Health, Safety and Digital Innovation in 2022
Innovation is critical to the ongoing safety and health of employees in 2022, but what are leaders in the space doing to stay ahead of the curve?
The Importance of Operations & Technology
Digital transformation is changing the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) role. A study from Harvard states that if you work in an environmental health and safety department, having an elevated employee engagement within your organization is “important for achieving functional excellence.” It can also be said that it is essential for creating extensive support in achieving your business goals.
The value of health and safety in the workplace cannot be underestimated. But does engaging and educating the workforce help make their jobs easier? And how do they do that? We are here to find out so let us dive straight in with some technology that could help your enterprise.
IoT Devices – Why are they important?
First, let’s dive into Internet of Things, more commonly known as IoT, sensors. They can count the number of people in an office building, at any given moment, to control the number of people. In the world we live in today they can also identify desks that need sanitization, based on the frequency of use. It is estimated that the number of IoT devices will surpass 25.5 billion in 2030 and many of these, for example, will be wearables.
Smartwatches, glasses, and apps are constantly being developed and worked on which can detect where a worker has experienced drowsiness, an accelerated heart rate, and even the volume and frequency of their breathing. This can reduce the dangers of worker fatigue and help provide opportunities for positive intervention. The amount of data generated by IoT devices is expected to reach 73.1 zettabytes by 2025. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can analyze all this data to identify opportunities to maximize worker safety.
How Drones are Improving Safety
We all know that Amazon and other companies have been using drones to deliver products and services, but can they be used in health and safety. The HSE Network seems to think so.
Individual health and safety are very much about the mitigation of risk. But drones provide the option to remove risk in the first place. One example is regular examinations for construction sites, mines, and factories. Drones can gather all of the necessary data and insights without putting any staff or contractor in danger or risk. Another reason it is critical to continue the search for a great technology pairing in HSE is that the language the new millennial and generation z workforce uses is tech based.
Technology & HSE Working Hand in Hand
As evidenced in this blog, there is no denying that technology and HSE can work hand in hand. A simple way to get enterprises there is by integrating the technology we already use and enjoy in our personal lives. Mobile technology is the perfect example of this.
A study from the Pew Research Centre reports that an overwhelming majority of Americans (97%) own a phone of some sort with 85% of those phones being smart. Many of those surveyed said their devices are the primary entry point to the internet.
Want to learn more about innovative technologies disrupting Healthcare, Manufacturing and Supply Chain? Join one of our GDS Group thought leader sessions to learn how you can stay ahead while keeping your workforce safe in the current climate.
