Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been transforming numerous industries, including healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. However, one sector that is not often thought about when it comes to AI is workplace safety. Workplace safety is an important aspect of any organization, and workplace accidents not only cause employees harm but also impact a company’s bottom line. Therefore, using AI to improve workplace safety is becoming increasingly important for employers.
AI technology can be utilized in various ways to improve safety in the workplace. The technology can provide extra protection to employees, and prevent accidents and illnesses from happening. Here are several ways that AI can be incorporated into safety management protocols to reduce occupational hazards:
1. Predictive maintenance
Most machinery and equipment used in the workplace are required to undergo regular safety checks and maintenance to ensure they are in proper working order. Failure to maintain them can cause accidents, malfunctions, and breakdowns. With the advent of AI, businesses can now use machine learning algorithms to predict when equipment is likely to fail or require maintenance. This technology can also identify ongoing issues with equipment that simple inspections may overlook.
2. Real-time monitoring
Another way in which AI improves workplace safety is by providing real-time monitoring of hazardous materials and dangerous situations. For example, AI-powered cameras can identify potential safety hazards using computer vision algorithms. Workplace safety managers can receive live feeds of the footage and intervene immediately to prevent accidents. Furthermore, real-time monitoring can be used to identify near misses in the workplace, which can be studied and prevented from occurring in the future.
3. Personal protective equipment monitoring
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a vital aspect of workplace safety, as it helps protect employees from potential hazards in their work environment. AI technology can be used to ensure that employees have the correct PPE, which fits adequately and is being worn correctly. Good quality PPE is crucial to prevent accidents from happening, and AI can detect any gaps in usage.
4. Managing risks
Risk management is an essential part of any safety plan. It involves identifying, assessing, and reducing risks that could potentially harm employees in the workplace. AI-powered predictive modeling can help identify risks, and assist in creating strategies to mitigate them. For example, these models can track factors such as environmental hazards and employee behavior patterns, which can be used to identify potential risk sources.
5. Training and guidance
AI technology can also be used for training and guidance purposes. Workplace safety courses can be designed with AI integration, offering a gamified, interactive experience where employees are guided through various safety scenarios. Furthermore, on-the-job training can be delivered through virtual reality simulations. These virtual simulations are beneficial since realistically simulating a high-risk job is difficult and costly in a traditional setting.
6. Incident investigation
Workplace accidents happen, and when they do, it’s essential to understand what happened to prevent them from happening again in the future. Incident investigations can take valuable time and effort, especially where multiple departments, witnesses, and victims are involved. AI-powered incident investigation software, can help efficiently sort through data, providing crucial insights and trends that can help employers pinpoint the root causes of accidents and help prevent future occurrences.
The most significant benefit of using AI in workplace safety is that it allows employers to identify hazards and proactively address them before any accidents occur. AI-powered technology will also ensure that all employees are following safety protocols, which ultimately helps create a safer work environment. By providing data-driven insights and real-time decision-making tools, AI is proving to be a vital part of any workplace safety program.
One example of AI being used to improve workplace safety can be observed with Sharper Shape Inc.. Sharper Shape Inc. is a company that operates drones to perform inspections on equipment such as transmission lines or railroad tracks. The drones can travel much further than a human inspector in a shorter amount of time. The drones are also equipped with AI that uses machine learning to recognize common flaws or potential issues that inspectors may miss, which helps mitigate risks associated with such inspections.
Another example is the AI-powered wearable device ‘SmartCap.’ This device can help prevent workplace accidents by giving supervisors the ability to monitor employee fatigue levels. SmartCap uses EEG technology and detect changes in brainwaves to determine how tired an employee is. Through these insights, supervisors can adjust work schedules or planning in specific work areas to avoid employees working in a tired or fatigued state.
In conclusion, AI technology has become a game-changer when it comes to workplace safety. Businesses that adopt AI will reap benefits such as reducing employee injuries, increasing productivity, and decreasing equipment and property damage. As AI technology continues to develop, it’s possible that it will become an even more critical component of workplace safety. By proactively addressing hazards and implementing AI-powered solutions, employers can create a safer and secure work environment that benefits everyone.