spacebands is a multi-sensor wearable that monitors external, environmental hazards, anticipates potential accidents, and gives real-time data on stress in hazardous environments.
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For Solent Stevedores, adopting spacebands was not about adding technology for its own sake. It was about answering an uncomfortable but necessary question:
Do we really understand the hazards our teams are exposed to every day?
As part of their preparation for ISO 45001, they identified a clear gap. Monitoring of hand–arm vibration and noise exposure was not where it needed to be. That recognition became the starting point for a more informed, data-led approach to worker protection.
During their ISO 45001 preparation, Solent Stevedores reviewed their health and safety systems and found that HAVS and noise monitoring were weaker than they should be.
They lacked:
They needed a solution that would strengthen compliance, but also improve understanding on the ground.
From the outset, practicality mattered.
The technology needed to:
spacebands quickly proved a good fit.
They are easy to use, robust and can be worn without interfering with our teams’ ability to do their work.
Setup was straightforward, supported, and flexible. When Wi-Fi limitations caused issues at one site, spacebands provided a 4G dongle to ensure data could still be uploaded reliably. That kind of practical support helped remove barriers early on.
There was one understandable hesitation: accuracy.
Solent Stevedores wanted confidence that the data could be trusted. That concern was addressed through access to testing data that demonstrated the validity of the monitoring, giving reassurance that the system could stand up to scrutiny.
Once spacebands were in use, the value quickly became clear.
By monitoring real exposure during real work, Solent Stevedores began to:
Using spacebands has helped us learn a lot about our operations and the work our teams do, including identifying activities which were louder than first thought and allowing us to implement appropriate hearing protection
Instead of relying on assumptions, decisions could now be based on evidence.
One of the most valuable outcomes for Solent Stevedores has been visibility.
Having vision of the HAVS and noise exposure our guys work with has really helped.
That visibility supports better decision-making, but it also supports something just as important: engagement.
Through the use of spacebands, teams have become more aware of:
The technology does not sit in the background. It becomes part of the safety conversation.
For Solent Stevedores, spacebands represents more than a monitoring tool. It is part of a broader shift toward smarter, more informed operations.
As they put it:
spacebands have been a great way to start implementing smart technology into our operations, helping us understand the hazards our teams are exposed to, ensure we meet our legal obligations, and get our teams involved in their own safety.
That combination matters:
It is not about ticking boxes. It is about building a stronger safety system from the inside out.
Harry Kimberley-Bowen, Co-Founder of spacebands, said:
Solent Stevedores approached this exactly the right way. They didn’t just look for a tool to satisfy compliance, they looked for a way to genuinely understand exposure and involve their workforce in safety. That mindset is what turns monitoring into meaningful prevention.
Solent Stevedores didn’t adopt spacebands because they were forced to.
They adopted it because they wanted clarity.
What they gained was:
This is what progress looks like when organisations choose insight over assumption.
