Prioritizing the Product Features for Wearable Airbag Design Using the Best–Worst Method

The construction industry is renowned for its inherent risks and hazards, necessitating the implementation of effective safety measures to protect workers. Wearable airbags have emerged as a promising solution, providing an additional layer of protection against falls and accidents. However, there is a lack of research in identifying the key product features that align with the principles of Industry 5.0 for optimal resource allocation and design implementation. In response, this research study aims to prioritize the key product features for wearable airbags in the construction industry, aligning with the principles of Industry 5.0. Guided by the principles of sustainability, resilience, and human-centered design, this research employs the Best–Worst Method to identify and rank the importance of nine key product features within these design dimensions. The results of this study indicate that the ‘human-centered’ design principle holds the highest level of importance in the development of wearable airbags for the construction industry. Furthermore, the feature ‘Compatibility with worksite equipment’ emerged as the most critical for the next generation of wearable airbags. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on wearable airbag design for the construction industry, specifically within the context of Industry 5.0. The identified key product features and their prioritization can guide manufacturers, designers, and industry stakeholders in developing sustainable, resilient, and human-centered wearable airbag solutions that effectively safeguard construction workers.