Join us as Dr. Barry Miller, Director of Outreach and Business Development at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab discusses cutting-edge research on protective headwear for the construction industry. Learn about the Helmet Lab's innovations, helmet rating processes, and how they aim to enhance worker safety.

You’ll hear the fascinating origin story of the lab, starting from its groundbreaking 2007 initiative to quantify football helmet safety, to the development of their revolutionary star rating system. Dr. Miller explores the essential role of headgear in sports like soccer and flag football, especially for youth leagues, explaining how even minimal padding can significantly reduce head impact severity. We also dive into the lab's upcoming study on worksite safety helmets, aiming to replicate real-world accident scenarios to create more effective safety ratings. By understanding specific impact conditions, Virginia Tech Helmet Lab is striving to develop superior protection and reduce concussion risks across sports and workplaces alike.

Barry Miller, PhD, is the Director of Outreach and Business Development at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab. With a PhD in Biomechanics and experience in health and wellness, Dr. Miller is dedicated to advancing research on head protection and injury prevention.

The Construction User 2.0 podcast is brought to you by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC). Your host, Kirk Westwood, is Director of Marketing for TAUC. Kirk has helped many organizations tell their stories as a photographer, blogger, web-streamer, and consultant. In each episode, we’ll explore the latest labor trends, industry insights, and important issues in the world of construction. Our guests are industry leaders, subject matter experts, and innovative visionaries discussing how we are building the ‘world of tomorrow.’ TAUC is made up of more than 1,800 contractor companies that utilize union labor for their projects, as well as local contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction fields. TAUC’s mission is to act as an advocate for union contractors and enhance cooperation between all parties to achieve the successful completion of construction projects.

Discussion points:

• The many products and testing protocols handled at Virginia Tech Helmet Lab

• Football head impact sensors inside helmets, driving data-driven improvements

• NFL helmet ratings and testing vs. “the masses”

• Examining headgear in sports, reducing head impact severity

• Flag football popularity is increasing, youth leagues, mandating headgear

• A study on worksite safety helmets, aiming to reduce concussion risks.

• Helmet safety testing methods, STAR scores - which evolve with technology and vary for different sports

• Advancements in helmet fit and durability - fit, materials, and design differ for various sports, single vs. multiple impact helmets

• The future of helmets and head injury reduction

• Preliminary research in construction helmets, collecting data for construction site safety

• Open call for submissions of videos of construction site helmet-related accidents - send them to your organization or Dr. Miller

• Spread the word about the upcoming research and testing in construction