With the pandemic changing the way many small businesses operate, the need for cost efficiencies has never been greater. And with team members working remotely, yet employee health and wellness a big priority, taking advantage of technological innovation in workplace safety tools is a smart move that can help SMEs minimise risk exposure, promote employee wellbeing and reduce unnecessary spend.
Wearable technology and AI-driven training are both key areas reshaping how small businesses can implement workplace safety quickly and at a lower cost, through the delivery of virtual face-to-face training.
How does it work, you ask? By using risk identification and a behavioural change loop, AI training coupled with wearable technology sensors record worker movement patterns, providing valid and reliable live feedback around injury risk. This helps to improve awareness among employees of the procedures they need to follow to remain safe in their workplace.
If you’re a small business needing to implement team health and safety training, but don’t have a big budget, it can really pay to consider moving to a tech-based program.
Here’s how AI-driven training and wearable technology can help drive greater efficiencies for your business:
Saves money on training modules
Building training programs can be an expensive process for SMEs. An AI-based system automatically creates or sources the requisite course content from the internet, extrapolating complex information and presenting it in a format that is easy to comprehend, making it a more efficient and cost-effective option.
Helps to prevent potential fatigue-related accidents
Wearables can help prevent fatigue-related accidents from occurring, potentially eliminating the costs associated with accidents at work. The technology monitors, and alerts users, when an individual has reached a level of fatigue that places them at greater risk of having an accident. This means that small businesses can track potential risks in real-time and provide employees with suggested adjustments to prevent tiredness.
Can double up as a corporate wellness tool, further reducing costs
Off the back of the lockdown which has seen most of Australia working from home for the last six months, we built and launched a posture-monitoring product, named Office Coach, that utilises a single back sensor (for manual handling, an arm sensor is also used). With many workers experiencing back pain with the new COVID-impacted working arrangements, this feature enables small businesses to help reduce risks associated with sustained posture, with users receiving live alerts throughout the workday to drive behaviour change.
By using wearables and AI, small businesses can ensure accidents are prevented and policies are adhered to as much as possible, cutting out expensive training fees and delivering a more innovative and budget-friendly approach to health and safety.
Scott Coleman, Founder and CEO, Preventure
