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October 31, 2023Using AI to Take a Systems Thinking Approach to Ergonomic Risk Assessments
The next frontier of workplace safety requires taking a holistic view, especially in ergonomics, a process made possible by the advancements in artificial intelligence safety technology applications.
Toni-Louise Gianatti
Humans are somewhat limited in the vast maze of workplace interactions. We don't possess computational brains, can't be omnipresent, and, while we think in patterns, tracking them in real-time is a challenge. These limitations underscore the pressing need for a more holistic approach to workplace safety, particularly in the realm of ergonomics.
To truly manage Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), we must embrace a systems thinking approach, which means observing the whole environment and the connections between its parts; it isn't -
October 31, 2023Sustainability Concerns Are Impacting PPE Purchasing Decisions
New study from ISEA, ASSP and EHS Today examines the growing popularity of sustainable safety products.
Eighty percent of safety managers believe that sustainability is an important purchase criterion when it comes to choosing PPE, according to a new study conducted by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and EHS Today. And the PPE suppliers are paying attention to that trend, as almost all (96%) of the safety equipment and PPE suppliers surveyed said they already have several sustainable business practices in place. What’s more, 44% have formal, company-wide sustainability programs.
The study, “Protecting Workers and Planet: Sustainability in the PPE and Safety Equipment Industry,” examines how safety equipment suppliers are increasingly offering products that not only protect workers but also support companies’ corporate -
October 31, 2023Steel Erectors Association Joins Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention Effort
Over 5,000 people working in construction die by suicide each year -- five times more than the annual number of jobsite fatalities.
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention, construction occupations have the highest rate of suicide,as well as the highest number of suicides across all occupational groups. Over 5,000 people working in construction die by suicide each year. That’s five times more than the annual number of jobsite fatalities.
To address this situation, The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) announced on Oct. 19 that it has joined other industry association stakeholders of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP).
“Within the construction industry, our niche is even more at risk," said Pete Gum, executive director of SEAA, in a statement. -
October 26, 2023The Challenging Nature of Workplace Safety
Resilience—that quality of never giving up and always moving forward—is one of the hallmarks of a safety leader.
It’s that time of year again—the time when I turn over the writing of this column (well, most of it) over to you, the readers. I’ve conducted quite a few salary surveys over the years, and I long ago learned that readers love to hear what their fellow industry peers are thinking. EHS professionals never fail to impress me with their willingness—sometimes eagerness—to share their thoughts about their jobs and profession, as you’ll see in the sampling of comments below.
The EHS TodayNational Safety & Salary Survey is kind of like a virtual focus group, offering a direct conduit between our audience of safety leaders and their peers. The survey offers respondents the chance to opine—anonymously—about -
October 26, 2023Safety Professionals Rely on Tech to Meet Growing Demands
Zero-based safety approach creates pressure to achieve better results.
The idea of achieving total workplace safety is in the process of transitioning from a worthy goal to strenuously aim for, to becoming a standard that all organizations will be expected to meet. This trend also is putting pressure on safety professionals to maximize the value of safety technology, a trend highlighted in EHS Today’s 2023 Guide to Safety Technology report.
In a recent survey of 485 safety professionals, those polled revealed in detail how they are evaluating and applying the most up-to-date safety tech while obtaining the maximum value from what it can produce. A common approach is to thoughtfully research and carefully apply new technology. Topics range from simple personal protective equipment -
October 26, 2023Harnessing Technology: ADVICS' Battle Against Injuries
ADVICS North America Inc., a leading global provider of automotive brake systems, is transforming its approach to injury prevention using wearable devices and cutting-edge software solutions. In this case study, we explore their journey to success and delve into the key strategies that have made a significant impact on their workplace safety.
The Quest for Improved Workplace Safety
Frustrated with the limited results of traditional methods, ADVICS sought innovative solutions to tackle workplace injuries. Their research led them to Soter Analytics and their groundbreaking products, SoterTask and SoterCoach.
ADVICS utilizes two Soter products to enhance injury prevention. SoterTask, a sensor-free video processing software, evaluates angles and risks through human motion analysis. SoterCoach, a wearable -
October 20, 2023The road to improvements can be long and arduous, but the end results never cease to amaze.
Last summer, I received notice that my city would be replacing the pipes and redoing the storm drains on my street. I was excited about not having my water run through old lead pipes, but I didn’t find the estimated timeline of work exciting: one year.
After a few false starts, work began in November 2022, around Thanksgiving. As I write this, the work is still ongoing.
There have been phases of work involving all sorts of heavy machinery digging several feet into the ground, tearing up driveways and sidewalks, laying pipes and pouring concrete. There have also been changes in traffic patterns, road closures, gigantic holes covered by steel grates, planned water shutoffs and unplanned water shutoffs.
In fact, I’ve gotten so used to the noises between the hours -
October 19, 2023Research reviews the use of worker monitoring technologies, ranging from fall detection devices and proximity sensors to mobile apps and panic alarms, in remote settings.
An estimated 15% or employees are working by themselves. And for those working in isolated environments there could be risk for serious injury, even death. Recognizing the emergence and severity of this issue, the National Safety Council released a new white paper through its Work to Zero initiative, Using Lone Worker Monitoring Technology to Protect Workers, to help employers identify and implement new solutions to keep their workers safe.
“Lone work can be beneficial for both organizations and employees, allowing for more flexibility and a greater utilization of resources, but this practice also comes with heightened risk for workers," aid Katherine Mendoza, senior director, workplace -
October 19, 2023A majority of companies are making enhancements to their health and well-being offerings in 2024 according to a Mercer survey.
As companies are planning for the impact that inflation will have on their health plan costs, they are also considering the impact this will have on employees. And of course benefits has always been a large factor in attracting employees.
So when Mercer released its Health and Benefit Strategies for 2024, they looked into how employers will prepare for rising health care costs while continuing to adapt benefit to improve attraction and retention and better meet the needs of the whole workforce. The survey was conducted from February 14 through March 10, 2023.
The firm reports that the average per-employee cost of employer-sponsored health insurance rose by 3.2% in 2022, according to its Mercer’s 2022 National Survey -
October 09, 2023Exoskeletons, in some uses, are simple, lightweight, comfortable and easy-to-use, however there can be risks such as friction and shear injury from contact with body regions.
Given the fact that construction workers are at t high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). many companies are turning to exoskeletons, both passive and active, to alleviate injuries.
Passive exoskeletons support a posture or movement using unpowered mechanisms (e.g., springs, dampers, or counterbalance forces), whereas active exoskeletons involve powered force/torque generating elements (e.g., electric motors, pneumatics, or hydraulics).
A NIOSH Science blog, published a study, that looked into In a study preventing MSK injuries using exoskeletons. The articles notes the increasing interest in the use of wearable exoskeletons in the prevention
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