Lookout for These Five Trends In Manufacturing Safety
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Lookout for These Five Trends In Manufacturing Safety

Manufacturing Technology Insights | Friday, September 27, 2019

IIoT is getting so advanced that most buildings today have several technologies installed in them, all related to integrated safety systems.

FREMONT, CA: The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is restructuring how manufacturing enterprises work, increasing efficiency while achieving higher reliability levels and lower error rates. Manufacturing also has seen constant enhancement in safety processes as a result of developing technologies.

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Here are a few trends that Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) managers should consider when integrating new technology into the safety program.

Couple IoT Sensors With Computer Vision

Many Internet of Things (IoT) systems in manufacturing plants feature sensors that regularly collect data and assist managers in making better decisions. The sensors can additionally track trends to facilitate executives determine what is working well, and where the improvements are needed.

When it comes to safety, companies increasingly make use of IoT sensors and computer vision to support workers’ well-being. Computer vision aims at functioning as the human brain and eyes do; it detects differences between situations and environments and then responds accordingly. Some systems screen data from IIoT sensors and look for any irregularities. If the platform notices any abnormality, then it can automatically stop industrial equipment to prevent injuries. Other computer vision technologies look for errors in products. Furthermore, finding the fault limits the potential damage caused to employees who handle the items at later points in an assembly line, until ultimately, it reaches the customers.

Facilitate Workers With High-Technology Wearables

Many industrial workers wear protective equipment such as high-visibility vests and goggles depending on their roles. Traditional personal protective devices will not be obsolete, but IIoT wearables can complement them and enhance their use.

Today, companies offer IIoT safety wearables that amplify workers’ visibility and monitor things such as noise, posture, and physiological data. Moreover, there are also wearable gadgets that provide fall detection alerts and warn employees about approaching collisions from heavy tools. The data from the sensors is sent to a central database and interface, which managers can use to keep tabs on overall safety trends.

Similarly, there are brands, which sell connected safety glasses with augmented reality components. People get real-time feedback that assists them and adheres to safe working practices upon using the equipment. For instance, the tool can access visual references of complicated procedures, call for support or look at checklists. The glasses will have a voice-recording constituent, so people can document the processes they go through and keep their hands free.

Install Integrated Building Safety Systems

IIoT is getting so advanced that most buildings today have several technologies installed in them, all related to integrated safety systems. Besides, many school organizations are also incorporating highly-advanced IoT safety systems in the form of alarm buttons. For example, a person can press the alarm button during a dangerous circumstance that can call for internal and external authorities for help.

Additionally, schools also have smart lights that assist people recognize a building’s safe zones and warn them of possible danger close at hand. When considering any IIoT project, companies need to sure they have the proper power supplies to handle the shift. For instance, it may be essential to install industrial-grade electrical receptacles to aid projects in running effortlessly.

Integrated building safety systems are in high demand due to growing occurrences like school shootings. The incidences are also seen entering the field of manufacturing and will be widespread in the upcoming years. For example, in a recent gun attack incident, a gunman killed five employees of a manufacturing plant. The illustration showcases how manufacturers need to take severe actions in bringing safety solutions for their enterprise.

Continuing to Focus on IIoT Security to Ensure Safety

Even the most highly developed IIoT systems may remain susceptible to threats from cybercriminals. Following the reason is why manufacturing companies should always integrate cybersecurity technology into their safety checks. Some industry experts think that companies within the manufacturing sector and otherwise ought to make IIoT cybersecurity a priority.

If businesses do not take precautions, then there is a risk of connected equipment malfunctioning and causing harm to people in close proximity. Moreover, if hackers gain access to linked machinery and make it work in ways that are unnoticeable for a while, they can make the equipment defective.

For the reasons mentioned above and others, IIoT security is a top trend to watch and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Besides, a rising number of manufacturing companies and businesses from other sectors are starting to understand the importance of cybersecurity. Additionally, they know that overlooking security could significantly hinder their IIoT investments and negatively affect safety.

Using Location-Based Analytics and Real-Time Location Systems for Improved IIoT Safety

Industries like healthcare use real-time location systems (RTLS) to track people and assets. However, there are businesses developing platforms that bring sensor technology and RTLS to the industrial sector. One of the chief uses of the system is to determine when people enter and leave the workplace.

But, from a safety point of view, the system will have notable features. For example, the tool can give warnings if unauthorized people walk into restricted areas. Moreover, the system can connect to a panic button that lets individuals call for aid and send assistance to their precise location. In the case of evacuations, the technology shows how many people have reached the designated safe meeting points, and if anybody got left behind. Examining to see if people are where they should be at a certain point in time is a fundamental part of keeping them safe. Systems that offer supervisors with location-based data from RTLS help them confirm their employees are staying out of harm’s way.

In the present day, there are a diverse set of technologies that are available in the market today. The tools are easily accessible and align with the connected nature of the IIoT and assist in preventing accidents and other catastrophes. So, safety should be a primary concern for any enterprise when implementing any IIoT technology.

See Also: Top Manufacturing Technology Solution Companies

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