The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has opened up new possibilities for enhancing safety measures and mitigating risks in today’s hazardous industrial environments.
Today, AI is revolutionising workplace safety by leveraging connected worker platforms, intelligent safety compliance, and data-driven insights to create safer and more efficient industrial ecosystems. By empowering companies to proactively address safety concerns and streamline their operations, AI promises a future where workers can perform their tasks with enhanced security and peace of mind.
One such example is the SOL-X solution by Magellan X. By utilising advanced algorithms and sophisticated machine learning techniques, this solution analyses large amounts of data to detect potential hazards, predict equipment failures, and aid in decision-making processes that can improve overall safety standards.
In this article, we cover the ways AI can help ensure safety in the workplace, and make sure that workplace accidents are kept to a minimum.
Key Takeaways:
- The emergence of AI technologies offers new possibilities for safety within heavy industries.
- Through features such as predictive risk mitigation, connected worker platforms, real-time monitoring, and insight-gathering, AI provides safety solutions for various companies.
- AI use has already helped heavy industries improve their safety procedures and establish a positive culture around employee well-being.
What is the Role of AI in Safety Management?
AI has been gaining significant attention for its ability to improve workplace safety. Modern features like task automation, data analysis, and the ability to identify potential risks can help organisations cut down on human error.
As reported by EMSA and other safety professionals, this human error causes 66% of marine incidents and casualties. Even more severe is the finding that 80% of accidents in the petrochemical industry are caused by human error. AI can therefore be the key to reducing workplace injuries— handling and monitoring dangerous tasks, and contributing to the training and skill development of employees.
How Can AI Enable a Safer Industrial Workplace?
1. AI-Driven Predictive Risk Mitigation
In the pursuit of a safer industrial workplace, AI technology is playing a pivotal role. By integrating AI with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors and wearable devices such as the SOL-X Smartwatch, organisations can predict and prevent workplace hazards before they occur. AI-powered systems can take in huge amounts of data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies, allowing safety managers to proactively address potential risks. The usage of these risk mitigation services contributes greatly towards occupational safety and health by reducing human error and forecasting threats.
2. AI-Powered Connected Worker Platforms
Connected worker platforms are collections of technology that keep workers linked to systems in near real time. They’re able to provide employees with the latest safety insights and guide them while on the job. Solutions like SOL-X are integrated with various connectivity platforms such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Long-Range Bluetooth, which facilitates seamless communication between workers and supervisors. Workers are able to connect to the Live Dashboards that we provide, and receive safety alerts to enhance their situational awareness at all times. This ability to collaborate with colleagues can greatly reduce response time in emergency situations, leading to increased safety.
3. AI-Assisted Intelligent Safety Compliance
Safety risks are inevitable in hazardous industries, but organisations and regulatory bodies are doing their best to create a safe environment for workers. As of September 2022, there were 36 fatalities in workplaces, and Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower held a safety timeout for organisations to review their procedures, which highlights the growing importance of establishing better worksite safety standards. Using AI-enabled systems like SOL-X Control Of Work, organisations can simplify their compliance processes through automated data collection, analysis, and reporting, which reduces human error that might otherwise occur while conducting manual compliance processes.
4. Advanced Incident Response and Management
AI technologies enable near real-time monitoring of workplace activities through computer vision and smart sensors. These systems can detect unsafe behaviour, unauthorised access, and potential hazards, triggering immediate alerts to relevant personnel. One example is our SOL-X Geofencing system, where dangerous areas can be marked out virtually. Workers who enter these areas are immediately alerted, allowing them to maintain caution, and allowing their supervisors to keep track of them in lone worker scenarios. AI-enabled incident response and management systems also optimise emergency response efforts, expedite evacuation procedures, and ensure efficient coordination among response teams.
5. Data-Driven Insights for Continuous Improvement
AI algorithms can analyse large datasets collected from various sources. These algorithms can take in incident reports, records from safety inspections, and worker feedback. By extracting actionable insights, organisations can identify trends, root causes of accidents, and areas for improvement, and even help preempt accidents or incidents from happening. These data-driven insights help develop targeted safety training programs, implement preventive measures, and continuously enhance safety protocols for long-term risk reduction.
Industry-Specific AI Use Cases
Employee Safety in the Maritime Industry
The integration of AI in the maritime industry has led to significant improvements in safety and efficiency. SOL-X by Magellan X is a solution that utilises AI-powered wearable technology, and has already enhanced the safety and productivity of several enterprises.
One Leading Ship Manager was faced with the need to enhance its Safety Management System (SMS) assurance and compliance. They faced lagging safety indicators and an excessive amount of paperwork that led to constant errors. Fortunately, our system provided them with the improved and automated workflow that they required, leveraging AI-powered solutions to improve their health and safety management.
After implementing SOL-X, about 60 minutes per Permit To Work (PTW) were saved, adding up to 12 hours a day, and 4000 hours a year. The addition of a Crew Assist feature has been able to aid workers in emergency situations and assures their safety when working alone. By implementing the SOL-X solution, industrial businesses can now streamline their processes and conduct more efficient risk assessments, allowing their vessels to meet occupational health and safety compliance requirements.
Keeping Workers Safe in the Petrochemical Industry
SOL-X has also partnered with a Leading ESG company that manages wastewater and promotes sustainability. Our safety solution was integrated into their treatment plant, in order to utilise AI in workplace safety and resolve some of the pressing issues they were experiencing.
Issues faced by the treatment plant included a suboptimal safety culture, low situational awareness and visibility among workers, and a lack of workflow control. By using SOL-X to improve safety, the treatment plant benefited from Worker Well-being Tracking and GeoFence tracking. Our SmartWatch technology kept track of worker fitness by monitoring their heart rate and exposure to heat stress, allowing workers and supervisors to keep track of their status. The GeoFence alert improves situational awareness by letting workers know whenever they’ve entered hazardous environments, allowing them to stay vigilant These AI-driven solutions created a safer workplace and helped prevent accidents within the treatment plant. Applying such technology to the Petrochemical Industry can help prevent accidents and serious injuries.Discover the Future of Workplace Safety with SOL-X
The landscape of workplace safety is undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to AI technology, as exemplified by SOL-X by Magellan X. We’re using cutting-edge tech to help organisations actively create safer working environments, whilst ensuring the well-being of their employees. By implementing intelligent solutions in hazardous industries, AI is proving to be an invaluable tool in industrial risk mitigation.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to equip your organisation with the advanced AI capabilities our systems offer, and pave the way for an efficient and secure work environment. Step into a safer future—explore SOL-X today.