What Are the Latest Trends in Industrial Safety & Health?

No matter the industry, it’s a good bet that things are changing. Methods or procedures that might have been standard five or 10 years ago may not be that way anymore. This also holds true with regard to industrial health and safety.

Technological advancements in machinery and equipment create new safety challenges while new approaches to safety are also being devised. In recognition of that, we wanted to help keep you up to date with some of the latest trends in industrial safety & health so that you can stay ahead of the curve.

Smart Technology PPE

Everyone involved in industrial safety & health knows that personal protective equipment (PPE) is of the utmost importance. But PPE is changing right before our eyes. For starters, given the ongoing pandemic, masks and face covering are becoming essential for virtually all workers, not just some. More importantly, advances in technology are creating smart PPE that will be more proactive in monitoring a worker’s health. For instance, there are wearables that can monitor an employee’s heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs, as well as their sweat level and how many steps they’ve walked that day. Further advances could even monitor someone’s fatigue, making it easier to schedule shifts, breaks, and help managers know when someone is too tired to work. With any luck, these advancements in PPE will help companies become more efficient and limit the occasions when workers are putting themselves at risk by being too sick or tired to work.

Total Health of the Workers

For years, most companies have focused solely on the industrial safety & health hazards present in the workplace. However, initiatives to monitor and improve the health and well-being of employees when they’re off the clock have been growing in recent years. More companies are starting to recognize that what workers do in their personal time can have an impact on what they do on the job. If they are overtired or don’t live a healthy lifestyle, they won’t be as productive at work while also increasing the likelihood of an accident. There is a growing trend of companies that are encouraging or incentivizing their workers to pay close attention to their overall health and are doing what they can to support those endeavors. Such initiatives can blur the line between work time and personal time. However, it’s ultimately what’s best for employees and is a necessary step for certain industries that have more inherent dangers on the job.

Mental Health Awareness

The days of mental health concerns being ignored or dismissed are finally coming to an end. Mental illnesses are finally being taken seriously, especially with the ongoing pandemic shining a light on them even further. As a result, more companies are finding a way to monitor the mental and emotional well-being of employees, which is a trend that is likely to continue to grow in the years to come. Companies are wise to include mental health issues in their normal safety training. Workers should be instructed on spotting signs of mental anguish in themselves and their co-workers. They should also be encouraged to come forward and tell a manager or supervisor if they are struggling with their mental health the same way they would for a physical illness. Certain industries, including construction, are being hit harder than others with regard to rates of depression and suicide, making it critical for companies in that industry to follow the trend of making mental health awareness a bigger priority.

Use Safety Software to Keep Up

The best way to keep up with the changes in industrial safety & health is to use safety monitoring software. Our safety solutions do a great job of making sure your safety officers stay organized and on top of all safety concerns. It’s a comprehensive system to make sure nothing gets overlooked.

If you’d like to take a step forward in your company’s approach to safety, give us a call and we can have a conversation about how our software can help.