Vehicle accidents, fall and overexertion are just few of the common reasons for workplace injuries, which ultimately take a high toll on employees and companies. Many companies face a loss of thousands of dollars in lost wages, medical and administrative expenses and reduced productivity, owing to workplace injuries. As per Jason Wible Frenchcreek in order to avoid such losses, it becomes critical for businesses to invest in technologies and equipment that can improve worker safety.
Jason Wible Frenchcreek highlights innovative technologies important to occupational safety
Thanks to leaders in occupational safety, innovations in safety technologies have significantly reduced the potential and risks of workplace injuries. In the field of occupational safety today, safety and technology go hand in hand. The following safety technology innovations majorly contribute to the creation of a safer and more productive work environment.
- Wearable Tech: Wearable tech can be used for tracking employee movements, warning co-workers about potential hazards, as well as tracking fatigue, repetitive action and body temperature. They provide more immediate assistance than data from a server or a computer. Moreover, workers are able to respond more promptly to tech alerts that signal a safety hazard on the job with wearable tech. Most of such devices are specific to an industry. For example, smart helmets equipped with vibration sensors are used by construction workers to notify them of sudden, unsafe changes to the environment. Wearable technology in manufacturing, on the other hand, may detect when personnel is near heavy equipment like forklifts and alert them. Proximity sensors in wearable tech are also quite useful in notifying heavy machine operators of the presence of other employees while working in close environments.
- Drones: There are many specific work tasks that need technological assistance. Remotely operated drones have the capability to reduce and even eliminate safety concerns associated with hazardous work conditions. Operators might fly drones into difficult-to-reach regions and high-risk settings to survey a potential worksite environment. These drones can subsequently take precise measurements that would otherwise require personnel to expose themselves to inconvenient or dangerous circumstances.
- Robotics: Robotics technology is used to improve workplace safety by limiting the exposure of the workers to hazardous situations or by replacing workers with robots in certain potentially dangerous areas. The use of robots in warehouses for reducing fall risks is a good example. Robotic equipment may reach items that employees cannot on their own, thereby reducing the need for personnel to operate aerial lift equipment. Manufacturing is another industry where robotics is widely used today to minimize worker injuries. Robotic exoskeletons, which basically are wearable devices designed to mimic and amplify physical movements, are useful in eliminating the need for workers to do repetitive motion tasks. They help reduce the overall strain on the body by taking on most of the physical labor that might cause physical injury due to overworking joints or muscles.
As pointed by Jason Wible Frenchcreek, usage of the technology mentioned above can be quite helpful in improving the profits and productivity of a company, while enabling it to save on insurance and legal expenses. It also assists in creating a favorable company reputation that helps a business to attract new talent.