Safety is usually among the top concerns of every company, if not the utmost priority, as loopholes not only put workers’ lives on the line but also offers gunpowder for disastrous lawsuits.
Comfortable and secure work environments also crucially determine productivity with studies linking the safety assurances of employees to high outputs. Naturally, employees worried about their well-being will not offer as much as those who can solely concentrate on the job.
It is for these reasons that we take a look at how your company can tap into technological advancements to improve site safety. Take a look:
1) The deployment of drones to alleviate risk
Drones have their applications across various business niches, but they are of vital importance in the construction industry or other companies where workers are exposed to potentially hazardous equipment or situations.
Factor in the ability to remotely pilot aerial quadcopters via mobile devices and the former’s high-resolution cameras and additional flight features, a drone can easily step into the shoes of a worker in a high-risk scenario.
A case in point to prove a drone’s desirability is during high altitude inspections of a construction site several meters high in the sky. If a human team were implored instead, it would require specialized tools and many safety measures to prevent fatal slips, falls, among other injuries.
Alternatively, this flexible machine would only require only a fully charged battery and has the added ability to maneuver into tight spaces to offer exclusive shots.
2) Safety training through virtual reality
For many decades now, workplace safety has involved mammoth rule books, strict dressing codes, long meetings, catchy phrases, and periodical workshops to continually remind employees why and how to be safe and what items such as safety cones.
All those still hold an essential place in the modern backdrop, but the inception of VR has taken things one step further to realize one of the most effective training techniques.
Workers not only get to hypothesis on what they would do in the unfortunate event that a disaster breaks out but can live through the experience firsthand through a manufactured reality, and learn from actually practicing safety policies.
What’s more, hazards in the typical work environment are not commonplace, so employees don’t get enough of the constant learning that builds safety prowess.
With VR technology, they can correct mistakes with endless repetition until they no longer make those life-threatening errors.
3) Using wearables to improve awareness
Hard hats with sensors, heads-up display glasses, among other smart personal protective equipment are generally what wearable technology entails. These intuitive accessories pay attention to sudden shifts, or changes in a site that a worker fully engrossed in the task at hand is susceptible to may be due to the immersive nature of the job or noisy settings that compromise awareness.
One of such devices that have had excellent success in recent times is the gas detector for mine construction work which alerts those nearby to the gas levels in a mine shaft so that they can jump ship if things are getting out of control.
The use of wearables as a warming system extends far beyond the mining industry, proving valuable across other areas as well most notably construction. Additionally, wearable devices can facilitate the hands-free use of computers, among other devices furthering ensuring the safety of the worker.
4) Mobile applications and real-time data technology for safety purposes
Instead of flipping through pages to identify appropriate responses, codes or get to a hazard checklist when a situation seems off, workers can now access important information that can circumvent such a scenario at the touch of a screen.
They have this information at their disposal on the go so that instead of going back to the office for a quick look at the tell-tales, they can access what they need instantly.
For example, there are certain apps (e.g., DataScope) that can enable employees to record imagery, details, and other technical aspects necessary to document a hazard in the making to bring to the attention of management.
What’s more, the use of intuitive communication tools that go beyond the abilities and range of a regular cellular device also aids in the timely and responsive exchange of relevant information.
These four technologies make up the most formidable weapon in the safety arsenal of any company, and they can also make employees happier and consequently, more fruitful.
However, it’s prudent to get workers on board first by explaining in detail how and why the technology is necessary as some may view monitored wearables, for instance, as some form of prying.
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Chris Giarratana is the co-founder of StrategyBeam, an Orlando marketing agency, where he works with small businesses and nonprofits to achieve their goals. He helps drive conversions and boosts sales through SEO marketing, Google AdWords management, and copywriting services.
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