Wearin’ has successfully concluded the final System Field Test (SFT) of SYNERGISE, an international research initiative involving 16 partners working together to develop an integrated technological toolkit for responding to natural and human-induced disasters.

The exercise was conducted from 12 to 16 October 2026 at the Fighting City police training and testing facility in Berlin, Germany. It brought together the technologies developed by all SYNERGISE technical partners to assess their combined performance in a demanding Search & Rescue (SAR) operation.

The exercise recreated a major disaster involving an explosion, several collapsed structures, fire and heavy smoke. The scenario enabled participating organisations to evaluate how connected technologies could support emergency teams operating in dangerous and rapidly changing conditions.

Information collected from robots, drones, wearable equipment and positioning technologies was integrated in real time. This provided first responders with an improved understanding of the incident, helping them identify potential hazards, make informed decisions and coordinate their activities more effectively.

The exercise involved 12 firefighters and emergency responders from Greece, Sweden, Germany, Poland and Kurdistan, all equipped with Wearin’ technology. Their participation allowed the consortium to assess personnel monitoring capabilities in realistic emergency-response conditions.

Wearable technology for monitoring first responder safety

Wearin’ played a central role in the integrated response system by bringing together physiological monitoring and environmental sensing capabilities.

Its solution incorporated several important safety features, including:

• Physiological Stress Index (PSI): Evaluates physical strain using heart-rate and core body temperature measurements.
• Gas detection: Monitors potentially dangerous atmospheric conditions.
• Radiation monitoring: Supports the identification of radiation-related hazards.
• Indoor positioning: Uses SYSNAV magneto-inertial tracking technology to locate responders inside buildings.
• Emergency alerts: Includes Man Down detection and SOS alarms to communicate distress situations.

By combining personnel location information with continuous monitoring of physiological conditions and surrounding environmental hazards, the platform provides incident commanders with a more complete picture of responder safety.

The system also incorporates information supplied by drones and other connected equipment, expanding the situational awareness available to emergency management teams.

All collected information was presented in real time through ASTRIAL’s ENGAGE Command & Control platform. This enabled operational commanders to supervise teams working across different areas and monitor evolving conditions throughout the complex, multi-stage emergency scenario.

Such integrated information can be particularly valuable when emergency personnel are exposed to dangerous conditions and commanders must make rapid decisions to protect their teams.

Converting Physiological Data into Practical Safety Information

One of the main objectives of SYNERGISE is to transform large volumes of technical data into clear information that emergency personnel can use during operations.

As part of this approach, Wearin’ developed its Physiological Strain Index (PSI), which converts multiple physiological measurements into a straightforward score ranging from Level 1 to Level 10. The score indicates the degree of heat-related physiological strain experienced by an individual responder.

To simplify the interpretation of these measurements, several indicators are also combined into an overall risk classification of Low, Medium or High, presented through an accessible dashboard.

This enables team leaders to quickly evaluate the physical condition of individual responders and identify those who might need assistance or should be removed from an operation.

The PSI algorithm has also undergone further refinement and can be customised for individual users. This personalisation helps emergency teams recognise excessive physical strain at an earlier stage and take appropriate preventive action.

Integrating Robotics, Drones and Connected Technologies

Interoperability between different equipment platforms is essential for coordinating emergency response activities. The SYNERGISE exercise therefore assessed the Wearin’ system alongside the technologies developed by the project's other partners.

The integrated setup included:

• ANYmal robotic platforms: Developed by ETH Zurich, these robotic systems supported operations in difficult-to-access environments.
• SNAKE robotic system: A telescopic robotic arm equipped with a camera, developed by Japanese partners, for inspecting and interacting with challenging environments.
• Remote-controlled robotic arm: Designed to manipulate objects and operate valves remotely.
• OWL drones: Equipped with LiDAR technology and developed by a Norwegian research laboratory to support indoor mapping and environmental assessment.

The combined deployment enabled partners to examine how information from different technological platforms could be exchanged and used within a common operational environment.

Commenting on the results, Mathilde Bensimhon, Project Manager and Integration Engineer at Wearin’, said:

“The Wearin’ solution performed reliably throughout the exercise and proved essential in the search and rescue operations in combination with the other technologies developed and tested within SYNERGISE,” said Mathilde Bensimhon, Project Manager and Integration Engineer at Wearin’. “We are very proud to see that Wearin’ proved its reliability and capacity to interface with existing sensors, aggregating data and integrating it into our ecosystem while ensuring reliable data transmission.”

Today's concept of workplace safety is built on rapid industrialisation, technological advancement and regulatory transitions across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region 

The Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) MENA 2026 forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will be drawing industry leaders, policymakers and innovators from 17–18 November, reflecting on the evolution of workplace safety and where it stands today. 

Participants will be convening at the Sofitel Dubai Downtown, with the common cause of shaping the future of operational resilience and workforce protection.

Embracing digital transformation and smart solutions

The integration of cutting-edge technologies will remain a primary focus of HSE MENA 2026. As it is impractical to completely rule out traditional safety management, modern technologies need to be fed into existing systems gradually to ensure smooth transition. Standard compliance measures will no longer make sense in isolation as industries accross the region continue to scale operations. This is why the conference will be taking a closer look at digital innovation, social transformation, and smart Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Risk mitigation looks completely different with technology adaptation as artificial intelligence-driven analytics are identifying potential hazards before incidents occur. Smart wearables are monitoring worker vitals in extreme industrial environments. Experts at the forum explore how organisations can leverage these tools to future-proof their diverse workforces, minimise human error, and achieve higher standards of environmental care.

Cross-sector collaboration and regulatory excellence

While innovation is driving long-term safety and sustainability, it needs proper channelising to facilitate unified alignment between regulatory bodies and commercial operators. This will shape high-level dialogue during HSE MENA 2026, bringing together approximately 150 key decision-makers, industry experts, and prominent regional regulators.The speaker faculty features a stellar lineup of thought leaders and policy makers representing key entities such as the Ministry of Finance (KSA), the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Federal Committee for OSH-UAE and the Government of Ras Al Khaimah. By sharing real-world case studies, regulatory updates, and cross-sector strategies, these leaders provide attendees with actionable blueprints to strengthen compliance frameworks and cultivate a proactive safety culture within their respective organisations.

Comprehensive agenda for industry growth

With an objective to maximise engagement and practical learning, the two-day event features a dynamic format encompassing expert-led panel discussions, interactive workshops, targeted tech demos, and extensive networking functions. Attendees gain firsthand exposure to emerging trends, spanning from environmental risk management to organisational resilience and business continuity.As businesses navigate complex operational landscapes, events like HSE MENA 2026 play a significant role. By bridging the gap between emerging technologies and regulatory compliance, the forum equips professionals with the insights needed to protect their most valuable asset—their people—while driving sustainable operational excellence across the MENA region.

EcoOnline, a global provider of software solutions for workforce and environmental protection, has partnered with ALL4, a consulting firm specialising in environmental, health and safety (EHS) challenges, to help organisations strengthen workplace safety, regulatory compliance and environmental management.

The collaboration brings together EcoOnline's connected EcoOne EHS platform, chemical safety solutions and risk management technology with ALL4's technical consulting, digital capabilities and regulatory expertise. The partnership aims to improve workplace risk visibility, strengthen compliance management and help businesses translate safety data into practical operational improvements.

Under the agreement, ALL4 will act as an implementation partner and technical advisor, integrating EcoOnline's digital solutions, including embedded artificial intelligence capabilities, into the regulatory and operational frameworks governing its clients' businesses.

ALL4 provides EHS expertise to highly regulated industries, including power generation, oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage. Its offices and network of remote specialists cover North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Latin America (LATAM).

Improving workplace safety and regulatory compliance

The partnership comes as organisations face increasing challenges in managing occupational risks, environmental obligations and fragmented safety management processes.

According to EcoOnline's 2026 Global Workplace Safety Report, 49% of workers have experienced a workplace accident or illness, while 74% believe that access to more digital tools would improve their sense of safety at work.

To address these challenges, the companies will focus on three areas: occupational health and safety management, chemical and environmental compliance, and digital transformation and sustainability.

For workplace safety, EcoOnline's EHS software and AI-assisted capabilities will complement ALL4's occupational health and safety expertise. The combined offering is intended to help businesses improve hazard identification, incident monitoring, employee engagement and risk prevention, while developing more proactive and data-driven safety programmes.

In chemical and environmental management, EcoOnline's chemical safety technology will be supported by ALL4's expertise in air quality, chemical reporting, waste management and water quality. This combination will help organisations manage complex regulatory requirements, improve information visibility and establish more consistent compliance procedures.

The partnership will also support digital transformation by connecting ALL4's sustainability and digital consulting services with EcoOnline's software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. Organisations will be able to modernise fragmented processes, improve reporting and gain a more comprehensive view of their environmental, health and safety performance.

Integrating AI and technical expertise into HSE operations

A central element of the collaboration is the integration of digital technology and specialist regulatory knowledge into everyday workplace safety management.

EcoOnline's platform includes embedded AI capabilities designed to support organisations in managing safety information and operational risks. Combined with ALL4's implementation experience, these tools aim to help businesses move from identifying workplace hazards to taking consistent corrective and preventive action.

The collaboration will serve industries where regulatory complexity and operational risks require coordinated management across multiple facilities, departments and geographical locations.

Kris McKenzie, Chief Revenue Officer at EcoOnline, said: “Organizations operating in highly regulated industries frequently struggle to turn complex regulatory requirements into consistent action across their operations. By pairing ALL4’s practical regulatory and implementation expertise with our EcoOne, connected technology platform and context-aware AI, customers can move faster from identifying risk to managing it consistently across their operations.”

Mike Myers, Digital Solutions Practice Director at ALL4, said: “Our clients need practical solutions to manage increasingly dynamic and complex EHS and sustainability demands. By combining ALL4’s strategic and technical expertise with EcoOnline’s comprehensive technology platform, we can help organizations turn regulatory requirements and data into actionable, sustainable programs that simplify compliance, empower frontline teams, and deliver measurable value.”

Expanding integrated HSE and sustainability solutions

The initial phase of the partnership will concentrate on opportunities where ALL4's consulting and digital capabilities align with EcoOnline's EHS management, chemical safety and sustainability solutions.

The companies will retain the flexibility to extend their collaboration into additional areas in response to evolving customer requirements.

By combining software, artificial intelligence, regulatory knowledge and technical consulting, EcoOnline and ALL4 aim to help organisations improve occupational safety, strengthen environmental compliance and establish more effective systems for managing workplace and operational risks.