on the map. This reduces the need to radio “Where are you now?” and streamlines overall site operations.

Analyzing work paths and work times from recorded location information can identify unnecessary movements and waiting times, leading to productivity improvements. For instance, if the material storage area is far away and workers are making multiple trips, consider rearranging the storage location—data-driven operational improvements become possible.

Visualizing each worker’s movements also helps determine whether workload is concentrated on one person, enabling the team to distribute tasks more evenly.

Helmet location information systems are not just safety tools; they also substantially contribute to progress management and productivity improvement on site.

Reducing unnecessary movement and idle time increases the amount of work completed in a day, leading to cost savings such as lower labor costs and shorter construction periods.

In this way, ICT-driven on-site DX is gaining attention not only for safety but also for productivity improvement.

Labor-saving and visualization of safety management tasks

Introducing a helmet location information system also saves labor in safety management tasks. Traditionally, site supervisors relied on regular rounds, contacting each station, and reports from workers to grasp safety conditions, but real-time location displays make it possible to remotely monitor efficiently.

This reduces the time spent on safety patrols and roll calls, allowing that time to be allocated to other important safety measures and training.

The time-consuming tasks of running around the site to check “who is where and what they are doing” or confirming everyone’s whereabouts during roll call are reduced, enabling managers to spend more time on critical decisions and coaching.

Moreover, visualization through helmet location information makes it easier to identify safety management issues. For example, data can show whether people are constantly crowded in a specific area or whether someone is lingering for a long time outside break times. Unsafe behavior and rule violations can be detected objectively, providing evidence for later review of training records. Compared to relying on paper reports or verbal communication, more accurate and comprehensive management is possible, improving the quality of safety management while reducing the burden on those in charge.

You can also objectively grasp compliance with working hours and break times, which helps with labor management and adherence to safety rules.

Continuous safety improvement through data utilization

By accumulating and analyzing data from helmet location information systems over the long term, you can continuously improve site safety. Data will show when and where near-misses are frequent, tendencies in workers’ movements, and locations prone to approaching danger, providing objective material for considering safety measures. For example, if entry warnings are frequently triggered in a certain area, reviewing that area’s traffic lines or signage can improve the workspace to be safer.

In the event of an accident, position data can be used to investigate causes and formulate recurrence prevention measures. Reviewing the facts of “when, where, who, and how” from the data can reveal previously unseen issues. Regularly analyzing accumulated data and sharing it in safety meetings will raise each worker’s safety awareness. By using data to run PDCA cycles rather than implementing one-off measures, you can steadily level up the site’s safety culture.

Continuously practicing data-driven safety management is expected to lead to a steady reduction in occupational accidents.

Further possibilities of helmet location technology: simple surveying with LRTK

Helmet location technology is being applied beyond safety management in other on-site fields. One application is simple surveying. Using our company’s LRTK solution, which provides high-precision positioning, helmets or handheld smartphones can function as surveying equipment. For example, by equipping a helmet with an ultra-compact RTK-GNSS receiver and applying real-time kinematic error correction, GPS position errors of several meters (several ft) can be reduced to a few centimeters (a few in). Just walking around the site in that state allows you to record the precise coordinates of the point where you are standing.

With this system, site personnel can quickly perform required point surveys anyone, anytime, anywhere without specialized surveyors or expensive dedicated equipment. For example, layout checking for piping or as-built checks of structures can be completed simply by having the worker wearing a helmet stand at the coordinates shown on the plans. Complex surveying tasks are dramatically streamlined, enabling flexible on-site responses suited to the era of one-phone-per-worker. The major appeal of simple surveying with LRTK is that the same technology base can be used to improve site productivity while maintaining safety.

Because the measured coordinates can be shared instantly via the cloud, field-acquired information can immediately be used to update drawings and prepare reports.

Thus, helmet location technology not only represents a revolution in safety management but also greatly contributes to improving site productivity and work quality. With labor shortages and calls for strengthened safety measures, helmet location information is poised to become an indispensable solution for future worksites. The government is also promoting the introduction of smart safety technologies through on-site DX promotion measures such as “i-Construction,” so further dissemination is expected going forward.

FAQ

Q1. What is a helmet location information system? A1. It is a system that embeds GPS and communication devices in helmets to grasp workers’ current positions in real time. By turning site helmets into IoT devices, it continuously monitors where each worker is. Developed for safety management, the system visualizes workers’ locations on a map and helps detect entry into hazardous areas and enable rapid emergency responses.

Q2. Can it be used in indoor or GPS-denied locations? A2. Yes. In places where GPS cannot be used—such as indoors, underground, or inside tunnels—position information is obtained using RTLS (real-time location systems) that employ ultra-wideband radio (UWB) or Bluetooth beacons instead. By installing receiving antennas (locators) on site to capture signals transmitted from helmets, you can accurately determine workers’ locations even in areas outside cellular coverage.

Q3. Does it affect employee privacy? A3. The helmet location information system is intended for safety assurance and is not essentially for monitoring employee behavior. Collected data is used within the scope necessary for rescue and safety management and is operated with respect for privacy. For example, rules such as not recording location information outside working hours or breaks, and limiting access to personally identifiable information to designated administrators, can be established to balance privacy protection and safety management.

Q4. What kinds of sites are adopting it? A4. Mainly construction and civil engineering sites, but other applications are being considered at factory and plant maintenance sites, logistics warehouses, mining sites, tunnel construction, power plants and plant inspections, and even firefighting, rescue, and security sites where helmets are mandatory. Its usefulness is greater in hazardous work environments or sites with large areas.

Q5. What is required for implementation and what are the challenges? A5. Implementation requires positioning devices attached to helmets, base stations (receiving antennas) to receive their signals, and software to process and display the data. There are challenges such as initial costs, equipment installation effort, and ensuring radio communication networks, but recently long-life small sensors and cloud-based services have emerged, making implementation relatively smooth. Conducting trial operations before full deployment to set appropriate configurations and rules for the site helps alleviate operational concerns.

Q6. What is simple surveying with LRTK? A6. LRTK is the name of our company’s solution that realizes high-precision RTK-GNSS technology in a compact device and smartphone. Using LRTK, anyone can easily achieve centimeter-level accuracy (half-inch accuracy) positioning and instantly measure coordinates of points needed on site. This is an example of simple surveying applied from helmet location technology: tasks that previously required specialized survey equipment and personnel can now be completed with a helmet or smartphone equipped with an LRTK-compatible device. The ability to streamline surveying and measurement work while maintaining safety is a significant advantage.