Protecting Workers in Real Time: The Rise of Smart IoT Systems That Monitor Health While Respecting Privacy

Smart wearables and connected sensors make it possible to monitor health, safety and stress levels in real time, offering a powerful way to prevent injury and burnout. While the potential to create a healthier and more productive workforce through the Internet of Things (IoT) is immense, these tools introduce ethical and legal challenges. How can organisations utilise this data to safeguard their teams while respecting their right to privacy? 

The Business Case for Health Monitoring Systems

Healthy working environments should be the norm. However, the people working for you may be stressed, anxious or feel unsafe. Moreover, if they work in fast-paced or hazardous industries, they may be at risk of injury. 

Approximately 60% of the global population is employed, and an estimated 15% of working-age adults have mental disorders, which contribute to tens of billions of lost working days. Absenteeism also stems from work-related mental health conditions and on-the-job injuries.

With greater insight into the state of employees’ physical and mental health, you could offer effective interventions. Research shows the IoT can reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve accuracy in medical care by enabling secure, real-time monitoring. 

Sensors are also typically inexpensive, letting you outfit your organisation without a significant up-front investment. Subscription-based software is affordable, too. For reference, some security systems cost as little as $10 monthly. Happiness and safety are invaluable, but saving money is a bonus. 

How Wearables Facilitate Wellness in the Workplace

IoT devices can generate vital sign information in real time. You can use these insights to enhance employees’ physical and mental well-being, whether they work in back offices or physically demanding environments. 

Although the concept is controversial and the technology is not yet mature, experts believe workplaces will soon have access to neurotechnology devices that monitor brain activity in real time. It could increase productivity at unprecedented levels.

Here are some other health monitoring applications made possible with IoT tools:

• Remote vital monitoring: Information is transferred to a central data repository, enabling remote monitoring and rapid analysis. 
• Real-time hazard detection: Depending on the type of sensor array, devices can report on safety, physical, chemical or biological hazards in real time. 
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance checks: Sensors embedded into PPE can report when workers wear necessary gear. 
• Posture and ergonomics tracking: Smart chairs and exoskeletons can monitor workers’ sitting and standing positions to improve ergonomics. 
• Real-time stress detection: IoT can track stress levels with 99.5% accuracy by monitoring movement, body temperature and sweat. 

Actionable interventions based on the data include providing regular movement breaks, job rotation opportunities, workload management classes, standing desks, more paid time off, employer-sponsored wellness retreats and free counselling. 

The Legal and Ethical Implications of Workplace IoT

The IoT may be promising, but there are significant legal and ethical implications you must consider before implementation. 

The Legal Implications 

According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, electronic communication refers to the transfer of signals, signs, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any kind transmitted in whole or in part by an electromagnetic, wire, radio, photoelectronic or photooptical system. Although lawmakers didn’t consider IoT when drafting this, the definition still applies, making IoT legally relevant.  

Health-related IoT devices may also be subject to coverage under the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Food and Drug Administration’s Drug and Cosmetic Act, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or similar acts in other countries.

Employees retain the right to their health data, even if you manage and store it. Access, encryption and liability specifics differ depending on local, state and federal regulations, many of which have not advanced fast enough to keep pace with technology. 

The Ethical Implications

Individuals may feel apprehensive about accepting what they perceive as intrusive surveillance, even if you promise that the monitoring will deliver benefits.

In the United States, health care is also strongly tied to employment. The risk is that premiums rise based on IoT-generated data. There is also a chance that employers use personal health information to discipline those who have periods of low productivity. To secure employee buy-in, it is essential to clearly communicate your plans.

Does Real-Time Health Monitoring Respect Privacy?

Many off-the-shelf IoT wearables share data with numerous third-party apps and services, making it unclear how data is used. International data flows are particularly risky because they skirt the edges of well-established data privacy and security laws. 

In 2023, Fitbit faced three privacy complaints alleging it had exported user data internationally, thereby violating data protection laws. The complaints also alleged it failed to adequately inform users of the transfers, preventing informed consent. Under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, this is illegal.

As this case demonstrates, the IoT has experienced privacy and security issues since its inception. However, these problems may diminish as the technology becomes more popular. Market research estimates the IoT will reach a $2.65 trillion valuation by 2030. Health monitoring systems that respect privacy are no longer theoretical, as the rise of smart IoT systems has pushed engineers to prioritise security by design. 

What Happens When Your Workplace Gets Smarter?

Firms with more than 5,000 employees adopt workplace technology at substantially higher rates than smaller companies. Many have spent decades investing in the latest tools, so they are well-equipped to invest in state-of-the-art solutions. Fortunately, you don’t need a huge budget to deploy health monitoring devices.

As more employees buy into IoT-powered health monitoring, others will follow. Proving it is safe and secure may take time, but there are numerous success stories to reference. As adoption increases, productivity, efficiency and job satisfaction will follow. People who feel happy, healthy and safe at work are more likely to enjoy their jobs. 

Unlocking a Healthier Workforce Through Smart Tech

Data-rich workplaces that respect workers’ privacy can improve health, safety and productivity. Although implementing health monitoring IoT systems poses challenges, you can navigate them as long as you consider the associated legal and ethical risks.