Artificial intelligence is already changing the way companies think about work, with more and more companies incorporating some form of AI into their business processes, and is beginning to be used to improve health and safety in the workplace.
advantage
One of the most promising applications of AI in workplace safety is computer vision technology. This will be combined with existing closed-circuit television systems to analyze camera footage, for example by monitoring worker behavior (for example, whether personal protective equipment is inadequate). Detect potential hazards such as trip hazards or when people are in restricted or dangerous areas. AI technology can also be used to monitor the condition of machines and whether safety devices are being used, detect anomalies, and alert employers of potential machine problems.
Marks & Spencer (M&S), which operates 19 distribution centers and warehouses, recently saw an 80% reduction in workplace accidents in the first 10 weeks after implementing computer vision technology at its distribution center in Castle Donington, UK. announced that it did. This allows the company’s health and safety team to identify patterns of unsafe behavior on the warehouse floor, take immediate proactive action, correct the problem, and focus staff to improve worker attitudes to safety. I was able to provide training. At M&S, he saw an increase of over 10% in near-miss reports as accidents became visible that weren’t seen at the time.
“We can’t be everywhere at once, and we can’t be on site 24 hours a day,” said M&S health, safety and environmental expert Alice Connors. It’s like being there and it helps us.” To keep our colleagues safe. ”
As far as is reasonably practicable, it is the responsibility of all employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all workers at work in accordance with Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, etc. is the responsibility of dangerous place. However, continuous worker monitoring means that health and safety managers can identify safety issues in real-time rather than relying solely on walkarounds to identify them.
risk
While AI has many potential benefits for workplace safety, it is important to note that AI is not a panacea and still requires human involvement in the decision-making process. . AI is ineffective in situations where there is no data available. For example, AI may not be able to predict when new types of hazards arise.
Also, high levels of surveillance may be perceived as an unwarranted invasion of privacy by workers, for example, if AI is exploited to calculate how much time you spend in the bathroom or how many breaks you take, stress , anxiety, and depression. I took Therefore, communicating with workers early in the implementation process is critical to alleviating these concerns.
Another oft-reported risk associated with AI is the intensification of operations. For example, it can be used to track task completion time, but be careful about encouraging workers to complete tasks too quickly at the expense of their health and safety.
Conclusion
However, if used properly, AI can make the workplace a safer environment for workers, which in turn reduces the risk of fines and lawsuits, reduces workers’ absence from work due to injury, and increases employers’ productivity. Save money. Productivity.
Charlotte Healy is an attorney for Charles Russell Speechlys, Guildford, England, United Kingdom © 2023 Charles Russell Speechlys. all rights reserved.Reposted with permission from lexology.
