Corporate workplace managers have for some time talked about sensors that would measure everything from the temperature of offices to utilization rates of conference rooms. 

Now comes a report that a major warehouse operator is using them with worker safety in mind. 

"US Foods is trying out new devices in warehouses across six U.S. cities in an attempt to cut down on workers getting hurt on the job,” reports Bloomberg. "Sensors on the device track its user’s movement — similar to how an iPhone counts steps — and alert employees by buzzing and vibrating when they might be at risk.”

“As we train people to be ergonomically safe, these wearable technologies will help give them instant feedback if they’re not following the proper lifting techniques — if they’re extending too far away from their bodies — those sort of things, it will kind of give them a red flag,” US Foods Chief Executive Officer Dave Flitman said in the article. "Last year, the Department of Labor said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration needs to do more to address high injury rates among the nation’s 1.6 million warehouse workers. These employees face dangers not only from industrial vehicles and slips and falls, but from repetitive movements and ergonomic hazards. According to US Foods, ergonomic injuries such as muscle sprains are its most common."