Investing in Safety

April 2, 2024|Safety

Integrating AI technology can prevent workplace accidents.

By: Scott Walker, Contributor

Over the past decade, there’s been a significant uptick in the workforce within warehouses and distribution centers, with more than

Pedestrian safety can be enhanced by products like Powerfleet’s Pedestrian Proximity Detection system. Photo courtesy of Powerfleet.

currently employed in the industry according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).¹ In fact, the sector began expanding in the 1980s according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics² (BLS), and growth is projected to continue through 2032 due to e-commerce.³

Simultaneously, there’s been a subsequent rise in the risk of injuries and breaches of safety standards, particularly those related to contact with objects or equipment, ranking among the most commonly violated regulations. In fact, the BLS¹ reported injury and illness rates for warehouses and distribution centers are higher than in private industry overall and, in some sectors, more than twice the rate of private industry.

In many cases, working in unsafe environments can be a matter of life or death. In 2O22 alone, OSHA⁴ reported a total of 5,486 workers lost their lives to fatal work injuries in all industries, which is 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.

As a result, workplaces globally are reassessing their safety protocols, recognizing the associated costs and potential damage to their brand reputation. This demand has led to the creation of new solutions that are assisting in combating safety concerns. By leveraging these innovations, plant managers can be empowered to make safety a priority and sustain long-term operational success.

INVESTING IN WORKPLACE SAFETY

With the eminent increase of accidents across workplaces, it is apparent that some facilities must seek improved methods to enhance productivity, manage expenses and ensure the safety of their most valuable asset: their employees. With the combination of escalating costs and heightened business activity, the pressure to accomplish more with fewer resources often leads to compromises in safety – that is, until after an incident occurs.

It’s no secret that prioritizing safety is essential to the success of any warehouse or manufacturing environment. With a continuous influx of movement, operations, products and people, the average facility buzzes with activity. Introducing seasonal employees during peak periods further escalates the activity level and the risk of potential injuries. By protecting employees’ livelihoods and investing in the right kinds of solutions to prevent accidents before they occur, businesses can experience an immediate return on investment (ROI).

Creating a workplace culture that places value on the well-being of employees is crucial for retaining a workforce over the long-term. Workers want to work in environments that prioritize their health and safety. Therefore, when an employer provides working conditions where safety is emphasized, the company can attract and retain more employees.

TRANSFORMING SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE PRACTICES

When it comes to strengthening safety regulations, there are many strategies for managers to consider. However, merely meeting the regulations of OSHA may not guarantee that a workplace is truly safe and healthy for employees. Using manual processes, such as paper-based documentation or spreadsheets to record OSHA compliance practices can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Instead, using digital operator checklists can quickly identify mechanical issues before they become critical or dangerous, and overall improve accuracy and efficiency.

Businesses need to take it a step farther – exploring continuous training practices is another great way for managers to strive for safer conditions in their workplace as well as offering regular counseling and awareness campaigns that promote safe practices. It’s also imperative to ensure that all employees undergo comprehensive quality training relevant to the job hazards, empowering everyone to actively contribute to workplace safety.

LEANING INTO NEW TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Deploying innovative technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered systems, can provide a well-rounded approach to adhering to safety standards. Organizations can significantly minimize safety lapses by utilizing cutting-edge platforms that are data source-agnostic and enable deep data integration.

Using an advanced fleet intelligence platform, such as Powerfleet Unity⁵, businesses can transform their operations by combining data from any IoT device, OEM, or external source on a single platform. Data ecosystems like this can also unify business operations by providing data integrations into surrounding business systems, including analytics tools. Through the implementation of real-time data collection, organizations can preemptively manage maintenance requirements and safety risks, resulting in actionable data insights that can lead to decreasing downtime and optimizing workflows.

It is predicted within the next five years over 70% of supply chain organizations⁶ will adopt AI technologies according to a recent MHI report While integrating AI might seem scary at first, weaving these solutions into plant operations is crucial for staying competitive, meeting the evolving demands of the modern business landscape, and protecting employee wellbeing.

AI technologies, such as pattern recognition, predictive analysis and goal optimization have the potential to transform warehouse and manufacturing environments. While autonomous trucks often grab the spotlight, AI can also significantly contribute to predictive maintenance, route optimization, asset utilization maximization, and other critical areas of business operations. The essential aspect lies in the effective collection, organization and utilization of data — harnessing the capabilities of AI to drive innovation, efficiency and safety.

Additionally, products like wearable devices and solutions such as Powerfleet’s Pedestrian Proximity Detection⁷ system utilize AI to proactively prevent accidents, enhance pedestrian safety, and reduce damage to material handling equipment (MHE) in warehouses and manufacturing facilities. This permits teams to adopt a proactive stance by alerting drivers to potential hazards in their vicinity. When integrated with Powerfleet’s Forklift Gateway (VAC), the camera outputs record detailed event information such as breach location, time, and driver identification, enabling a comprehensive analysis of incidents.

As more people continue to join the warehouse and distribution center workforce and the rate of accidents and safety risks increases, the creation and application of innovative safety solutions are not only essential but beneficial to every business. With human lives on the line, there is no better time than now to evaluate your plant’s safety strategies and learn how new technologies can be implemented to mitigate risks. wmhs

References

Scott Walker serves as Vice President of Supply Chain Product Management for Powerfleet, leading Powerfleet’s supply chain product teams to drive innovative products and solutions. He has more than 25 years of experience leading product strategy, technological innovation and product development execution. Powerfleet is a global leader of internet of things (IoT) software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions that optimize the performance of mobile assets and resources to unify business operations. Data science insights and advanced modular software solutions help drive digital transformation to help save lives, time, and money. Learn more at www.powerfleet.com.