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Sensor Networks or Smart Artifacts? An Exploration of Organizational Issues of an Industrial Health and Safety Monitoring System

Gerd KortuemContact Information, David AlfordContact Information, Linden BallContact Information, Jerry BusbyContact Information, Nigel DaviesContact Information, Christos EfstratiouContact Information, Joe FinneyContact Information, Marian Iszatt WhiteContact Information and Katharina KinderContact Information

(1)  Computing Department, InfoLab21, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4WA, UK
(2)  Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, UK
(3)  Management School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YX, UK
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.

Keywords  ubiquitous computing - sensor network - smart artifact - workplace support - occupational health and safety - safety culture - risk management - compliance architecture - organizational fit - privacy


Contact Information Gerd Kortuem
Email: kortuem@comp.lancs.ac.uk

Contact Information David Alford
Email: d.alford@lancaster.ac.uk

Contact Information Linden Ball
Email: l.ball@lancaster.ac.uk

Contact Information Jerry Busby
Email: j.s.busby@lancaster.ac.uk

Contact Information Nigel Davies
Email: nigel@comp.lancs.ac.uk

Contact Information Christos Efstratiou
Email: efstrati@comp.lancs.ac.uk

Contact Information Joe Finney
Email: finneyj@v6testbed.net

Contact Information Marian Iszatt White
Email: m.iszattwhite@lancaster.ac.uk

Contact Information Katharina Kinder
Email: k.kinder@lancaster.ac.uk
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