Construction workers offered wearable mood monitors

Framework organisation Pagabo is to offer construction firms the chance to equip their workers with wearable mood monitors as it continues to trial the technology.

The Moodbeam One devices aim to promote worker wellbeing by tracking whether they are having a good or bad day at work, in real time.

They have already undergone a first round of trials led by contractors Morgan Sindall and Willmott Dixon on its major works framework. Subcontractors M2 Civils and manufacturer Eco Modular Buildings also took part.

Pagabo said that while mental health and wellbeing in construction was already a concern for the sector, new findings from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) showed that the issues would become even more critical in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

A second round of trials for the Moonbeam One devices was due to take place over the last two months but were put on hold during the coronavirus lockdown.

But Pagabo will now offer fully managed services to assist companies or project teams to set up and oversee usage of the devices through a Moonbeam dashboard. The dashboard is being built by Pagabo’s development team.

Simon Toplass, chief executive at Pagabo, said: “Everyone involved in these trials recognises that to instigate real change in the industry we need to listen to the voice of all people involved in delivering a project. This includes consultants, manufacturers, contractors and sub-contractors.

“The industry is starting to talk about the pressure that is felt by its workforce, and this pioneering initiative starts to provide a way of staying in tune with how staff are feeling. The data captured during the trials is completely anonymous and will be used to highlight any challenges and stress points on-site, as well as capturing when things are going well.

“There are so many things that can affect whether workers will have a good or bad day – from weather factors to deadlines, long periods of remote working to unsocial shift patterns – so the Moodbeam One allows a really simple way for people to feedback. Now, as sites are reopening and sections of the workforce are returning to work, the covid-19 pandemic has created added pressures for people, which will impact their wellbeing both in and out of work. The wristband’s design allows workers to have a voice through discreet, anonymous feedback – through simply pushing a single button.”

Sean Bradley, managing director for London and Home Counties at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We’re thrilled to be trialling the use of Moodbeam. By allowing staff to tell us when they feel good, we will be able to see where we are performing well, and where they may not be feeling as good, we can examine root causes and make changes or introduce new initiatives accordingly – and in the long run make a change to the industry as a whole.”

Kay Ortatepe, assistant group SHE inspector, at Willmott Dixon said: “As an organisation we are continuously looking for ways to improve wellbeing and ensure our people are happy and healthy. We currently have over 370 trained Mental Health First Aiders across our sites and offices as part of our All Safe Minds programme, and we’re really proud to be involved in these trials to drive forward for real change in the industry when it comes to wellbeing for our people and our supply chain partners.”