AI (artificial intelligence) is having an impact on practically every industry. While the likes of construction, engineering and manufacturing will always require human insights, AI is being adopted in various ways to support industrial operations.
Crucially, AI is being relied upon to enhance safety, especially across applications which pose the most risk due to human error. Likewise, AI can also be used to reduce strain so that hazards can best be avoided.
Warehouse environments are no exception, with some of the biggest potential hazards including forklift accidents, slips, trips, falls, manual handling injuries, falling objects, chemical exposure and fires.
In today’s post, the Metreel team is here to shed light on some of the ways that AI is impacting safety monitoring within warehouse environments.
Real-Time Hazard Detection
Some of the AI technology being used to improve warehouse safety includes computer vision, machine learning, IoT sensors, real-time data analytics and wearable devices.
There are lots of aspects of safety these tools combined can improve. This includes helping to detect hazards to hopefully prevent them as much as possible.
For instance, AI systems can detect forklift-pedestrian proximity violations, unsafe lifting practices, PPE (personal protective equipment) non-compliance and similar safety issues.
Ultimately, AI can add an extra layer of protection to prevent accidents before they happen through providing alerts or automated shutdowns of equipment.
Predictive Safety Analytics
Something that AI excels at is collecting and interpreting data. When looking to improve warehouse safety, AI can analyse patterns from past incidents, near misses or general employee behaviour.
This information can then be used to identify any risk trends, predict where accidents are likely to occur and also trigger preventative interventions. By switching from a reactive to a proactive approach, this can also work to reduce hazards in a warehouse.
Reducing Human Error
Research suggests that 90% of all workplace accidents are the result of human error. Given the advanced hazard-perception capabilities of AI, it can be used to reduce behaviours that pose risk of injury.
AI in warehouses is particularly favoured due to its selective judgement across aspects such as safety compliance checks, fatigue or distraction detection and decision making during emergencies.
Since AI also collects data, this can also be used to inform managers about safety breaches, while also helping to shape training programs and other measures to improve safety within the warehouse.
Improved Incident Response
Unfortunately, even if workers do their utmost to maintain a safe working environment, it is not possible to eliminate the possibility that an incident may occur in a warehouse.
AI systems can provide assistance through their ability to automatically shut down machines, notify supervisors and also guide emergency response personnel with real-time maps or visuals. Overall, these benefits can work to speed up response times to reduce the severity of incidents which do occur.
Metreel – Discover Our Industrial Equipment For Warehouses
Metreel is based in Derbyshire, and we supply material handling, height safety and powerfeed equipment to warehouses across the UK.
Take a look around our website to discover more about our products.
Or, if you are in search of a specific solution for your warehouse, please contact us here at Metreel today.
You can also give us a call on 0115 932 7010 to discuss your warehouse requirements with our team.