The past several years have witnessed major shifts in workplace safety, with employers and providers embracing technology-based solutions more than ever before. Traditional fields such as ergonomics, pain relief therapy, and fatigue management have merged with data science, blurring the lines between established safety tools and fast-evolving fields like live data collection, analysis, software, and even artificial intelligence (AI). As data becomes increasingly central to how employers develop and improve their safety programming, safety professionals are discovering a wide array of opportunities to enhance worker outcomes, promising a safer work environment and a stronger bottom line.
Forward-thinking employers and their safety leaders have been anticipating emerging technologies for many years, looking for ways to integrate new concepts into existing frameworks. In particular, the Total Worker Health™ approach developed by NIOSH provides numerous opportunities for analyzing and improving worker safety across all facets of the employee’s experience, from the hiring process to biomechanics training, live coaching, and ergonomic upgrades to workstations and facilities. Launching a safety program from such a holistic, wide-angle perspective makes it easier for employers to identify areas for tech integration, which have already taken off in high-risk industries across all sectors of the economy.
Existing technologies are paving the way for this data-enhanced future. From fatigue monitoring tech, wearable devices, and exoskeletons to desktop ergonomics software and custom video-based training programs, employers have learned that integrating technology wherever possible can elevate safety outcomes and improve ROI. Now, with observation tools and AI-based analytics rapidly maturing, those solutions are gaining the advantage of deep, broad datasets that show safety leaders exactly how, where, and when new interventions are required.
In this episode of the DORN Injury Prevention Academy Podcast, host Cheryl Roy sits down with Lisa Krefft (MscLaw, OTR/L,OHP), Senior Advisor on Human Performance at 3MotionAI in Chicago. Lisa’s 25 years of experience in health and safety consulting, combined with her extensive background in entrepreneurship, data science, and artificial intelligence, has made her a foremost expert in the realm of technology in workplace safety programs and a widely recognized thought leader in occupational health and safety.
This podcast covers:
- The growing role of data science, analytics, and AI in enhancing holistic workplace safety programs
- How providers can balance the benefits of technology with direct interaction with workers
- Examples of how technology like AI is already changing how safety professionals analyze and improve their safety programs
Watch the DORN Injury Prevention Academy Podcast on YouTube and subscribe to the DORN Companies channel for more insider content from the world of workplace safety.
