The National Safety Council (NSC) has recently published its report entitled “Safety Technology 2024,” which examines the trends in workplace hazards and the implementation of safety technology since 2020. The report has unveiled several key findings that provide insight into the state of workplace safety and the role of technology in injury prevention.
One of the primary findings of the report pertained to the heightened exposure to risks experienced by both employers and employees. The survey indicated an increased likelihood of exposure to various workplace hazards such as fatigue, heavy equipment operation, and working at heights. Specifically, employees reported substantial increases in their exposure to these risks. Notably, fatigue persisted as the top risk across industries and the leading cause of workplace injuries. While the concern over workplace violence was considered the least likely exposure, it also experienced a significant increase from 2020 to 2023.
Regarding the relevance and consideration of safety technology, employers reported that these solutions were pertinent to the hazards present in their workplaces. Furthermore, 83% of employees expressed their willingness to trial and utilise new safety technologies in the workplace. The utilization of certain technologies, such as risk management software, proximity sensors, and drones, also experienced notable increases, while the usage of other technologies remained relatively unchanged between the surveys.
The report underscored the significance of technology in mitigating workplace hazards and stressed the need for employers to routinely assess industry risks to identify the most suitable solutions. Katherine Mendoza, the senior director of workplace programmes at NSC, emphasised the importance of preventing worker injuries and saving lives through the adoption of technology solutions. She highlighted that, despite the numerous technology solutions available to employers, it is crucial to comprehend evolving workplace hazards and determine the most appropriate solutions.
Despite an increase in the acceptance and implementation of technology among employers from 2020 to 2023, the report also identified barriers to widespread adoption. These barriers encompassed resource constraints, privacy concerns, and the necessity for a greater understanding of the benefits of current technologies and their alignment with organisational needs.
The report concluded by underscore a critical need for the continual advancement of technology in the workplace, particularly in light of the alarming statistics on work-related injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a worker loses their life every 96 minutes, with nearly 5,500 fatal work injuries occurring in 2022.
In essence, the report by NSC serves as a call to action for employers to actively evaluate and invest in technology that can help prevent worker injuries and create safer work environments. It emphasises the importance of staying abreast of technological advancements and integrating them effectively into workplace safety practices to protect the well-being of employees.