Integrating Technology in Workplace Safety: The Role of AI and IoT
Integrating AI and IoT into workplace safety will enhance predictive analytics, real-time monitoring, and proactive risk management, significantly reducing accidents and improving overall safety.
Juliet Pavelko July 17, 2024
The workplace hasn’t always been a safe place – in fact, it’s only in the last half century or so that we’ve made serious efforts to protect the people who go about their jobs every day.
After decades of incremental improvements, the field is currently experiencing two technological transformations driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Here we look at how this transformation is unfolding and what the technology is already capable of.
Using predictive analytics to prevent incidents
Predictive analytics is revolutionizing workplace safety by forecasting accidents before they happen. This is important considering that 2.8 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses were recorded in workplaces nationwide, according to the most recent annual data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The only way to reduce this is with better technology.
Understanding predictive analytics
At its core, predictive analytics is:
Data collection: Collect historical data on past accidents, equipment performance, and environmental conditions. Pattern recognition: Use machine learning to identify trends and anomalies that precede accidents. Risk assessment: Evaluate potential risks based on current data and predicted future events.
Take the example of HelloFresh, which provides stress-free meal delivery to customers around the world. Reshma Malick, the company’s associate director of food safety and quality assurance, says, “In my view, the most important aspect of achieving success is not just doing what you ‘should’ do, but learning what not to do.”
This is crucial in a situation where not only employee safety but also customer safety is at risk based on internal choices and surveillance patterns.
Practical Applications in Safety
Learn how businesses can effectively use predictive analytics.
1. Equipment Maintenance Schedule maintenance before failures occur. Reduce unplanned downtime that can lead to dangerous emergency repairs. This can help avoid costs of up to $22,000 per minute.
