A common sight is emerging: road maintenance workers wearing modern-looking wristbands. While most on the market are black, Gipuzkoa also features white and blue versions. This device doesn't tell time or offer GPS; its sole purpose is to monitor the worker's thermal risk. During this week's heatwave, it has become as essential as a helmet or gloves, designed to warn of impending heatstroke, even before the worker notices any symptoms.
"If the bracelet tells you to stop, you stop," summarizes Igor San José, a union representative for ELA in road construction and maintenance. There is no room for negotiation.
“"If the bracelet tells you to stop, you stop"
Workers must wear the bracelet at least 15 minutes before starting their shift, as part of their uniform. It operates with an LED that constantly indicates the worker's risk status. It is also employed for specific tasks in other companies within the territory when heat conditions become challenging.
These preliminary 15 minutes are crucial because the bracelet needs to register an initial baseline before the workday begins to detect significant variations later. From then on, it evaluates the person's thermal risk in real-time. When it detects a risky situation, it triggers three simultaneous alerts: an audible alarm, a visual signal, and vibration.
The protocols for companies already using this device are very clear: if the alarm sounds, the worker must hydrate and seek shade or the interior of a refrigerated vehicle, even without any symptoms. That is the key. The bracelet acts in the critical phase where the body is already at risk, but the person is not yet aware of it. Work can only resume when the green LED flashes again after a period, and never if the worker continues to feel unwell.
This device costs around 50 euros per unit. In the protocols of leading road maintenance companies in Gipuzkoa, the bracelet is listed under Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), alongside caps and sunscreen. Its use is mandatory for those working exposed to the sun, must be worn throughout the entire shift, and the company registers both its issuance and return.
