The Hanover's new sensor program aims to reduce workers' comp claims

The Hanover i-on Sensor Program, announced by The Hanover Insurance Group, includes sensor capability for workplace ergonomics intended to reduce worker injuries, according to Christina Villena, vice president of risk solutions at The Hanover.

The insurer partnered with technology provider dorsaVi to provide wearable sensors that can monitor the posture of workers on a packing line, for example. "We have one device that we put on the arm, another one on the upper back and then one on the lower back," says Villena. "It will detect force that's on the body. Then from there, it displays an immediate readout to the worker in terms of, are they in a green zone, a safe working zone, or a yellow or a red [zone]."

Aside from the worker changing their posture in response to an alert, the employer could also adjust the positioning of the height of packing tables on a production line accordingly. 

dorsaVi sensors are being provided free by The Hanover to its policyholders, as are sensor technologies in three other coverage areas: property, driver fleet telematics and heavy equipment tracking. HSB and Alert Labs are providing sensors to use on properties. The Hanover partnered with BlueArrow to provide its Fleet Telematics and Asset Tracking technologies complementing those coverage areas.

On average, sensors provided by HSB and Alert Labs that will be used by the i-on program prevent water damage property losses in the range of $25,000 to $50,000. Sometimes, however, the devices prevent damage that would have been considerably higher, according to Villena. 

"A university with an art museum had a water sensor near an art storage area. A pipe fitting became loose and water started leaking," she says. "Luckily the sensor did what it was supposed to do -- noted the presence of water, alerted the facilities manager, and they were able to take quick action to fix the pipe. We looked at what the damage would have been if the leak wasn't fixed in a timely way. We tried to get a realistic assessment and we found it was about $3 million."

Insurers have increasingly struck up partnerships with security and monitoring technology providers, often offering policy discounts or free devices. While The Hanover is not offering discounts for policyholders who join the i-on sensor programs, it is providing the sensor devices for free. "Not all companies provide this same offering for free," says Villena. "It's part of [policyholders'] overall insurance program with us."