College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Continuing Education (CAPSTONE) Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2025
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Stacy Kolegraff, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
The Verifying Everyone’s Safety Together (VEST) Hackathon is an annual event organized by construction management and social science students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Its purpose is to redesign a specific piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) to improve usability, comfort, and inclusivity, with a focus on providing equitable safety for all workers. This hackathon centered on fall protection, specifically safety harnesses, which are essential for protecting workers at height but often lack comfort and user-friendliness. Students, faculty, and industry guests gathered to examine current harness designs and develop practical, worker-informed improvements. The event space was outfitted with tables, materials, and food to support team collaboration. Participants formed groups and began “hacking” existing harnesses—evaluating them firsthand, identifying pain points, and building improved prototypes. One team created a comfort-minded solution, while others focused on achievable upgrades that could be implemented with current industry standards. By the event’s conclusion, a shared realization emerged: fall protection equipment, especially safety harnesses, is overdue for redesign to better serve the physical and ergonomic needs of the workforce. The hackathon highlighted the importance of user-centered design in PPE and the power of collaboration to drive safety innovation on construction sites.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/869
Poster Board