*Contributed post. Business safety trends never seem to end. Instead, they adapt, evolve and change to fit the needs of your industry. And there isn’t really a price you can put on the health of your workers. Some tech isn’t hard to install and will potentially save the lives of your valued workers. So, here are some of the most advanced and exciting trends in sector safety you can consider.
The Safe Operation of Machinery
This is at the beginning because it’s probably the most important. You need to know that your workers can operate machinery safely to avoid something bad happening. Of course, you should ensure that any workers aren’t taking medication that makes their job harder. But also, you have the right to check for intoxication using the Drager 5000 and other devices like it. Drugs and alcohol at work, including fleet drivers, cost the lives of over 500,000 people per year.
Business Safety Trends Include the Use of AI
Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of the newest frontier of human innovation. Today, AI can create music like Mozart, paint like Monet, and write almost as well as Shakespeare. But AI as a safety method is very exciting. Using consistent data gathering, AI can help prevent safety issues at work by analysing the processes going on and comparing this against historical data to predict what will happen. This can result in alarms, upon which your workers can take action.
Real-Time Data Systems with Software
Apps and software are invaluable in the modern workplace. As we know, there’s an app for everything. And you can always find one for your safety needs. For example, you can use real-time reporting apps for incident management. Additionally, you can integrate some of the best apps across multiple devices using cloud services. For instance, you can access the same data from your office PC while on-site and from your smartphone when out in the field.
Robots, Cobots and Exoskeletons
The use of robots is nothing new in some industries. Car manufacture is a perfect example. And while some robots are excellent for intricate and dangerous systems, like painting, cobots can assist your workers with tasks for better safety. And these can also help disabled staff. For example, cobots can bend in certain ways to grab items or even screw nuts and bolts. Further, exciting exoskeletons help your staff lift heavy items that otherwise would cause spine injuries.
The Use of VR and AR Tech
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) aren’t only for entertainment. They can also enhance safety at your business. Additionally, they aren’t expensive and are relatively easy to use, despite their advanced nature. Some of the best uses for VR and AR for safety include:
- Providing safety procedures to guide employees through intricate tasks.
- Allowing workers to engage in virtual training before real-world deployment.
- Simulating a hazard in VR so workers know what to do when it really happens.
- You can use AR to train employees in the correct manufacturing methods.
- AR provides a means of extra safety details using embedded codes on-site.
- Using AR and VR for training reduces the costs of physical hazard training.
- AR and VR are completely safe with no risk to your employees at all.
- VR is good for training when you need to protect your business and other staff.
- Staff can hold virtual meetings in a safe space when there is physical danger.
You can use AR and VR at your business to significantly increase safety. Most of all, you can provide experiences to your staff that cause no harm yet provide an almost real-world sense of how a specific situation can feel. Additionally, AR and VR are relatively cheap to set up and use.
Wearable Technologies for Safety
Wearable technologies can help enhance your personal protective equipment (PPE) efforts at your business. Where they were once limited to simple things, like detecting heart rate, they can now provide all kinds of feedback. For example, wearables can provide real-time data such as oxygen levels in a hazmat suit, combined data for predicting stress levels, and can include panic buttons for distressed workers. And you can integrate them with tech such as exoskeletons.
Drones for a Better Overview
You can purchase drones today to use as a fun yet technologically addictive hobby. However, like AR and VR, you can use drones for more than entertainment. A drone can help get a sense of an unfolding dangerous situation. Or you can provide drones to your workers to enter hazardous buildings when inspecting a site. And further to this, you can integrate drone technology with another data-gathering tech to provide critical metrics such as air toxicity.
Business Safety Trends Can Make Training Fun
You can make training fun for your employees by adding game elements to otherwise boring tasks. When you engage your employees’ brains like this, they are much more likely to remember their training when the worst happens. This is especially true of tasks that are considered boring or unenjoyable. To do this, offer rewards for the successful completion of tasks. And using another tech like drones, AR, and VR makes this even more accessible.
Health and Safety Outside the Premises
When your staff is on-site, you are responsible for their health and safety. However, a recent survey of employers found 82% believe this extends beyond the workplace. And today, this couldn’t be more true when you think about how many remote workers there are. So, you can support workers with setting up a safe workspace at home, health and fitness and mental health. Additionally, you can also ensure staff safety when they are travelling for their job.
Summary
Keeping up with business safety trends forms part of your role as a boss. This is often an ongoing process, and some elements can even become law as their use grows. Some examples of these include drink and drug testing, using VR and AR for training, and staff support outside of work. All of these are easily implemented at your place of business.
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