INSIGHTS / News

SETsquared Bristol member, SpatialCortex, is partnering with Transport for Wales to trial its MOVA technology – a wearable biomechanical technology that proactively reduces manual-handling injuries.

In the UK, manual handling injuries cost the industry £6b each year, accounting for roughly a third of all workplace industries. SpatialCortex’s MOVA technology, which has been backed by Innovate UK grant funding, provides cutting-edge features that allow workplaces to proactively understand, anticipate, mitigate, and prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) using a data-driven approach.

The battery-powered sensors are completely wireless, with 24 hours of battery life before needing to be recharged. Analytics report back to users through an easy-to-use mobile app, offering individualised risk assessments, detailed reports, and the ability to integrate simply with existing health and safety processes.

The sensors can be worn over any piece of clothing, making them suitable for any industry that requires manual handling activities.

Over the next few months, Transport for Wales will trial MOVA technology with its train hosts and conductors in both training and operational environments. Staff working trackside in maintenance and depots, which lift, carry, and manipulate materials and tools in awkward postures, are all prone to health and posture issues.

It is hoped that the MOVA sensors will inform employees of activities where injury is likely to occur and allow them to make proactive decisions to help them work safely.

Simon Carpenter, Safety Officer, Transport for Wales who champions the testing of this innovative technology said “Transport for Wales is committed to the safety of our staff and customers, and we are keen to take a proactive approach in understanding and addressing MSD risks to ensure the well-being of our colleagues. SpatialCortex’s technology helps us do exactly that.”

Kailash Manohara Selvan, CEO, SpatialCortex added, “We are thrilled with Transport for Wales’s support for this trial. We look forward to the valuable insights our technology will provide, the positive impact it will bring at Transport for Wales, and the learning from a product development perspective for us.”