Workplace safety is something that always needs to be a top priority. The wellbeing of your employees and ensuring they're safe when they come into work, whether this be in a warehouse or an office, is so important. Technology is revolutionising industries all the time, and these solutions are making it easier than ever to offer more tailored safety solutions. From more advanced monitoring systems to predictive analytics, there's no excuse not to prioritise safety in your workplace. With this in mind, you should take care to purchase workplace safety solutions that align with the technological innovations on the market. This will help you to stay ahead and focus on what matters most.
How Is Technology Reshaping Safety at Work?
Technology is reshaping safety measures in so many ways. Traditional safety measures such as manual inspections and static training sessions often require a lot of human intervention and can, therefore, suffer from oversight or not being as efficient as they could be. With technological advancements, this is no longer the case. While you will still need things such as manual signage and inspections to be signed off by a human, things such as IoT can help monitor the workplace in real time. These safer technologies are totally reshaping and bettering the way we work.
By being able to tell the air quality, temperature, and equipment performance, hazards like gas leaks or equipment malfunctions can be found and alerted to in real time. This means it can be sorted before becoming a bigger issue and prevent hazards before they occur. Wearable technology is another example, with things like smartwatches able to tell you vital signs such as fatigue, overexertion, or high rate, providing timely enough warnings for the employee to sit down and rest when they need to.
AI and Predictive Analysis
AI and predictive analysis help you to anticipate risks ahead of time and optimise your safety measures to cater to this. For example, it can identify patterns in historical data to help anticipate safety issues and trends. This might not be spotted by a human having to trawl through data manually, but AI can flag it before it happens. Technology can also help with better weather predictions, so you will have more time to invest in training equipment such as heavy boots, high-vis jackets, and wet weather signs when snow is due. You should no longer be surprised by sudden, harsh weather and will be able to prepare well ahead of time.
VR and AR
VR and AR are another fantastic example of how workplace safety can be improved through technological innovations. These immersive methods enable employees to wear a headset and go through rigorous, real-time simulated training without risk. They will be able to experience scenarios and practice what they would do without having to worry about their own safety. This means if the prior-practiced scenarios come up in real life, they'll know what to do and how to react, and the chances of anything unsafe happening are greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Drones and Robotics
Other safety elements that have been improved with technology include the usage of drones and robotics. Whether inspecting hard-to-reach areas, handling toxic materials, or assisting in disaster recovery, these technologies reduce human exposure to dangerous conditions while maintaining operational efficiency. For example, if something has broken inside a machine, a person will no longer have to try and reach in and fix it. Or if a chemical substance has been spilled, a robotic cleaner can go and clear it up without putting anyone else at risk. Drones can be used to inspect and monitor hazardous areas without putting workers at risk; for example, they can take photos to assess a scene before going in, carry out routine inspections, and reduce the need for people to work at heights.
What are some challenges to adopting workplace safety technology?
While technology in the workplace is incredible, there are still some adoption challenges. Cost, training, and the physical implementation of these new strategies can be difficult. Try to set aside a budget for these so it's not one big cost all at once, and start with entry-level models while you get used to them before upgrading. Ensure you have all staff attend training so they know how to operate or use this technology and integrate it properly so everyone is aware.
How can you overcome these challenges?
Ensure you fully assess your workplace to identify the existing risks, gaps in safety protocols, and areas where tech can help. You can then use this audit to prioritise the areas most risky, and that need the innovation most. Establish clear goals for your safety technology implementation and involve employees, safety managers, and other key stakeholders right from the off.
As the landscape of workplace safety continues to change and evolve, it's important you're ready. Ensure you work with a trusted provider of comprehensive safety solutions, such as Seton, who can help you effectively implement these for your business. With a commitment to safety excellence and a myriad of solutions to help, you have a guarantee of peace of mind for working in good conditions.