What is Risk Detection?
Risk detection is the process by which companies identify and analyze existing risks in the workplace. Risk detection is an important part of overall workplace safety.
It allows management to carefully account for and evaluate risks to ensure employee safety. Once risks are detected and identified, the management creates proper safety measures.
All employees are required to follow these safety measures to prevent injuries or the occurrence of a safety incident. Risk detection is also an important part of risk management.
What are the Different Risk Identification Methods?
There are several methods that companies use to detect and evaluate risks in the workplace.
- Observation - The First Step in Risk Detection
The most obvious method is observation. Safety managers and responsible employees are tasked with observing specific machinery and conditions to determine the risks that they might pose.
The results of observation are generally more effective when employees who have to operate the machines or work in specific conditions are asked for feedback.
They are in a better position to report on any potential risks, and can recommend effective steps that the organization can take to ensure worker safety.
Safety analysts and consultants can also be brought on the scene to observe processes, after which they provide feedback.
It’s also starting to become common for organizations to employ a comprehensive risk detection tool to support these observational methods, alongside behavior based safety software that monitors employee actions and identifies potential hazards.
Because modern workplaces are so dynamic and regularly evolving, it’s important for companies to conduct walkarounds and employ other ethnographic approaches at regular intervals.
- Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)
A common method used by companies to detect risk is to use failure mode and effect analysis. In this approach, companies first begin by listing all the steps required to complete a specific process.
This is known as process mapping. Then, they look at different steps to determine how each might go wrong, and determine the probability that the error will be detected before it causes harm.
They also account for the following:
- The probability of a specific process failing
- The odds of detecting this failure
- The quantifiable value of the impact it might create
FMEA helps organizations determine just how severe a specific risk can be. Then, they create an ordered list, with the most severe risk at the top, and then plan for contingencies using an effective risk detection system.
- Structured What-If Technique (SWIFT)
Another technique that’s popular for risk detection is the structured what-if technique, or SWIFT. This is more qualitative and can be used either to complement FMEA or discretely.
Companies often evaluate various situations that might arise, and then prepare solutions in the work environment using a tailored risk detection program.
- Safety Culture Surveys as a Risk Detection Tool
Companies can also send out safety culture surveys to employees to gauge their responses and identify risks in the workplace. This also helps companies detect any new risks that might arise. These surveys can be integrated into a broader risk detection solution for comprehensive risk management.
Prospective vs. Retrospective Risk Detection Methods
Most risk detection methods can be broadly categorized into two categories: prospective and retrospective methods. As mentioned above, a prospective analysis is designed to detect risk, evaluate it, and prepare a safety plan before it results in an incident.
Retrospective methods are used after a safety incident occurs. For instance, root cause analysis is a common technique that companies use to determine what went wrong.
By identifying the root cause of a problem, organizations are in a better position to institute safety-related changes. However, most companies generally focus on prospective risk detection.
This reduces the risk of any major safety incidents and ensures that the company takes all relevant steps for the safety of its workforce.
How to Improve Risk Detection with AI-Powered Safety Software
Companies can improve risk detection with the help of AI-powered safety software. It’s impossible for organizations to regularly monitor and record all safety events in the workplace.
Instead, by connecting AI software to their existing CCTV network, they can get a better understanding of the performance of safety protocols.
Capitalizing on AI for Enhanced Risk Detection and Monitoring
The AI software automatically flags safety events and records them for viewing by management later. It also gathers important analytics that improve decision-making and help companies better understand risks in the workplace.
Integrating PPE detection technology into these systems ensures that all employees are properly equipped, reducing the risk of accidents due to non-compliance with safety gear requirements.
Using Machine Learning for Continuous Risk Analysis
AI safety technologies regularly learn from user behavior, and with the help of machine learning, their accuracy continues to improve. This reduces false positives and enhances the precision of risk detection over time.
Defining Custom Safety Rules and Controls
You can even define custom safety rules that you want employees to follow. This level of customization helps tailor the system to specific internal controls and potential risks relevant to your organization.
Data-Driven Insights for Better Risk Management
With data-driven insights and reports, management is capable of making better decisions related to the safety of its employees. These insights contribute to proactive risk management and ongoing risk monitoring efforts.
Use Protex AI to Detect Risks and Improve Employee Safety
Protex AI is a robust AI solution that autonomously captures safety events based on the rules you input. It connects to your existing CCTV camera network and automatically captures any safety events.
Apart from simply capturing safety events, the software also helps managers prepare detailed safety audit reports. The analytical information that it gathers can be used by companies to detect risks, account for hazards, and review overall safety performance.