How Safety Can Increase Adoption of New Technologies

 

This is merely natural. Humans are hardwired to scrutinize new information. There are several techniques that help ease transitions — introduce something new with something familiar, for example, or have a leader show his commitment to the technology by using it first. But the simplest way we've found to transition employees to new technology is to demonstrate to them how the tech will keep them safe.

 

In a variety of ways, automation and wearables accomplish that goal and more. Our MARK 2, for example, allows for improved attention and focus on tasks, as it is handsfree. What's more, it avoids repetitive stress injuries from pulling on a scangun thousands of times throughout a day.

 

In other examples, vests connected to forklifts could also notify the drivers when someone is in proximity, lessening the number of possible accidents. And using tools to help place packages reduces the risk of a pallet collapsing, as they can place packages in less precarious positions.

 

The examples go on, as new wearables and technologies are emerging constantly to enhance worker safety and productivity. Human-centric design satisfies both of these needs, and puts the employee at the heart of the process; instead of being a person to be replaced, he or she is someone to be empowered.

 

In addition, the advantages of focusing on safety stretch far beyond the introduction of new technologies. In a now-famous story of ALCOA, the aluminum manufacturer, paying attention on safety created a incredible benefit for the company itself. As workers began to think that their safety came first, they cared more deeply about the company and turned in a better product as a result. Problems, once identified, would instantly be slated for improvements — and as the company began to reinvest in its workers, their habits changed and improved. After just a couple of years, ALCOA began to deliver record profits and revenues. The workers lifted the company, which profited from the change.

 

Today, lots of companies feel pressure to innovate. They see the rise of technology companies and the ability for technology to improve bottom lines and profits, but a lot of workers would perceive such arguments as insensitive to their needs and obligations.

 

Actually, the fastest way to get buy-in from men and women on a factory floor is to demonstrate the benefits directly to your employees — that these technologies make good on the promise that they will go home from work in the same conditions they arrived.

 

This article is originally posted on tronserve.com