Privacy and security of wearable internet of things: A scoping review and conceptual framework development for safety and health management in construction

Abstract

Traditional construction safety monitoring, primarily based on manual observation, is increasingly challenging due to site complexity, human error, and the time-consuming nature of inspections. Wearable Internet of Things (WIoT) devices offer potential solutions by enabling real-time monitoring of workers’ health, environment, and location, enhancing safety management. However, the adoption of WIoT raises privacy and security concerns, including risks of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive health information. This study presents a scoping review that explores privacy and security issues related to WIoT-based safety monitoring, analyzing data types, security challenges, and regulatory frameworks. The study concludes with a privacy-informed conceptual framework for WIoT adoption in construction safety, providing a foundational guide for addressing privacy and security in WIoT.