Wearables at work: balancing function with privacy, other concerns

It takes more than a time clock to figure out when employees are productive and safely on the job. What if a warehouse worker tasked with lifting heavy loads is sore from last week's workout session at the gym and therefore not performing at peak efficiency? Or what if he is risking injury by twisting in an unhealthy way when lifting or releasing the load?

Can wearable technology help employers understand and solve those problems? Also, how might wearables contribute to a workplace wellness program without turning the employer into Big Brother? Now that the Internet has invaded everything from phones to wristwatches, employers are mulling those questions and more.

Helpful information or monitoring run amok?

Common sense tells us that fatigue can lead to workplace injuries and accidents. Certainly, supervisors know to watch for problems, but now technology may make it possible to pinpoint exactly when a worker needs a break or more training on how to do a job safely.

A new breed of products is capable of detailed reporting on ergonomic issues, fatigue, and ways to improve efficiency. A product called Fuse from software as a service (SaaS) provider Strongarm Technologies is one of the new kind of wearables.