Five Ways You Can Create a Safer Workplace Using Smart PPE

Smart PPE and AI Combine to Enhance Worker Safety

The Smart PPE industry is experiencing massive growth as many companies hunt for ways to create a more sophisticated work experience that enables increased productivity and safety. In fact, a survey of environmental, health and safety directors representing over two dozen countries and 25 industries in 2018 indicated that the PPE market will continue making headway in the next five years with many increasing budgets as new products become available. The market was already at more than $47 billion in 2018.

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Much of this growth will come in the way of smart technology and artificial intelligence and its integration into work wearables and PPE. It’s a natural progression that offers a number of benefits and in the realm of safety, a huge upside. Here are five areas of opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. 

1. Encouraging Compliance
   Many industries by nature are more hazardous than others and yet sometimes workers fail to comply with taking proper precautions. According to EHS, we’ll be able to soon use algorithm enabled technology to identify whether an employee is wearing the appropriate gear before entering a worksite. This will help ensure workers are following protocol and reducing the potential for an accident. Devices designed with IoT in mind, such as augmented reality glasses and new safety equipment will also be able to give warnings and communicate directly with their users in real time, reminding them of proper usage.
   
   
2. Identifying Risk
   Many companies find it difficult to identify those not to obvious job site risks but thanks to the use of machine learning and smart PPE, it’s become easier to keep workers safe. Some manufacturers report gathering data from field workers’ phones, PPE and project management software to analyze and categorize safety issues. This helps ensure safety professionals aren’t missing potential job site risks.
   
   
3. Analyzing Accident Data
   The use of sophisticated software and smart devices and wearables means lots and lots of data is now at your fingertips. An AI system can more meaningfully analyze volumes of accident data and identify  patterns that might exist. This capability proves useful when it comes to accident analytics and prevention.
   
   
4. Creating Continuous Improvement
   Using sensors and advanced technology, a software system can now learn and improve, much like humans, without having to be programmed for a specific task. Coupled with sensors, a device that uses machine learning is more aware of its environment and can alter decisions based on the feedback from surrounding sensors. Somewhat similar to what we see happening in smart car trends, the robot or machine becomes able to recognize a dangerous situation, and take steps to prevent harm to any humans that may be nearby.
   
   
5. Informing Predictive Maintenance
   In manufacturing, ongoing maintenance of production line machinery and equipment is a major expense and can impact a company’s bottom line significantly. Investing in predictive maintenance and safety protocols can help offset some of those costs. Research shared in CIO magazine actually reports that manufacturers pay out an estimated $50 billion for unplanned downtime. This is why many companies are looking into predictive maintenance as way to enhance the production process. Being able to predict the next failure or malfunction from a part or a machine could actually prove to be priceless.

There is no denying that Artificial Intelligence and the use of smart machines and personal protective equipment offers many advantages for today’s manufacturers. Since we are just scratching the surface, come back soon as we’ll be tackling a couple of these opportunities in more detail.