5-5. Improving Efficiency in Equipment Inspection and Safety with Drones

The use of drones for facility inspections is gaining attention as a powerful tool in EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) management, as it simultaneously improves efficiency and ensures safety. Conventional facility inspections often require workers to operate at heights or enter hazardous areas, posing risks such as falls or exposure to harmful substances. However, by using drones, companies can perform quick and accurate inspections while significantly reducing risks for their workers.

1. Benefits of Drone Inspections

Equipped with high-resolution cameras and infrared sensors, drones can easily inspect hard-to-reach areas such as factory rooftops, chimneys, pipes, and tanks. This eliminates the need for scaffolding or aerial work platforms, leading to significant reductions in labor costs and time. Additionally, because drones can perform wide-area aerial monitoring, they are useful for assessing the overall condition and environmental impact of an entire facility.

2. Contribution to Safety

Using drones has a major impact on preventing workplace accidents. By reducing the need for employees to work at heights or in confined spaces, companies can avoid the risks of falls and asphyxiation. Drones with gas detection capabilities can also help with the early discovery of harmful gas leaks or explosion risks, thereby improving a company's emergency response capabilities.

3. Steps for Practical Implementation

When implementing drone inspections, the first step is to clearly define the target facilities and inspection objectives. From there, select the necessary camera and sensor capabilities and design flight paths. By linking the inspection data with AI and image analysis software, companies can automate the detection of deterioration or anomalies and streamline report creation. It is also essential to comply with aviation laws and regulations and to ensure that drone operators are properly certified and that internal company rules are in place.

4. Maximizing the Benefits

Drone inspections are more than just a labor-saving tool; they contribute to preventive maintenance and the advancement of facility management. By accumulating data from regular flights, companies can analyze long-term deterioration trends and proactively prevent unexpected equipment shutdowns. Furthermore, using this data in EHS reports and sustainability disclosures can improve trust with investors and stakeholders.

Conclusion

Using drones for facility inspections is a practical solution that enhances both safety and efficiency, advancing EHS management. It is expected that the adoption of drones will continue to expand, especially because they reduce the risks associated with working at heights and in hazardous areas, which directly leads to cost reduction and increased corporate value.