Worker safety technology that saves lives. A strong statement. But also a rather abstract one. With sometimes too much distance between the words and the real-life drama of work related fatalities. So let’s take a no-frills look at five practical examples where new safety technology has made the difference between life and death.
Situation 1: Struck by vehicle
- Just like any other day, Steven D. is conducting inventory at a large logistics site. A busy and noisy work environment that he has grown accustomed to over the years. While most areas allow either forklifts or pedestrians, Steven’s job often requires him to enter zones where this accessibility overlaps. It is in one of these zones that he is about to turn a corner, unaware of a forklift about to cross his path. A forklift having limited visibility due to a bulky load, operated by a skilled and fully certified driver, but recently hired and not yet familiar with all the high-risk areas.
Statistics indicate that setups like these can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. “Struck by vehicle” remains one of the main causes of deadly accidents involving humans and machines. It also represents a prime example where new safety technology has made a difference. In this particular case, Steven’s smart badge alerted him to the rapidly approaching forklift, even though it was still outside his field of vision. Simultaneously, the forklift operator received a similar alert, warning him about the exact proximity of his vulnerable on foot colleague. A timely warning that effectively prevented a potentially fatal accident.
Situation 2: A lone worker slips …
- Julia V is currently addressing an electro-mechanical issue in a manhole situated at a remote location. This task is typically assigned to a lone worker. Her supervisor logged her arriving on site and later verified a successful test upon completion of the task. However, a few seconds after concluding her work, Julia slips and makes a severe fall. As a result, she sustains a minor fracture in her femur, an internal organ rupture, and she loses consciousness.
Slips and trips continue to represent a significant portion of workplace injuries. While not all incidents have grave consequences, when the victim is a lone worker the situation can escalate rapidly from bad to considerably worse. Fortunately, Julia was equipped with a smart badge that promptly detected her fall and subsequent lack of movement, even in that manhole. This triggered an immediate alert to her supervisor, who, after unsuccessful attempts to check in with Julia, swiftly escalated the emergency response, simultaneously identifying her precise location. This real-time alert ultimately facilitated a prompt recovery rather than culminating in a tragic outcome.
Situation 3: everyone accounted for in crisis situations
- Philip C. visits the manufacturing plant of a client for the first time. It’s an extensive site, bustling with activity. During a break between meetings, Philip finds himself in the restroom when suddenly the emergency evacuation alarm sounds. As smoke begins to permeate the hallways, he rapidly realizes that it is not a drill and it appears that everyone has already vacated the area. Reacting swiftly, Philip runs towards the nearest visible emergency exit.
Emergency evacuations necessitate a comprehensive and specialized safety system, capable of withstanding the chaos and panic typically associated with such situations. One crucial obligation is to gather and account for all individuals at designated muster zones. Fortunately for Philip C., this aspect of the evacuation process has been significantly enhanced by the site’s policy through new safety technology. This mandates that everyone, including visitors, must carry their smart badge at all times. This policy not only greatly expedites a headcount process devoid of errors but also facilitates the identification of individuals who may be missing as well as their respective locations.
Situation 4: when A + B = disaster, safety technology steps in
- Andre R. is leading a small maintenance team at a chemical plant. Due to a postponement of their previous task, Andre decides to proceed with an assignment that was originally scheduled for later in the day. However, unbeknownst to Andre, another operation is taking place in close proximity. An operation that could potentially result in a catastrophic conflict with his own, ‘unofficially‘ rescheduled task.
Fortunately, a comprehensive safety system is in place that effectively combines real-time zone control and work control. As Andre enters the designated zone, both he and the control room receive immediate notifications regarding the potential hazardous conflict. This system operates seamlessly without requiring human input and holds an extremely low chance of error. In this particular case one or both parties confirm their status, ensuring that business can safely continue without any untoward incidents.
Situation 5: continuous safety compliance
- Victor L. is an experienced forklift truck operator who knows his worksite like the back of his hand. However, with a new colleague still adjusting to his new job, Victor finds himself juggling multiple responsibilities. The workload gets overwhelming, and he feels tempted to take the occasional shortcut that disregards safety regulations, such as speeding, crossing lanes, unnecessary sharp deceleration, and making harsh turns.
Making harsh turns is a major cause of forklift overturns. These in turn account for 25% of serious injuries and fatalities among forklift operators. While traditional driver training and safety courses cover these topics, Rombit’s Digital Driver Coach solution takes it a step further by collecting real-time data on each driver’s safety performance. This enables immediate feedback on any deviations from safe driving practices and allows for more efficient individual coaching. As a result, a culture of high as wel as sustained safety compliance is fostered, ultimately encouraging Victor to refrain from making that potentially fatal harsh turn.
This is the final post in a 3-part series about fatal work-related accidents. In part I we examined the devastated effects of a deadly accident. Part II considers the probability of a company suffering such an accident and its remedial potential.