5-1. Predicting Workplace Accidents with AI: The Future of Safety Management

The evolution of AI technology is bringing about a major transformation in how we prevent workplace accidents and manage safety. While traditional methods have focused on education and safety measures based on past incident reports, AI is enabling a shift toward predictive safety management. This article explains the mechanisms of AI-powered accident prediction, its applications in safety management, and its future prospects.

1. How AI Predicts Workplace Accidents

AI analyzes vast amounts of operational and accident data to identify situations and patterns with a high potential for accidents. For example, it can detect an increased risk in real-time by combining data on worker fatigue levels, hours of operation, equipment maintenance history, and environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and noise. Additionally, image recognition AI can instantly detect safety violations, such as not wearing a helmet or entering a restricted area, and issue immediate warnings.

2. Practical Applications in Safety Management

With AI, safety management can monitor employee behavior and visualize potential hazards. By collecting vital sign data from wearable devices and integrating AI analysis with surveillance cameras, companies can identify abnormalities early and respond immediately. AI-generated risk maps, based on collected data, also enable management and EHS teams to implement strategic safety measures more easily. Furthermore, AI-powered simulations can be used to pre-verify risks before introducing new processes.

3. Future Outlook and Challenges

AI's ability to predict workplace accidents has the potential to fundamentally change safety culture. It is driving a transition from the traditional, reactive approach of responding after an accident to a proactive one of preventing accidents before they happen. However, challenges remain, including ensuring data quality, protecting privacy, and maintaining the transparency of AI algorithms. Ethical considerations, especially regarding the monitoring of employee behavior, are absolutely crucial.

Conclusion

AI-powered accident prediction is a technology that is significantly advancing traditional safety management. Building systems to proactively prevent accidents through data analysis and real-time monitoring will become an essential part of a company's EHS activities. The future holds the promise of a safer, more sustainable workplace achieved through the collaboration of AI and humans.