Dock workers in Belgium are wearing monitoring bracelets that enforce social distancing — here's how they work

Mary MeisenzahlMay 9, 2020, 19:43 IST

Antwerp port.Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Dockworkers in Belgium are wearing bracelets to enforce social distancing.
The bracelets were already used to detect if someone fell into the water, but now they will sound an alarm if workers get to close to each other.
Manufacturers say there is no privacy issue and the bracelets don't track workers' locations, despite concerns.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Quarantine and social distancing are going high-tech as countries and companies embrace wearables. In Antwerp, Belgium, dockworkers are instructed to wear bracelets that enforce social distancing rules while they work.

Europe, where more than 100,000 people have died from COVID-19, is slowly starting to reopen in some places. Stay at home orders are expiring in many countries, while nonessential travel has stopped across the EU, and countries look towards the summer to anticipate what kind of travel might be possible.

People are beginning to go back to work, which in some sectors means inevitable close contact, especially in many essential jobs. Social distancing bracelets in Belgium are one idea bing tested to see what the future of work might look like after coronavirus.

Here's how it works.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Baekelmans told Reuters that Rombit already had hundreds of requests in 99 countries, and is hoping to ramp up production to 25,000 in a few weeks.

Antwerp port. Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Then, the Port of Antwerp will likely expand the devices to tug boat workers.

Antwerp port. Reuters

Workers in the control tower will be the first to test the bracelets early this month.

Antwerp port. Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Rombit CEO John Baekelmans told Reuters that the bracelets won't allow companies to track employees' locations, because the devices are only connected to each other. He says there is no central server.

Antwerp port. Reuters

Source: Reuters

Rombit CEO John Baekelmans told Reuters that the bracelets won't allow companies to track employees' locations, because the devices are only connected to each other. He says there is no central server.

Source: Reuters

When two workers are less than five feet apart, the bracelets will sound warnings.

Antwerp port. Reuters

European health guidances say to wash hands, wear masks, and keep at least 1.5 meters, or about five feet, apart.

Antwerp port. Reuters

Contact tracing is one solution being explored around the world, and the manufacturers of the bracelet believe it could also be used for contact tracing.

Antwerp port. Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Source: The Associated Press

Europe is slowly starting to go back to work, but fears of a second wave are making officials cautious.

Antwerp port. Reuters

Rombit already made bracelets useful in the port setting, which could be used to call for help if a worker fell into the water or another accident occurred.

Antwerp port. Reuters

They're made by Belgian company Rombit, which says that they are "a fully integrated personal safety and security device, specifically designed for highly industrial environments."

Antwerp port. Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Source: Romware

They're made by Belgian company Rombit, which says that they are "a fully integrated personal safety and security device, specifically designed for highly industrial environments."

The black, plastic bracelets are worn on the wrist like a watch.

Antwerp port. Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Softbank-backed delivery startup Rappi is testing out robots for contactless delivery — take a look

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Dock workers in Belgium are wearing monitoring bracelets that enforce social distancing — here's how they work

Baekelmans told Reuters that Rombit already had hundreds of requests in 99 countries, and is hoping to ramp up production to 25,000 in a few weeks.

Then, the Port of Antwerp will likely expand the devices to tug boat workers.

Workers in the control tower will be the first to test the bracelets early this month.

Rombit CEO John Baekelmans told Reuters that the bracelets won't allow companies to track employees' locations, because the devices are only connected to each other. He says there is no central server.

When two workers are less than five feet apart, the bracelets will sound warnings.

European health guidances say to wash hands, wear masks, and keep at least 1.5 meters, or about five feet, apart.

Contact tracing is one solution being explored around the world, and the manufacturers of the bracelet believe it could also be used for contact tracing.

Europe is slowly starting to go back to work, but fears of a second wave are making officials cautious.

Rombit already made bracelets useful in the port setting, which could be used to call for help if a worker fell into the water or another accident occurred.

They're made by Belgian company Rombit, which says that they are "a fully integrated personal safety and security device, specifically designed for highly industrial environments."

The black, plastic bracelets are worn on the wrist like a watch.