Be sure to check out the risk management technology 91ºÚÁÏÍø has to offer policyholder businesses at our new Risk Management Technology webpage!

Understanding the Problem Before Seeking Tech Solutions

Before diving into the realm of innovative technology, companies must first thoroughly understand the specific problem they are aiming to solve. Engaging with a novel tech solution showcased at a conference, without a clear and present need, can lead to inefficient use of both time and financial resources. This foundational understanding ensures that investments in technology are both strategic and beneficial.

Integrating Safety Technology

In the domain of workplace safety, technology should be considered only after applying the Hierarchy of Controls. This approach assesses whether a hazard can be outright eliminated or significantly mitigated through engineering changes rather than through behavioral adjustments alone. For instance, it is more effective and sustainable to automate a process or redesign a workstation to prevent strenuous physical tasks such as bending to lift heavy materials repeatedly, rather than to rely on wearable sensors that prompt workers to adjust their movements.

Overestimation of Product Adoption

Vendors often have a clear understanding of their safety technology’s capabilities; however, they may overestimate how eagerly such technology will be adopted by the workforce. Resistance to change is a common human behavior, particularly with interventions such as safety initiatives that require new habits or routines. It is crucial for management to recognize the extensive planning, management, and effort required to implement these technologies effectively. Underestimating these factors can compromise the return on investment and may even foster a perception among employees that the company is indifferent to their safety, potentially eroding the organization’s safety culture.

The Foundation of Safety Programs Before Tech Integration

Technology should not be seen as a panacea for all safety program deficiencies. A well-established safety program is a prerequisite before considering the integration of innovative safety tech solutions. Technology amplifies the effectiveness of what is already in place; it does not typically resolve the fundamental weaknesses of a safety program. For example, a robust safety program that utilizes safety management software effectively will enhance efficiencies and provide timely, actionable insights. On the other hand, a weak safety program may lead to the underutilization of such technology, wasting resources and potentially obscuring critical issues like poor hazard understanding.

Commitment to Safety Tech

For a successful integration of new safety technology, an organization must be willing to allocate sufficient resources, including time for a dedicated program champion or manager. The experience with telematics in the automotive industry illustrates this well; these devices have the potential to significantly improve driver behavior and reduce incidents, but only if they are actively managed. Passive installation without active monitoring, feedback, and accountability will not yield the desired improvements. Managers tasked with these responsibilities must have the capacity to handle them, underscoring the need for a thoughtful approach to capacity planning, incentives, and accountability mechanisms.

Key Takeaways

Problem Identification: Ensure that the specific safety issues are well-understood before integrating technology.

Hierarchy of Controls: Apply fundamental safety measures before considering technological solutions.

Realistic Adoption Expectations: Prepare for potential resistance and ensure robust management support for new safety technologies.

Safety Program Foundation: Technology should build upon, not attempt to replace, the foundations of an already established safety program.

Resource Allocation: Dedicate necessary resources, including personnel, to manage and monitor safety technology effectively.

Looking Ahead

Successfully integrating safety technology into workplace practices requires more than just acquiring tools. It involves a deep understanding of specific problems, strategic application of safety measures, and a solid foundation in existing safety programs. The commitment of the entire organization, from management to every team member, is crucial for leveraging these technologies to enhance safety outcomes and promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

New processes and systems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have improved manufacturing operations and are here to stay. In fact, 95 percent of manufacturers stated that they expect most of the process changes to be permanent, according to a recent Salesforce Trends in Manufacturing report.

Safety, technology, and strong teamwork to enhance collaboration are just some of the factors that manufacturers are focusing on to create improved efficiencies. As the manufacturing industry eyes positive economic indicators amid continued supply chain disruptions, now is the time for companies to consider some of the key characteristics of future-ready manufacturers:

• Prioritizing employee safety through technology ­– In today’s manufacturing environment, more companies are leveraging cutting-edge technology such as virtual reality training and wearables to enhance worker safety and minimize risk. Interactive training can improve employees’ ability to perform the role correctly by 58%, according to the Occupational Health & Safety Administration.
• Embracing digitization to improve processes – The acceleration of digital technology adoption could bring operational efficiencies to scale for manufacturers, according to Deloitte. Fifty percent of manufacturers stated they plan to through 2025.
• Attracting and retaining a quality workforce ­– More than 80 percent of manufacturers recently stressed the importance of talent acquisition to recruit, engage and maintain a robust team, according to . The industry is as demand for goods remains high.

Protection Forged in Partnership

91ºÚÁÏÍø is expanding its focus on the manufacturing industry by investing in our products and people who provide the expertise you rely on to help protect your manufacturing business.

Learn more about the unique coverage and technologies to complement your manufacturing programs, including our new Product Recall and Manufacturers Errors & Omissions products, expanded appetite to provide industry-leading service to more manufacturing businesses, and an increased investment in our expert employees with manufacturing knowledge.

With increasing pressures to improve production, quality, scheduling and profit mount, doors leading to automation opened. One of those doors led to the development of automation in masonry work. Masonry work possesses several characteristics that make it an ideal candidate for automation:

• Highly repetitive movements– The majority of masonry work is highly repetitive, from moving material to laying brick.
• Physically exhaustive material handling– From mixing mortar to placing bricks, masonry work is physical work.
• Lack of skilled workers– The drought of skilled labor available following the last recession forced contractors to search for alternatives.
• High level of precision– Long spans of walls and decorative designs require defined and repeatable levels of precision.

Robotic brick laying machines are designed to work collaboratively with the masonry workforce, while eliminating many of the hazards and inefficiencies of the process. Masonry employees work with the robot to program the machines, set work parameters, load raw materials, finish mortar joints and perform quality control. The robots pick up bricks, apply mortar and set bricks in place, normally within 1/100th inch tolerance.

Robots increase the predictability, consistency and efficiency of the process. As technology advances, costs related to construction robotics continue to decrease. Additional field testing is improving the durability and sustainability of automated brick laying.

These robots may expose construction workers to unfamiliar hazards and exposures that could include:

1. Machine guarding exposures similar to automated equipment used in manufacturing environments
2. Point-of-operation guarding hazards
3. Designated control zones around the self-directed moving parts and equipment
4. Material handling during the loading of raw materials
5. Equipment maintenance and malfunctions
6. Lockout/tagout hazards

You most likely have not seen a robotic brick layer in action, but they will be coming to your jobsites in the near future. Be prepared to identify and discuss different types of potential construction hazards and controls the new technology may generate.