Nationwide, Kinetic deploy wearables for workers comp

Kinetic Insurance, a partnership between Kinetic, a wearable device company, and Nationwide is protecting workers from potentially high-risk activities. Kinetic’s Reflex can reduce injuries by as much as 50%, according to the company. 

The wearable device looks like a pager that vibrates when a worker is participating in potentially harmful activities like picking up something by bending. Reflex notifies the person with real-time advice for the worker to show them that squatting to pick up something instead helps to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. 

Haytham Elhawary, co-founder and CEO of Kinetic, says the company was built to help prevent all types of workplace injuries. 

“We are giving you the means to prevent claims in the first place,” says Elhawary, adding that telematics and preventive measures like Reflex can be seen across commercial lines. For example, leak sensors can detect water in businesses and fleet telematics are able to notify drivers and managers about good and bad driving behaviors.

“That shift we are seeing will start to accelerate–MGAs and MGUs are nimble and can try things, we’re the experiment. But if we can prove it can reduce claims, more carriers will do the same.”

Kinetic recently added a jump detection feature to help workers avoid unnecessary jumps. In 2021, jump-related injury claims cost about $142 million, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance. 

Dale Hoppe, director of operations, workers compensation claims at Nationwide, says Kinetic has exceeded their expectations. The venture capital team at Nationwide also made an investment in the company in 2020, as they saw the potential for its technology within the insurance space.

“As a carrier partner we are here to support their expansion needs and or give them capital resources. … What has been most exciting has been the reception in the markets,” Hoppe says. “Brokers are receptive and excited about innovation in the workers comp space.”

Hoppe adds that Nationwide is interested in the data from the wearables.

“The data is for employers and their safety and risk managers to create safer environments,” Hoppe says. “At the crux of what they’re doing, the data is trying to tell them where they can be safer.” 

The device reduces injuries by about 50 to 60% and lost workdays by 72%, according to Kinetic and the actuary firm Perr & Knight, which verified that information.

Kinetic plans to add more detection features for various motions in the future.