As brokers look to bring customers true value with risk mitigation solutions that lead to significant savings, wearable technology is emerging as a powerful tool. Proven to reduce workplace injuries, wearables are a differentiator for brokers who offer workers’ comp policies that include the tech at no additional cost.
In our 4-part Wearables in Workers’ Comp series, we’ve taken a deep dive look into how the safety tech works to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries among a workforce and how it can drive long term behavior change, as well as at how the data collected can help prevent risk in the workplace. Our final post in this series explores how to successfully deploy a wearable tech program.
Here are our top five considerations for effectively implementing wearable tech:
1. Transparency
Worker acceptance is at the heart of success with wearable technology. Having transparent conversations about how the devices will improve workers’ experiences will lead to better worker buy-in.
An open dialogue and well-communicated intentions build a strong foundation for success. Early on, communicate how the devices will and will not be used:
- Define the intent and goals, from reducing high risk movements that lead to injury to collecting data for enhanced workplace safety.
- Anticipate and address misconceptions around privacy and data collection, such as whether the device has a microphone, camera or GPS, and who can see the data.
- Set realistic expectations. For example, some high-risk behaviors are unavoidable, but data analysis can lead to workplace improvements.
Excerpted from “Keep Workers Safe and Reduce Costs: Utilizing Wearable Devices Pays Dividends in Workers’ Comp Program” a webinar with SullivanCurtisMonroe Insurance Services. Watch the Full Webinar.
2. Involvement
Ensuring workers wear the devices is integral to a wearable program’s success. Getting everyone on the team involved encourages employee participation, while asking for regular feedback helps optimize effectiveness.
One of the best ways to increase wearable adoption among workers is for managers and leadership to wear the device themselves and become experts on how it works.
Excerpted from “Keep Workers Safe and Reduce Costs: Utilizing Wearable Devices Pays Dividends in Workers’ Comp Program” a webinar with SullivanCurtisMonroe Insurance Services. Watch the Full Webinar.
Additional tips for ensuring workers utilize provided wearables include:
- Select comfortable, easy-to-wear devices.
- Provide proper training.
- Give avid users additional responsibilities to encourage the team.
- Ask employees why they’re not wearing their device to discover difficulties.
- Set goals and offer incentives for participants.
3. Integration
Wearables work best when integrated into a company’s existing safety culture. The devices serve as a compliment to an already-established workplace safety program and climate.
Here are a few ideas for integrating wearables into a current program:
- Present wearables as a personal safety coach.
- Find ways to fit the new device into existing routines.
- Look for ways wearable data can enhance a current program, like scheduling regular safety meetings or sharing new safety observations.
Excerpted from “Keep Workers Safe and Reduce Costs: Utilizing Wearable Devices Pays Dividends in Workers’ Comp Program” a webinar with SullivanCurtisMonroe Insurance Services. Watch the Full Webinar.
4. Optimization
A key aspect of a successful tech deployment is fully harnessing all the resources wearables provide to gain actionable insights. Data collected from devices, and resulting analytics, can lead to valuable workplace improvements and engaging employee feedback. It can help employers:
- Identify high-risk behaviors like awkward movements and excessive close contacts.
- Recognize above-average-risk times of day and days of the week.
- Understand risk by job function.
- Explore individual performances to reduce risk.
Excerpted from “Keep Workers Safe and Reduce Costs: Utilizing Wearable Devices Pays Dividends in Workers’ Comp Program” a webinar with SullivanCurtisMonroe Insurance Services. Watch the Full Webinar.
5. Encouragement
Sharing wins around how wearables are enhancing worker safety breeds excitement for a wearable tech program. Encourage and motivate users by communicating:
- Positive impacts on employees, like individual and group improvements and high participation rates.
- Positive impacts on the company, such as constructive changes to the workplace and increased productivity and efficiencies.
Excerpted from “Keep Workers Safe and Reduce Costs: Utilizing Wearable Devices Pays Dividends in Workers’ Comp Program” a webinar with SullivanCurtisMonroe Insurance Services. Watch the Full Webinar.
A Series Recap
Wearables can help prevent workplace injuries and claims, and lower workers’ compensation costs. This innovative safety tech reduces high risk movements that lead to costly workplace injuries. So when employers leverage wearables as part of their workplace safety programs, it leads to two key operational advantages – behavior change and actionable data that enhances employee safety.
For a wearable program to thrive it needs worker acceptance, which requires transparency, team involvement and encouragement. Furthermore, integrating and optimizing a wearable program can ensure a successful deployment.
The Wearables in Workers’ Comp series is intended to introduce brokers to the basics and benefits of wearable technology included in a workers’ compensation policy. For more information on how to offer and implement this injury-reducing, cost-saving coverage, please reach out to the Kinetic broker success team.