‍Beyond Compliance: A story on how AI ensures proper PPE use for employee safety!

This blog narrates a fictional representation of the experiences of safety managers Colin and Rachel at different manufacturing companies. 

It introduces how Rachel proactively uses real-time artificial intelligence to monitor and improve workplace safety through tracking PPE usage, identifying unsafe incidents, and fostering constructive conversations with workers.

Compliance Confusion - Are Traditional PPE Practices Enough?

Colin and Rachel are safety managers at different manufacturing companies. At a networking event they listen to a speaker describing regulator actions against companies for providing the wrong safety equipment, or for not making sure that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was being worn. After the talk, they chatted about the implications over coffee. 

Challenges in Ensuring Proper PPE Usage

Colin, from company A, admitted to being confused about what to do now. He thought he was compliant. He had identified a long list of potential hazards which employees might be exposed to. 

Noise, airborne dusts, vehicles, sharp edges, falling objects, underfoot sharps. Colin provided a kit of PPE to cover these hazards – hearing protection, dust masks, high vis jackets, gloves and safety shoes. 

He had asked each worker to sign a document to say they will wear it all the time. Wasn’t that enough for safety compliance? The speaker at the event suggested not.

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Moving Beyond Compliance - Proactive PPE Monitoring Using AI

At company B, Rachel started with a similar hazard analysis. But she looked first to see if there were better ways of reducing the hazards. Vehicle and pedestrian routes were planned to keep workers and vehicles apart where possible. 

Ventilation was improved and some processes were enclosed to reduce airborne dust. Machinery was used to reduce handling of certain objects.

Enhancing PPE Compliance with AI Tools

For the residual hazards, company B still needed PPE. But Rachel looked at the activities in each location. Masks were more difficult to wear for long periods, so work rotas were modified. Rachel Identified two different levels of hearing protection that were needed. 

The noise levels were lower in the one area where she couldn’t exclude vehicles from pedestrian areas, so it was important that hearing wasn’t overprotected, as people might not hear the vehicles.

Engaging Workers for Effective Safety Solutions

Initially there had been confusion over what PPE to wear in each area, but careful PPE monitoring had identified the high risk areas, and discussions with the frontline workers resulted in some great suggestions about storage and color-coding of PPE. 

Picking up where people committed PPE violations led to conversations about the difficulty of wearing certain protective gear like masks with ear muffs for the higher noise area, and of wearing gloves when machines needed to be reset. 

A group of workers trialed some alternatives, and were now happy with the options available, the better-fitting hard hats and safety goggles for more comfort and compliance were especially popular.

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The Power of Vision AI Systems

“But” said Colin “how do you have the time to find out all these things about how people are using the PPE, or where they are walking?”

“I have an extra set of eyes working for me,” Rachel explained, “one that never tires, and can be in many places at once, giving me full visibility into my workplace safety monitoring needs!” 

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AI-Powered PPE Detection Systems

Colin wanted to know more, so Rachel enthusiastically shared her experience with Protex AI, an innovative solution using AI-powered software that had revolutionized their safety practices. 

This computer vision software seamlessly connects to their existing CCTV cameras, efficiently processes and stores the data on-site, and autonomously captures any unsafe incidents. 

“Such computer vision systems are becoming essential for EHS professionals looking to improve safety compliance monitoring and reduce workplace injuries.” Rachel continued.

Data-Driven Safety Improvements 

Using AI safety technologies to enhance her safety practices allowed Rachel to implement corrective actions, develop training programmes and carry out beneficial conversations with the workforce about safety.

“Using this AI safety system helped me to plan improvements to my traffic and pedestrian routes by tracking every time someone walked near a vehicle route, or when a vehicle passed near an area someone might be working. 

Our high-noise hearing protection is red, and the lower-noise hearing protection is yellow, so the AI system can show whether the wrong sort has been worn. 

It was the system that showed when gloves weren’t being worn – but it was the workers who had all the best ideas about how to fix the problems. We’re a big team – me, the workers and Protex AI.”

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We’re Here to Help

Ensure your team’s safety and compliance with Protex AI’s real-time PPE detection solutions. See how our technology addresses safety challenges and fosters a proactive safety culture, watch our demo today.

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