Want to Know What Are The Top Tech Developments in Safety Industry

Want to Know What Are The Top Tech Developments in Safety Industry

Manufacturing Technology Insights | Thursday, September 26, 2019

 

Technologies such as artificial intelligence, eLearning, machine Learning, IoT, and wearable are swiftly influencing the field of safety industry with new developments.

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FREMONT, CA: Whether one is a factory employee or a nurse with back-to-back shifts, occupational fatigue can have an unfavorable impact on workers’ safety. The instance is particularly true for laborers maneuvering dangerous equipment and heavy machinery.

Cognitive fatigue is often the cause of avoidable workplace accidents. Recent studies found workers suffering from weariness are 2.9 times more likely to put themselves, or a coworker, in danger. Many companies are developing wearables that could help workers to alert them on going on a mandatory break to tackle the situation of labor safety. Likewise, when one talk about innovation, the safety industry is not what always the first thing that comes to mind. But, with the amount of industrial progress taking shape daily, the business is one of the fastest moving fields. The safety industry is about to get a significant facelift with ground-breaking technologies at the vanguard.

If one has been keeping up with the chief technological changes in the past couple of years, they would know most of the applications are directly applied to the safety industry. Fields such as artificial intelligence, eLearning, machine Learning, IoT, and wearable technology are quickly adapting to the shifting ground. The tools are setting an example for the rest of the tech world to showcase new developments in the field.

Below is a list of how technology changes are making an impact on the safety industry.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

The most recognized and talked about changes approaching the world of safety is with ML and AI. As most people feel that robots will replace their factories, the AI and ML revolution are already hitting the industrial sector in full force. The way sensors in a car can notify one that there is something wrong with the engine; automated machine learning is reinventing the way the factory machinery operates. Its system requires little to no human interaction in detecting errors. For instance, the device will recognize and alert the owner of any irregularity like loose parts, overheating, and others. The occurrence allows for preventive repairs and maintenance that can serve as a time and money saver in later days. Besides, with the developments in technology, the work environment also becomes much safe and secure.

Any accident in the workplace is incredibly expensive. After all, there are factors of worker’s compensation, turnover, possible paid time off, and lost productivity. Still, AI and ML stand a chance at ending a vast majority of the issues and injuries due to faulty equipment will be a thing of the past. Nevertheless, beyond just the enhancements in the machinery, training is getting better to make injuries less prone too.

Enhanced Training Modules

There is increased integration of eLearning platforms, so offering training to employees should not just be a part of the onboarding process. Additionally, the instruction should serve as a vital component of ongoing workplace safety. Whether it is acquiring skills to work in the industrial sector or marketing firm, taking proper steps to increase a staff’s knowledge base is crucial. The technique will save a tremendous amount of money and time down the road.

Not only will the entire workforce be on the same page for company-based regulations, but training modules will offer a platform to hold every person accountable. A comprehensive approach reduces the risk of accountability as it provides a level of transparency between the employee and employer on what procedures and guidelines are in place for safety. Furthermore, the process also presents an accessible reference point to correctly guide workers through the channels and steps essential to complete a task. As a piece of technology that has been steadily growing for years, the advancements in training modules will ignite a new era of protection for years to come.

Wearable Technologies

As the popularity of wearables like smart watches is growing in the consumer market, their impact is equally edging into the safety industry. The innovations are not only making the workplace more productive but also safer. Today there are companies providing devices to connect job sites, send out safety or project alerts, and keep track of injuries in real-time. Some firms offer augmented reality glasses for industrial and construction work.

IoT Devices to Monitor and Avoid Industrial Accidents

In construction and manufacturing settings, accidents lay waiting to happen around every corner due to unexpected hazards. The episode is especially true in environments when humans are working hand-in-hand with computerized robots and heavy machinery.

Various companies and startups have been experimenting with highly developed technologies like IoT and machine learning to predict accidents effectively and therefore prevent them from happening. Wearable technologies help in gathering real-time environmental, motion data from workers in industries like agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and others. The information is then interpreted using machine learning to recognize high-risk trends. While the industry is profoundly dependent on how fast one implements programs like machine learning and robotics, it also expects that these tools have an immediate impact in the near future. For instance, a sensor can alert someone that a machine is going to fail soon if it is not fixed. At this point, augmented reality can step in to walk the person through the repair process.

By 2020 the industrial safety market is expected to reach $3.76 billion. The poor safety record of distributors and manufacturers around the world presents an opportunity for innovative companies to step in and make real changes that could ultimately save thousands of lives each year.

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