Connected working reduces risk and boosts productivity

Gas detection wearables can provide the visibility and data-driven insights to help create adaptable, proactive safety programmes, and establish cultures of behaviour-based safety

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WE live in a connected world, with smart devices and technology everywhere. But this connectivity is not as common in the workplace where safety should be a priority. A high number of workplace injuries and related costs remain virtually unchanged, year on year.

The statistics speak for themselves; on average, 2.3 million workers die from work related accidents or diseases globally each year, and an additional 340 million suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents.

Add to this the fact that 80 per cent of serious injuries and accidents can be attributed to human error and less than 40 per cent of the global workforce is protected in case of accidents and illnesses at work, and the need for improved workplace safety becomes very real.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, despite rapid modernisation and industrial investment, workplace safety remains a challenge.

In 2023 alone, the Saudi General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) reported over 38,000 occupational injuries, with the majority occurring in the construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas sectors - industries central to Vision 2030.

Many of these incidents were linked to gaps in hazard detection, equipment tracking, and real-time response, highlighting the urgent need for connected safety solutions that offer greater visibility, faster response times, and reduced reliance on manual processes.

The message is clear. While the world has embraced smart technology in everyday life, it's time for our safety practices to catch up and that starts with bringing connection to the frontline.

IMPROVING SAFETY WITH TECHNOLOGY

While PPE has not traditionally had the capability to help prevent human error, the latest safety innovations that compliment PPE - such as gas detection wearables - can provide the visibility and data-driven insights to help create adaptable, proactive safety programmes, and establish cultures of behaviour-based safety.