Trends in ... facility safety

A “proficient facility safety manager is defined by their capability to convey and effectively enforce safety expectations,” TradeSafe Vice President Herbert Post says.

Historically, this has been “arduous.”

Enter artificial intelligence.

The arrival of AI is a “pivotal advancement” in industrial facility safety, Post contends. “Communication is crucial in maintaining safe working environments,” he said, “and research substantiates its profound impact on workplace safety. AI enhances this by ensuring safety messages and protocols are concise, precise and continually updated, thus markedly improving the overall safety landscape.

“AI now facilitates the quick identification and articulation of safety concerns, allowing managers to formulate and implement strategic safety plans accurately and efficiently, minimizing errors and optimizing workplace safety.”

Jason Yount, marketing manager at Matrix Design Group, agrees.

“New technologies, including visual artificial intelligence, are now being adopted into collision avoidance systems to help protect people, vehicles and property,” he said. “Data generated by these systems can also help facilities make better safety decisions.

“For example, employee safety can be jeopardized when management does not know if an operator is causing damage in a warehouse or operating in a risky manner. In addition, a facility needs to know the number of its near misses, highest-risk areas and most dangerous times of the day. This critical data helps increase safety across the board.”

Remember, “knowledge is power,” Yount said. “When management has the data they need, they can make effective safety decisions.”

Compiled with the assistance of the International Safety Equipment Association

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