Technology has revolutionized the way workplaces operate, making it an indispensable asset in maintaining a competitive edge. The incorporation of technology has facilitated businesses to have heightened productivity and efficiency while ensuring maximum security measures are taken for business protection. Its multifaceted nature also contributes towards promoting workplace safety standards besides enabling compliance with regulations that govern the industry as a whole, indicating its growing significance in keeping employees out of harm’s way through strict adherence to guidelines and protocols established by regulatory bodies.
One of the significant concerns regarding technology’s introduction into the workplace is its impact on employee safety and accountability. Namely, changes affecting the workplace, operating procedures, and physical components engender new occupational safety and health hazards.
However, technology also provides solutions to these very issues. Advanced technology in the workplace has notably improved safety by reducing accidents through safety training, programs, risk assessment, and implemented technology. Electronic logbooks and IoT sensors are used to monitor employee behavior, providing safety situations in which an operator is required to prevent system failure.
Why Workplace Safety Matters
Workplace safety remains a top priority for businesses globally as it promotes employee well-being and is critical in avoiding legal implications. Unplanned downtime and accidents caused by the violation of safety standards can lead to significant losses that negatively impact business operations.
Workplace safety in the manufacturing industry is a critical concern due to the nature of the work environment. Many potential hazards can lead to injuries if not properly managed. Some of the most common types of workplace injuries in manufacturing include:
- Overexertion and Repetitive Stress Injuries: These injuries can occur from activities like heavy lifting, pushing or pulling objects, or repetitive movements over time. These can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, including back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Machine Accidents: Workers in the manufacturing industry often use heavy machinery, which can cause serious injuries if not used properly or if safety protocols are not adhered to. This can include anything from crushed hands and arms to amputations or fatalities.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: These types of injuries can occur from wet or oily floors, cluttered work areas, loose rugs or mats, poor lighting, or improperly maintained metal stairs and platforms.
- Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments: Some manufacturing processes can expose workers to hazardous substances like chemicals or dangerous levels of noise or heat. Prolonged exposure can lead to illnesses, hearing loss, or skin diseases.
- Falling Objects: Many manufacturing facilities might store Materials or equipment overhead. If these items aren’t secured properly, they can fall and cause injuries.
- Fires and Explosions: These can occur if flammable materials are not handled and stored properly.
- Vehicle Accidents: Many manufacturing settings also involve the use of vehicles like forklifts or trucks. Accidents involving these vehicles can result in injuries.
Employers can implement training programs to enhance workplace safety, use proper protective equipment, maintain machinery regularly, keep the workplace clean and well-lit, and follow all safety regulations and guidelines. Regular safety inspections and risk assessments are also important to identify and mitigate potential hazards before they cause injuries.
Reducing Injuries & Death
One of the most significant benefits of implementing technology in the workplace is that it has led to reduced injuries and deaths. The results of tested and implemented technology have shown that it’s possible to minimize the number of accidents in a workplace by incorporating simulation modeling techniques, remote monitoring of operating equipment, and wearable devices that track an employee’s physical activity to detect fatigue or overexertion.
To reduce fall injuries in the workplace, new wearable devices equipped with SRS sensors are being implemented to monitor and detect falls. Stairs and other hazardous locations within the premises are also being monitored by wearable devices, providing immediate responses when a situation arises and maximizing the safety of personnel. Conveyor workers can use wearable devices like wristbands or bracelets to monitor their vital signs and ensure employees are not exposed to hazardous environments. They can also use work platforms to prevent fatigue and overexertion, as these devices monitor an employee’s physical activity and provide early warning signs before exhaustion occurs.
Organizations that intend to adopt wearable technology should prioritize workplace safety by informing and supporting the employees on how to use wearables safely, addressing the barriers to adoption, and ensuring that the devices comply with industry safety standards. The OSHA has recently released guidelines for employers on how to incorporate wearables in their safety programs while ensuring that it does not compromise employees’ privacy and best practices for data management and security protocols. Workers’ acceptance of wearing these sensors is critical in their implementation. A study conducted by the authors of “The Use of Wearable Devices in the Workplace – A Systematic Literature Review” found that workers’ acceptance of wearable sensors depends on various factors, such as the safety climate of the company and their expectations of performance.
Businesses must realize that wearable technology can serve as an essential tool in the enhancement of workplace safety. By utilizing wearable devices, organizations can easily monitor and detect potential hazards that may cause accidents in the workplace.
Industrial Workplace Embracing Technology
In the vast ocean of industrial workplaces, the tides of hazards are ever-present, threatening to pull workers into a whirlpool of injury or even death. Technology serves as a steadfast lighthouse, its piercing beam cutting through the murk of potential dangers, guiding workers away from the rocky shore of accidents. By employing advanced tools like electronic logbooks, IoT sensors, wheelchair ramps, and wearable devices, technology helps illuminate the dark corners where hazards might lurk, thus creating a safe harbor for employees.
Just as the lighthouse keeper uses sophisticated instruments to monitor the surrounding waters, businesses use technology to monitor their industrial environment. Wearable devices serve as vigilant sentinels, tirelessly tracking workers’ physical condition to prevent overexertion and alerting the central command—the management—of potential hazards like falls or exposure to harmful substances. Like a seafarer’s compass, these wearables keep employees on a safe course, ensuring their well-being in the vast seascape of the workplace.
However, the adoption of this technology should not be as turbulent as a tempest. It must be smooth sailing, marked by clear communication, understanding, and support from all onboard—the employees. Organizations need to educate their crew about the significance of these wearable devices, fostering an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. This commitment to safety should be as deep as the ocean, transcending all barriers to ensure that these high-tech lifeboats do not end up as mere ornamental ship replicas.
In the final analysis, technology plays an irreplaceable role in safeguarding workers in the manufacturing industry. Like the stars guiding mariners in the past, technology points the way toward a safe and secure workplace. Yet, just as the starry constellations are part of a much larger universe, technology is but one aspect of workplace safety. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of each organization, each captain of industry, to foster a culture of safety, guiding their ships safely through the stormy seas of potential hazards. Technology is an essential navigational tool in this journey, but the journey itself belongs to us all. It’s time we set our sails towards a safer, technologically equipped workplace where each worker can navigate their tasks under the serene skies of safety and security.