Just like anything else, environment, health, and safety (EHS) as it pertains to the workplace is an evolving discipline. It never stays stagnant for very long, which is the way it should be. There are always new developments, new technologies, and new techniques that can be used to protect the health and safety of employees in their work environment. While 2024 isn’t over yet, we’ve already seen plenty of ways that EHS continues to grow and evolve. With that in mind, let’s look at 10 of the most important EHS trends we’ve seen in 2024 that will likely shape the future of safety in the workplace.
It’s no secret that construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces. Construction companies have always tried to take measures to protect workers, and one idea that’s started to catch on is the concept of offsite construction. This essentially means various parts of a construction are manufactured offsite and then transported to the site to be put together with other parts that also may have been assembled elsewhere.
From a safety perspective, offsite construction means that more work can be done in a controlled environment rather than a busy construction site where there are several workers all doing different things. There would likely be less work performed at heights or in extreme heat. Also, there is no longer a need to worry about space limitations or unfavorable weather either delaying progress or putting workers at increased safety risk.
At the same time, the environmental impact of a construction site can also be reduced if more of the work is performed offsite. The threat of theft or vandalism at the construction site will also be reduced if more work is being performed offsite. It’s even possible that lifecycle costs can be reduced and project delivery can be improved with more offsite construction in addition to better employee safety, so everyone wins if offsite construction practices can be implemented and properly managed.
Similar to offsite construction, more industries are also seeing the work environment being expanded. This includes remote workers, hybrid workers, and employees with a more flexible time schedule. Of course, this trend began during the COVID-19 pandemic when more people had to work from home out of necessity. But this trend doesn’t appear to be going away and is still going strong in 2024.
While convenient in some ways, this trend is creating new challenges for employers. Together, employers and employees must work together to assess safety hazards in environments beyond the traditional workplace. Even in a home office or remote location, workers still need to be concerned with ergonomics, fire hazards, and other common health and safety issues that are universal, including slips and falls. Home or remote work environments need to be assessed for safety with hazards identified and mitigation techniques implemented. In that sense, it’s still business as usual for most companies with regard to safety. After all, they still have an obligation to keep employees protected from health and safety hazards regardless of their exact work location.
With so much “smart” technology available nowadays, entire buildings and workplaces are becoming outfitted with “smart” capabilities. Some companies have interconnected systems that encompass the entire building, which can enhance safety and security for employees as well as operational efficiency. There are smart devices that can automate things like heating, ventilation, lighting, and security measures. Naturally, all of these help contribute to a safer and healthier workplace. The more this technology becomes available and affordable, the more companies will be adopting it for the entire workplace. Therefore, the trend of “smart” buildings isn’t going away.
Along those same lines, there is a much larger role for AI in EHS in 2024 and beyond. The past couple of years have revolved around tools like ChatGPT, but AI is starting to catch up with EHS needs. For example, for EHS processes can be digitized and improved with machine learning. Identifying safety risks or performing compliance tasks can become more automated thanks to AI. Obviously, the goal is always to create a safer workplace for everyone. But companies are also looking for ways to streamline safety tasks.
Likewise, AI could make some aspects of work more efficient, leading to a safer work environment. For instance, if the assembly line in a factory becomes more efficient, workers on the assembly line may be able to do their jobs with less risk to their health and safety. Even if all AI does is reduce the need for one type of repetitive motion, that can make a difference for employees. Naturally, the specifics of what AI can do will vary from one industry and workplace to another. But there is no question that AI is starting to play a bigger role in EHS, a trend that is likely to continue.
The technological advancements related to EHS continue to extend to what employees are wearing while on the job. Some industries have already started to implement wearable technology, but these continue to make headway in even more workplaces. This technology is essentially taking PPE to the next level by not just protecting workers better but also by collecting data in real-time that can lead to better safety decisions being made.
For employees who work alone long distances from anyone else or for workers who have particularly dangerous jobs, wearable technology has become a critical part of safety. However, the more advances we see in this technology, the more companies will be able to find wearable technology for workers useful from a health and safety perspective.
For years, fatigue has been a silent safety risk. It was hard to detect and not always taken seriously. Fortunately, that is starting to change now that EEG sensors and other technologies can detect when someone is becoming tired or inattentive. There are even apps on smartphones that can notify someone when their fatigue or attention levels are becoming unsafe.
We all know that tired workers are more prone to mistakes that can endanger themselves and others, so this technology is exactly what the EHS industry needs. Unfortunately, this technology isn’t at a price point where companies can easily afford it. However, for industries where the mistakes of tired workers can have significant consequences, fatigue detection technology could be considered a necessity.
The emphasis on mental health is still going strong in 2024. This started to pick up traction a few years ago and is yet to fade, which is good news for everyone. There are a lot more formal guidelines and standards for providing psychological health for employees in the workplace. More companies are starting to adopt those guidelines and hold themselves to certain standards while also taking mental health and wellness initiatives to prevent added stress and anxiety in the first place. Perhaps the most important thing is that employers are recognizing that mental health shouldn’t be kept separate from physical health. It’s just one aspect of providing complete health and wellness for employees in the workplace.
In addition to focusing on EHS, there is also a growing trend in 2024 toward companies focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. While EHS and ESG aren’t the same, the two are certainly linked with ESG possibly being considered an extension of EHS. Companies are doing more to invest in measures that address environmental impact and disenfranchised employees. Some of these measures can actually lead to improved EHS compliance, as well as safer and more responsible work environments. This is just another way that businesses are discovering the benefits of thinking beyond their most basic needs, which shares similarities with EHS principles.
Safety training isn’t going out of style, but the way it’s done is changing. Technological advancements have made virtual safety training more effective. Therefore, more companies are starting to use it, especially for employees who work remotely. In certain industries, safety training can be difficult to schedule because employees might work and live in different areas or have different work schedules that don’t line up. Therefore, onboarding safety training and re-training can sometimes be done virtually. This doesn’t mean that virtual training is to the point that it’s equally effective as in-person training. However, the technology available is making it close enough to be a viable substitute when in-person safety training isn’t an option.
Perhaps the most encouraging EHS trend of 2024 is the fact that more companies are starting to realize the value of a company-wide safety culture. Businesses now see the value of a safety culture and the connection between a safe workplace and efficiency elsewhere in the company. Creating a strong safety culture throughout the company isn’t easy and takes time. However, the results speak for themselves with regard to a lack of safety mishaps and serious accidents. Companies that have made that investment and commitment in the past are experiencing the benefits of a strong safety culture, which is helping more and more businesses to do the same.