Technology took a giant leap in the last 50 years and is now an irreplaceable part of our everyday life. From the Internet to advancements in robotics, tech has impacted virtually every business industry on the planet. Besides sheer convenience, technology has also provided us with the tools to vastly improve the safety of our workplace. While the emergence of new technologies has also spawned new and dangerous hazards, we cannot deny the integral role tech plays in creating safety on multiple levels.
Even before the era of COVID-19, workplace safety has been one of the top issues managers had to take into consideration. Now it is more important than ever, with employees either working remotely or anxiously returning to offices. The benefits of tech for safety extend far beyond that, as hardware and software solutions can help with a variety of hazards and issues.
In this article, we will give you some practical examples of how technology such as Protex AI can make your workplace safer. No matter the type or size of your business, you need to be taking advantage of the tools available to ensure your employees and business are protected.
Wearable Tech
The rise and development of the Internet of Things (IoT) opened a world of possibilities when it comes to wearable tech. We already mentioned health monitoring systems that can be vital for certain areas of work. However, you can further increase safety in your workplace by implementing employee monitoring via GPS. With smart devices, you can contact people in an instant and alert them if they are about to enter a hazardous area.
When it comes to wearable tech for safety, the possibilities are limitless. For example, many industries might benefit from integrating the physical and digital worlds for better information flow, security, and communication. A wearable Bluetooth panic button can be priceless when it comes to ensuring employee safety and peace of mind in some lines of work. Consider what types of wearable tech can be useful for your specific line of work and staff.
Protective Gear and Equipment
One of the most visible and impactful ways in which tech enhances employee safety is through protective gear and equipment. There are quite a lot of great examples out there — protective glasses, flame retardant overalls, high-tech lenses, etc. Depending on the industry you are operating in, you might be required to use some of these items in your everyday work. Even though we might not see it, modern PPE usually involves quite a lot of work and clever use of the latest tech advancements.
On top of that, developments in microchip technologies allow monitoring of a worker’s vital signs and overall health. As you can imagine, this is especially useful in some industries, such as mining and working in hazardous environments. Think about how your business can make use of protective gear and equipment to increase the overall safety of your workforce.
Ergonomic Technologies
Workplace safety has a lot of iterations — one of them is taking care of the overall health of your workers. Even though offices around the world have been vacant recently thanks to COVID-19, employees have been massively returning to work. Some of the biggest issues with working from an office are of an ergonomic nature. Sitting behind a desk all day can cause serious problems for your body, including injuries and chronic pain.
Fortunately, we now have standing desks that allow us to work standing up and automatically adjust to the appropriate height. Additionally, there are numerous tools and assessment methods that analyze and measure ergonomic data, reducing the risk of injury while boosting productivity.
On-Site Health Screening
Maintaining a healthy work environment should always be a priority for any business. This is even more important nowadays, with viruses like COVID-19 being on the forefront. Since more and more companies are urging their staff to return to the office, it only makes sense that managers take all the necessary precautions to ensure that the workplace does not become a virus hotspot. With modern technologies, you can now implement health screening procedures for everyone entering the premises — employees and clients alike.
A visitor management system outfitted with temperature checks can help identify ill people before they mingle with others. Additionally, it will make contact tracing a lot easier in case someone gets sick. Such systems are now broadly available due to the high demand caused by COVID-19. Taking such precautions will also help alleviate return-to-work anxiety that is experienced by many employees that are urged to get back to working from the office.
Data Analysis for Safety
Last but not least, we should mention the impact data collection technologies have had on overall workplace safety. Complex data analysis and incident reports can provide managers with valuable insights on hazards and areas that must be improved. With the use of software solutions, you can keep all relevant data in a single place. By doing that, you will be able to identify trends and detect safety issues before they become real problems.
Conclusion
Workplace safety is more important than ever before, no matter the size and scope of your business. To ensure a healthy and secure environment, managers need to take full advantage of the tools technology has for them. Employees who feel safe and protected will perform better and be more loyal to you and your company. Needless to say, having the right safety measures at work can save someone’s life. We advise you to spare no effort in integrating tech as part of your workplace safety protocols.
Additional resources:
- FVF Law – workplace injury and personal injury lawyers