Sensor networks or smart artifacts? An exploration of organizational issues of an industrial health and safety monitoring system

Gerd Kortuem*, David Alford, Linden Ball, Jerry Busby, Nigel Davies, Christos Efstratiou, Joe Finney, Marian Iszatt White, Katharina Kinder

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Industrial health and safety is an important yet largely unexplored application area of ubiquitous computing. In this paper we investigate the relationship between technology and organization in the context of a concrete industrial health and safety system. The system is designed to reduce the number of incidents of "vibration white finger" (VWF) at construction sites and uses wireless sensor nodes for monitoring workers' exposure to vibrations and testing of compliance with legal health and safety regulations. In particular we investigate the impact of this ubiquitous technology on the relationship between management and operatives, the formulation of health and safety rules and the risk perception and risk behavior of operatives. In addition, we contrast sensor-network inspired and smart artifact inspired compliance systems, and make the case that these technology models have a strong influence on the linkage between technology and organization.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUbiComp 2007
Subtitle of host publicationUbiquitous Computing - 9th International Conference, UbiComp 2007, Proceedings
PublisherSpringer
Pages465-482
Number of pages18
ISBN (Print)3540748520, 9783540748526
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes
Event9th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, UbiComp 2007 - lnnsbruck, Austria
Duration: 16 Sept 200719 Sept 2007

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume4717 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, UbiComp 2007
Country/TerritoryAustria
Citylnnsbruck
Period16/09/0719/09/07

Keywords

  • Compliance architecture
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Organizational fit
  • Privacy
  • Risk management
  • Safety culture
  • Sensor network
  • Smart artifact
  • Ubiquitous computing
  • Workplace support

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