BOCA RATON, Fla. — When implementing safety technology, the relationship between employers, technology providers and workers' compensation insurers is “critical to success,” according to the National Council on Accident Compensation Insurance.
NCCI recently released the third installment of its series on workplace safety technology, a report based on interviews with three employers who have implemented innovative safety technologies, including wearables and artificial intelligence-assisted cameras/computer vision.
According to the report, employee buy-in to technology use can be achieved through education and transparency. Other findings include:
- Employers’ use of safety technology has resulted in increased productivity and efficiency.
- Safety technology can be an effective tool for remote, real-time monitoring of multiple locations.
- While the use of a single safety technique may not address every hazard or unsafe practice in the workplace, it can be another tool in creating a culture of safety.
- At least one employer noted that knowing how to interpret and use data collected from safety technology is a potential stumbling block.
- The cost of the product wasn't necessarily a barrier to adoption.
“Whether safety technology will be a 'game changer' for the workers' compensation system remains to be seen, but as one employer noted, 'people who care about themselves and their culture will be the game changer,'” the report said.
