Accidents in the workplace can sometimes have a much greater cost than just financial. Your reputation as a workplace and the physical damage to your staff and property can sometimes be insurmountable. That's why, now more than ever, technological advancements have been dedicated to improving safety in the workplace. One of these recently adapted tools is AI technology.

AI, or artificial intelligence, is a branch of computer science that is concerned with the building of smart machines capable of performing tasks that are typically accomplished by humans. Among many other fields in which this technology has gained popularity, AI has also proven itself to be an effective potential solution to preventing workplace accidents, injuries, and even fatalities.

The Many Roles AI Can Play in Workplace Safety

A truly versatile technology, the uses of AI in workplace safety are aplenty. Though the implementation of AI in the workplace is an adjustment that takes time to get used to, it is certainly worth the effort. In fact, many of the practical applications of AI in this field are ones that were previously considered tedious by human employees and thus are a greatly lifted burden.

Automation of Repetitive Tasks

All too often, employees are accidentally injured or otherwise harmed by the repetition of hazardous tasks. For example, it is not uncommon for employees to do a large amount of heavy lifting or be forced to move items in extreme temperatures. With AI-powered equipment such as robots or drones, these sometimes dangerous tasks can be eliminated from your workers' task load, leaving them far less at risk in the process.

Predictive Hazard Analysis

Since AI has become increasingly more advanced, it can now easily analyze data to identify potential hazards before they happen and predict when accidents might occur. This kind of risk assessment can either be determined using surroundings and assumptions or become even more accurate by collecting and utilizing raw data from previous accidents. There are some AI companies, like Protex AI, who do exactly that - use data collected from video footage of previous incidents to determine exactly what occurred and how it can avoid being repeated in the future.

Predictive analysis has been a tried and true method of accident prevention for years, but with AI, the process becomes incredibly streamlined and simple for even greater safety assurance.

Real-Time Monitoring

Another incredibly common way that AI is used in workplace safety is through real-time monitoring of both equipment and employees alike. By using software that constantly checks technology and equipment for bugs, defects, or issues, you can catch a faulty product before the problem makes itself apparent. Likewise, for employee health, if an AI regularly checks in on an employee's mood or signs of fatigue and distraction, you can identify the likelihood of that employee accidentally causing issues.

The Various Employee Benefits of AI for Safety in the Workplace

Now that we've discussed the different applications that AI can have in workplace safety, let's now describe why exactly its use has become so rapidly popular among not only employers but their workers too!

Reduction of Injuries

When workers get injured, it reflects poorly on the business as a whole. It can lower morale and cause employees to distrust the company they work for. Above all else, people prioritize their safety and well-being. With AI use, the number of accidents will decrease, and thus will the number of injuries.

Not to mention, workplace accidents have a big impact on insurance premiums. If you can lower the number of incidents that transpire, you can lower your costs. Lower insurance premiums for you mean lower healthcare costs for your employees. It's a win-win!

Increased Sense of Well-being

Employees have plenty of reasons to be stressed if they are working in a job that is traditionally known for being a bit dangerous or risky; or inhabit a workplace that happens to have a large number of accidents regularly occurring. However, when an employee is stressed, it is incredibly difficult for them to perform their best work and they have an even higher chance of injury.

If AI technology is introduced, then employees will gradually feel more comfortable performing their duties with the reassurance that everything is being methodically monitored. The combination of this, as well as the hazardous elements of their job becoming automated, will greatly improve their attitude toward coming to work each day.

Improved Training and Education

Sometimes traditional employee training methods can be boring and challenging to capture the attention of the employees, which can then lead to disengagement and a lack of retention when it comes to important information. With AI-powered training, employees can receive customized training that is tailored specifically to their role, experience level, and even learning style.

Interactive and engaging safety training is key to ensuring that the employee's knowledge and confidence level are as heightened as they can be when it comes time to apply what they've learned. Employees that are better informed about workplace hazards are ultimately going to be much more effective in preventing workplace accidents.

AI's Future and Growing Importance

Though this technology has already expanded in innumerable ways, this is merely the beginning of what it could potentially evolve into. In the future, it's likely that AI will play a much greater role in all of our lives, not only in the workplace. It is essential to at least discuss the integration of this type of technology in your workplace, as it can be vital to attracting top talent and becoming a very competitive advantage for your company.

However, above all else, it is important to be responsible when implementing AI technology. It is a collaboration between employers, employees, and regulators to ensure the safe and ethical use of this amazing technology.