Employee Safety, Robotics, and The Future of AI

What do employee safety, robotics, and AI have in common? The future of the workplace intertwines them all. AI technology is used right now for things like chatbots, creating intelligent customer helplines, and more. In the future of AI, machine learning will make it possible for these technologies to get better and safer on their own.

When you combine methodologies designed to keep people safe at work, protect sensitive data, and do it better, you can see where the convergence can happen. The future of AI in the workplace will be there not just to improve the bottom line, but also to boost workplace safety.

The Future of AI and Why Workplace Safety Matters

Many HR departments focus on workplace safety for many reasons. First, there are OSHA regulations to be aware of when you run a business and work out of a building. There are regulations on lighting, airflow, signs, fire exits, and more. Workplace safety is critical if you want to run a business long-term. Some of the reasons are that it improves performance, helps you in litigation scenarios, and of course, it protects the staff.

Improves Performance

Employees who don’t feel safe at work are unlikely to have good performance. Conversely, those who do feel safe will work harder and be more focused, thus boosting profits overall. Creating a safe work environment means having good lighting indoors and in parking lots after dark. It means using video in certain spaces. Safety means having warnings up if a floor is wet. You get the picture.

Reduces Opportunities for Litigation

When an HR department not only follows OSHA regulations but also does everything in its power to create safety. Doing this not only reduces the risk of litigation but it also increases the chances of winning lawsuits that come against the company.

Protects Staff

Protecting staff is vital. They are your greatest resource and the ones that cannot be easily replaced like a computer or desk. Good workplace safety can ensure the protection of those who work for you and others who may visit your office.

Leveraging Robotics To Create a Safer Work Environment

Can you imagine being awake for 24 hours doing highly focused, detailed work and being expected to never make a mistake? What about working in extreme temperature conditions and being expected not to pass out? What about walking to your car in the middle of the night after your shift is over?

All of these scenarios have something in common. There is robotic technology available to help. In the healthcare setting, there are companies that developed robotic arms to create a steady hand in lieu of the doctor needing to use theirs the entire time. This alleviates fatigue and decreases the risk of mistakes. It also improves patient outcomes when surgeries are performed using doctor-guided robotics.

Industrial facilities can be very dangerous to work in. There is the risk of falling objects, unpredictable heat conditions, and a lot of heavy lifting. Companies like Sarcos Robotics saw how there was a need to protect humans from injury and to improve productivity and that robotic technology could help. Their products reflect their commitment to creating better tools and safer environments for workers.

No matter what the application, robotics can be used in many workplaces to create a safer environment for everyone.

Safety Applications of AI and Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence has already been around for years in small ways. Machine learning is a subset of AI that can not only be programmed to do certain things on request but can also learn new things. As these computer systems look over past scenarios, they can make smart adjustments to do things better the next time. When someone is looking for information with a specific query and it takes a few tries to get the right information, the machine can learn how to get someone to the right answer sooner the next time they are asked.

AI can be used to better detect anomalies in systems that can be dangerous. In manufacturing, this means that the computer system can alert someone earlier that there is a problem on the line that could be dangerous. Leveraging machine learning means that data can be better protected as well. When there are potential data breaches that can harm staff and customers, this machine learning AI can be a valuable asset.