Industrial workplace : What technology for hazardous sites?

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Occupational hazards exist in every workplace, but the truth is that some professions are more exposed to danger than others. Preventing and minimizing the detrimental impact of these hazardous exposure on workers’ health is the priority of occupational safety and health. Usage of innovative technologies derivatives in hazardous sites can help organizations control those risks.

 

What are the most practical and effective technologies for occupational safety?



According to the ILO, 2.3 million workers die at work from an occupational injury or disease every year, that means 6,000 deaths every day. Various legal reforms have been introduced to minimize occupational injuries, however, organizations have to implement the necessary measures to prevent occupational hazard from happening. This article discusses the most relevant and amazing technology solutions that improve safety in the workplace.

 

Technology at the service of occupational health and safety

 

In the past few decades, organizations only focused on the contribution of technology to business performance and employee productivity. However, one branch of technology use has been recently shifted to health and safety improvement, especially for organizations involved with compliance to HSE laws and standards. 

Indeed, there are various technological tools that have been already preventing occupational injuries and deaths for years, but recent technological advancement has given birth to some sophisticated gadgets and tools that are modernizing workplace safety. 

 

These technological derivatives offer a personalized solution for each need. The objective is to ensure that workers are safe and constantly working comfortably. Hence, it is essential to apply the most suitable solution in order to control all the different categories of risks such as: biological, chemical, radiation, physiological hazards, etc...

 

Combined with the basic employee safety monitoring and training, these revolutionary tools could be the solution to workplace hazards.



What are the new technology derivatives used in the industrial workplace?

 

Here are the most innovative technological products which have been proven to be effective for ensuring workplace safety:

 

Real-time data transmission

Technology is characterized by its ability to provide high-speed communication that offers real-time monitoring of workers from distance. Most often, workers have to operate on remote and stranded sites, they are usually equipped with wearable technology for real-time monitoring. The concept behind this type of technology is to use digital applications and communication tools that give access to real-time information. Hence, employers can have permanent visibility on the security status of their employees. 

The Internet Of Things (IOT) is heavily contributing to the development of this system. Thereby, employees receive timely and up-to-date information on safety and health matters. Thanks to these highly responsive communication technologies, organizations can ensure that they have access to timely, actual and up-to-date security data.

 

3D (3 Dimensions) Visualization Software

3D visualization is a process where graphical content is created using 3D software. This 3D visualization software is an innovative technology tool that provides the user (workers) with a 3D graphical representation of their workplace surroundings. The 3D modeling software is used to create a realistic digital model. Thanks to its ability to emulate reality, this instrument is generally used to train the employee to be accustomed with any work site and any related risks. Indeed, employees will have the possibility to observe, assess and analyze the potential dangers and hazards in advance. It helps them choose and prepare the appropriate safety equipment and tools that are needed for each intervention.

 

VR or Virtual Reality

VR is definitely one of the most recent and popular technologies out there. It is used in entertainment and other industries for different purposes. For the health and safety domain, VR is a sort of improved version of 3D visualization. This tool is also used for training in occupational safety and health. This technology recreates a virtual environment where the workers can experience a simulation of the reality using a headset. The best part is that the user (worker) has the possibility to navigate through the virtual representation of the workplace and to be exposed to all the hazardous situations while being completely safe. It is an interactive tool that allows workers to experience more pragmatic training.

 

Another derivative of this technology is AR or Augmented Reality, which has been perfectly implemented for quality control activities. This instrument projects virtual images and synthesized data onto your phone or tablet screen while capturing the physical world with the camera. The visual inspection approach of this tool comes in handy for manufacturing companies to detect defects during the production process. The information displayed on the screen facilitates the work of quality control coordinators. Furthermore, it allows them to generate reports instantly and real-time decision-making.

 

Drones

In the last few years, drones have made a number of improvements in the construction industry. Drones play a crucial role in site safety; they are used for monitoring various site hazards and safety concerns. Their ability to navigate through space allows them to quickly inspect the various structures under construction, locate inaccessible anomalies such as cracks and systematically alert the project manager. 

 

The transition of these inspection and surveillance activities from employees to drones avoids endangering workers and is less time-consuming.

 

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Boost the results of these new technologies with a dedicated digital tool

 

The introduction of these technological gadgets to the industrial workplace alone cannot guarantee the effectiveness of occupational safety. Indeed, drones, sensors and other connected electronic devices contribute tremendously in collecting valuable data. However, these are just raw data, a dedicated tool is required to monitor, synthesize and use them properly.

 

Thankfully, there are professional software editors that have expertise in developing such tools. Those digital softwares are not only intuitive and customized to each organization's needs, they are also convenient for data synthesis. They are used for statistical analysis, to generate attractive charts and graphs that facilitate information understanding and decision making. Hence, they are extremely useful functions for management boards and managers while assessing hazardous areas and dangerous works.

 

Digitized applications are tangible examples of this tool. Displayed through digital format and providing valuable information. These applications are usually accessible on smartphones or tablets. This is a solution that various organizations use for health and safety management, to streamline risks and to have critical visibility on operations at any moment.

 

Some applications offer the possibility to create checklists, hazard documentation, electronic signature, take photos and do voice recordings from different electronic support (smartphones/tablets/computer). This is an instrument that is particularly useful for operations that involve approval processes such as Permit To Work

 

Technology derivatives used in hazardous workplaces have noticeable improvement in terms of health and safety of workers. Besides, it has greatly increased productivity. Nowadays, there are a wide range of technological solutions that provide organizations with convenient data collection tools and a faster reaction time. But, the most important value-added here is the impact on workers injuries and fatality rates.

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