Samsung Electronics has upgraded its Galaxy Watch-based AI heat stress management system, integrating South Korean government heatwave standards, in a deployment aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses at construction sites. The system now operates at Samsung's Pyeongtaek semiconductor construction site, where it analyzes workers' heart rate, activity, and environmental data to predict individual risk and send automatic rest recommendations when the heat index reaches 33°C (91.4°F).
The solution, part of the SmartThings Pro Safety Management Solution, combines wearable data from Galaxy Watch LTE models with on-site temperature and humidity readings via the cloud. Managers receive real-time alerts on a dashboard and can push rest advisories or caution messages directly to workers' watches.
Built-in government heatwave thresholds
The upgrade directly incorporates the Ministry of Employment and Labor's phased heatwave response. When the heat index hits 33°C, the system classifies it as a heatwave advisory; 35°C triggers a warning; and 38°C or higher issues a severe alert. At any tier, the manager can confirm the danger and send immediate guidance to the worker.
Academic and clinical validation
Samsung worked with Incheon National University to refine a core body temperature prediction algorithm that factors in height, weight, gender, age, and heart rate patterns. Clinical validation with Samsung Medical Center confirmed strong agreement between predicted and actual physical responses under heat stress.
"Reflecting the Ministry of Employment and Labor's guidelines and the demand for heat stress management at industrial sites, we have enhanced the solution to detect and manage heat stress preemptively," said Park Chan-woo, Vice President of Samsung Electronics' B2B Integrated Offering Center. "We will continue to develop our industrial safety management solutions based on a thorough information security framework that meets international standards."
SmartThings Pro recently earned ISO 27001 certification, verifying its ability to securely handle biometric and environmental data collected on job sites.
Why this matters for construction professionals
Traditional heat safety measures often rely on blanket work stoppages based on regional weather alerts, which can halt entire crews regardless of individual condition. Samsung's approach uses personal biometric data to target interventions, reducing unnecessary downtime while protecting workers in real danger. For safety engineers and construction managers, this signals a shift toward precise, data-driven safety protocols. Professionals looking to understand the underlying predictive models can follow an AI Learning Path for Safety Engineers that covers wearable-based risk assessment and AI-driven worksite safety.
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