Innovation Challenge 2021 Winner: Identifying Hazards and Reducing Injuries in the Construction Industry

Released on September 23, 2021

Innovation Saskatchewan, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association, launched this year's Innovation Challenge June 25, 2021. This year's Challenge aims to address government's priority of creating healthy, safe, and productive workplaces in the construction industry.

This Innovation Challenge asked technology startups, entrepreneurs, researchers, and/or students to find technology solutions to the following question: "How can technology be used by the construction industry to identify hazards and reduce injuries?"  

"We would like to congratulate the team at Humo for winning this year's Innovation Challenge," Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison said. "This Challenge demonstrates our government's ongoing commitment to creating safe workplaces. Humo's innovative wearable device and mobile platform not only highlights the ingenuity of tech entrepreneurs in the province, but will hopefully further increase safety for construction workers going forward."

There were eight submissions this year, which were shortlisted based on the highest potential to solve the problem. A pitch competition was held August 27 and determined the winner.  Humo will receive funding of $10,000 and a 16-week residency to develop their solution in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association. Following the residency, a Demonstration Day will showcase their solution, which is planned for early 2022.

"We believe that most injuries are preventable. We have learned that leaders need better, and more manageable sources of information to make decisions that prevent injuries," Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association President, Collin Pullar said.  "We believe Humo accomplishes these goals by analyzing movement and providing reporting that can help employers and employees understand parts of their workday which may result in musculoskeletal injuries so they can prevent them from occurring.  The economic burden of musculoskeletal injuries is $22 billion in Canada and they can impact any construction company, project or worksite.  We're excited by the potential applications of this technology and the intelligence that it provides." 

Find previous Innovation Challenge winners and program information at https://innovationsask.ca/initiatives/innovation-challenge.

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