Hydralert to make mine workers safer

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Image credit: MDPP website

Hydralert is a compact device that will be placed in urinals to analyse a person’s hydration level in real time and provide immediate feedback.

Hydralert
Image credit: www.flinders.edu.au

One of the most serious health issues for the mining industry in Australia is dehydration; with Hydralert, hydration data can be downloaded by occupational hygienists to target hydration promotion and trend data amongst workgroups.

According to the media release by Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation Susan Close, the concept for the Hydralert was developed by Adelaide occupational hygienist Ryan Wynch with input from Flinders University’s Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP).

“Heat stress can be a serious safety issue because it impairs concentration, decreases productivity and causes illness. If successful, Hydralert will provide an innovative alternative to current time-consuming approaches, allowing employees to self-test day or night, without the need for a health professional,” Dr Close said.

Adertisement

MDPP supports the development of cutting-edge medical devices through unique collaborations between researchers, industry, end-users and government.

The concept is one of two projects to receive expert design and development assistance from the MDPP, as part of the South Australian Government’s Medical Technologies Program (MTP).