The quiet revolution on the tracks: how smart wearable tech is reshaping railway safety
June 19, 2025
Somewhere along a French railway line, site supervisor Jules Perrot checks his tablet. It pings —an alert. One of his team members, stationed near a maintenance tunnel, is registering signs of heat strain. No one had called it in. No one had noticed. Yet within seconds, he knows the worker’s exact location, the surrounding gas concentration levels, and his vital signs.
This isn’t a scene pulled from a futuristic film. This is happening now on European railways—and it’s changing everything.
The daily danger behind essential work
Rail workers operate in hazardous environments: underground tunnels, active lines, low visibility zones, and in close proximity to heavy machinery. Despite improved regulations and equipment, the risks are still significant.
According to Eurostat, the railway sector continues to report thousands of workplace accidents each year [1]. And while non-fatal injuries account for the majority, the real danger lies in what can’t be seen: accumulated exposure to toxic gases, prolonged stress, and undetected medical emergencies.
Behind every statistic is a human story.
A worker collapsing from heat exhaustion. A team caught unaware in a poorly ventilated area. A supervisor making a decision based on outdated or incomplete information.
A shift from reactive to proactive
Traditional methods of monitoring—manual check-ins, sporadic supervision, and gut instinct—are no longer enough. The complexity of modern railway operations demands a shift to real-time, data-driven safety protocols.
At Wearin’, we are pioneering that shift. By equipping personnel with connected wearable sensors, our system collects real-time situational, environmental and biometric data from the field and transmits it directly to command centers.
Jules no longer needs to wonder whether his team is safe—he sees it.
Temperature spikes, gas leaks, extreme fatigue, these are now detectable and addressable as – and even sometimes before – they become emergencies.
Wearin’ solution aggregates multiple data streams, from individual vitals to ambient conditions, helping incident commanders and supervisors make faster, better-informed decisions. But it’s not just about real-time responses. Over time, the data builds a broader picture—identifying patterns of fatigue, long-term exposure risks, and areas where preventative measures could make the biggest difference.
Securing the future of railway operations
This is more than a tech upgrade—it’s a mindset shift. One that values not just operational efficiency, but the long-term health and wellbeing of every worker in the field.
“Railway companies are starting to see safety as a strategic investment,” explains Phong Pham, Business Development Manager at Wearin’.
“Not just to comply with regulations, but to actively protect careers, reduce turnover, and avoid costly delays or incidents. Thanks to Wearin’ AI-driven solution, we are creating a future where no professional faces danger alone. Where every decision is informed, every response is coordinated, and every life is better protected.”
This June, Wearin’ will be showcasing its latest railway safety solutions at SIFER 2025, the leading international rail industry exhibition in France. Join us to explore how wearable technology is driving a safer, smarter future for rail operations.
SIFER 2025 – Lille Grand Palais
June 24–26, 2025
Booths: 1-430, 1-330
Sources :
[1] Eurostat (2024), “Railway safety statistics”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20241213-2
[2] Eurostat (2024), “Fatalities in railway accidents – update”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20241213-2
