In the United States, there were close to 5,000 workplace fatalities in 2020 alone. That might not be a large number compared to the total population of employees in the US, and it has gone down compared to the past five years. However, it’s still 5,000 people too many, and it’s still an issue that you as an employer must face daily.
Nothing is more important than the safety of your workers, staff, and colleagues. Granted, some professions are far less safe than others. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take any steps to keep your workplace risk-free. In this article, you will learn how modern technology today is helping you achieve that goal and how far it has progressed in the past decade or so.
List of Modern Tech Solutions for Workplace Safety
3D Visualization
The 21st century has been incredibly open-minded when it comes to 3D visualization software. By far, it’s most often used in graphic and visual design in order to depict items that manufacturers can create later. Furthermore, it has pushed some industries forward, such as video game design and animation.
However, one particularly useful aspect of 3D visualization is helping certain industries improve safety. People can recreate scenarios in a simulated 3D environment with the current office or general workplace layouts. That way, they can safely try to cover every single instance of potential danger and apply safety measures accordingly. The better and more accurate the software, the safer the workplace will be after implementing changes.
Wearables
Sometimes, your workers will have to be somewhere far from you, and you can’t really access them at all times. So, if something happens to them, you need to be notified ASAP. In addition, they will require some form of protection if they have to work specific jobs like construction, logging, or metalworking.
That’s where wearables come in. Some of them are tried and true technological items such as helmets, noise-canceling headsets, etc. But with modern tech pushing forward so much, you also have wearables like cooling vests, heat stress monitors, and the Bluetooth emergency button. The great aspect of these devices is that they are all cutting-edge and connect to other pieces of modern tech. In other words, you can observe your workers remotely and, based on the readings from these devices, help them out in real-time and quickly.
Virtual Reality
In terms of immersion, virtual reality is the next step after 3D visualization. The most significant advantage is that it allows workers to immerse themselves in the artificial environment and interact with it. High-end software can simulate the workplace and thousands of dangerous situations.
Immersion in a VR environment helps the employees experience the dangers directly and learn from them. Most importantly, these experiences are 100% safe. In addition, any data that comes from these tests can be recorded and updated yearly for future employees to peruse and learn from.
Drones and Robotics
Drones have been steadily developing and improving for the past few decades, finding uses in various fields. These gadgets are now the staple of modern technology, from military operations to common household uses, and 2022 seems to be another good year for their development.
Regarding workplace safety, you can use a drone to scan areas where humans can’t reach, such as collapsed buildings, wreckage, or highly tall spaces. This trait is crucial since it can help survey these areas efficiently without sending anyone and risking their well-being. Moreover, they can collect valuable data and expand your knowledge of any situation.
But drones are not the only autonomous gadgets that are pushing onward. Robotics, in general, has been expanding and pushing many industries forward. Different automatons are slowly replacing human workers, performing automated jobs efficiently, safely, and with minimal errors.
Vehicle Improvements
One look at modern cars, vans, trucks, and other vehicles are enough to show how committed the manufacturers are to worker safety. Crashes and electronic issues account for a huge number of workplace injuries and fatalities. With that in mind, automobile brands invest millions of dollars in safety hardware and software. Some of these improvements include electronic logging devices, telematics, updatable GPS systems, dash cams, auto stop features, and even autonomous driving.
Safety Apps
Nearly all workers nowadays have a smartphone or a tablet. Using these devices, they can download various tailor-made apps for workplace safety.
Such apps provide various options, including noise hazards measurements, virtual panic buttons, heart rate monitors, and various guides on handling hazardous materials.
Another key aspect of apps is easy supervision in the workplace. Employees can precisely know where their workers are and adjust their daily plans accordingly. Also, they can contact each employee quickly if there are any last-minute changes or emergencies. All they have to do is use the chat function within the apps themselves.
Office Environments
With both the workers and the employees equipped for safety, it also makes sense that you want to update your workplace. For instance, if you own an office building, you must invest ergonomically. Consider collapsable chairs, sit-to-stand workstations, and a well-grounded electrical grid. In addition, make sure that every single tool your employees use has an appropriate safety feature. And to be extra sure, provide fire hydrants, fire alarms, first aid kits, and foolproof emergency exits in as many places as possible.
Workplace Safety and Modern Tech Summarized
To many, this modern tech seems flashy, expensive, and difficult to research. And while it does cost a pretty penny to make your workplace safe, it’s more than worth the hassle. You lose thousands of dollars on medical bills and compensations by losing workers to injuries and fatalities. In addition, you lose even more money simply because you don’t have any capable workforce to push your business forward.
With that in mind, always invest in modern safety technology and update it as regularly as possible. Your employees will certainly appreciate you for it.
