How Robotics Is Creating a Safer, More Inclusive Work Environment

Robotics has become more accessible to businesses over the last several years. This is not just a matter of affordability of tech, but also increasing user-friendliness. One of the results of this is that businesses are exploring various ways in which robots can improve workplace operations. Among the key applications of this is making a more inclusive and safe work environment. 

As with so many forms of industrial technology, robotics is not a single tool with one safety outcome. It has multifaceted applications and companies are using them to improve worker well-being in a range of ways. Let’s dive a little deeper into how businesses can and do use robotics to make a positive impact in this area.

Reducing Accidents

Reducing the potential for accidents isn’t just a legal and ethical obligation for businesses. Workplace safety tends to elevate worker morale, too. When employees feel there’s a strong safety culture, they tend to feel both more secure and satisfied in their jobs. There are various strategies to create this culture, from solid risk assessment to regular training. However, one of the most effective is to introduce technology that helps workers stay safe, compliant, and productive.

This is where robotics is making a significant difference. Firstly, in many workplaces, machines create a certain amount of distance between human workers and hazardous materials or circumstances. These can be autonomous systems that are used to perform fine tasks quickly, such as Delta robots that handle pharmaceuticals. They can also be collaborative robots (cobots). Skilled workers can utilize articulated arms and other machines remotely so as not to put humans in unnecessary danger.

Importantly, contemporary robotics can also help to direct ongoing safety improvements. Sensors both within industry robots and in the wider Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can gather data about the working environment, condition of equipment, and worker activity. Artificial intelligence (AI) driven software can then analyze this data. It doesn’t just highlight the potential safety issues in the current production process, but it can also use machine learning algorithms to make predictions about machine failure or potential future hazards. This enables managers to arrange for preventative maintenance and additional protective measures long before accidents can arise.

Supporting Inclusivity

Each worker has different needs and challenges. Some may have physical or mobility difficulties that affect how they navigate the workplace. Others may have neurodivergent traits and find elements such as excessive noise or other stimuli to be overwhelming and stressful. Recognizing different needs and committing to supporting workers with accommodations is a key component of workplace inclusivity. In addition to making a more welcoming, positive space for employees, this also opens businesses up to more diverse workforces that use their perspectives to contribute to innovation. 

Robots are continuing to prove a great resource for workplace inclusivity. This largely takes the form of cobots that don’t necessarily take over workers’ duties but provide support for them. For instance, in construction environments, robotic exosuits and support limbs are helping reduce the strain experienced from lifting heavy loads. This is a powerful inclusivity tool for those who may live with musculoskeletal conditions or suffer from chronic pain.

Some robots are empowering older workers to perform at work despite the natural physical challenges that can come with aging. CO-ADAPT is an Adaptive Assembly System (AAS) project funded by the European Union (EU) to support workers on assembly lines. The workstation itself adjusts to fit the height and lighting levels required for individual workers. It also utilizes wearable technology to monitor the worker’s stress levels so that this data can be used by businesses to identify where additional physical or cognitive support may be needed.

Creating a Healthier Environment

The spaces people work in and around influence their well-being. Exposure to fumes and other poor environmental conditions in industrial spaces can be particularly detrimental to wellness. Even prolonged exposure to noise can, over time, cause health issues. Mitigating these potentially harmful environmental conditions is another way robots are now helping businesses and their employees.

For instance, in large industrial and manufacturing facilities that produce toxic byproducts, keeping track of air quality is usually performed by multiple static monitoring systems. However, in recent years, a growing range of mobile air quality monitoring robotic units has emerged. These take the form of both wheeled ground robots and airborne drones. They roam the property utilizing sensors to collect nuanced data on air quality. The robots can send this to data analytics software platforms that use 3D maps and algorithms. The software then provides business leaders with up-to-date information about pollution levels and changes in exposure risks. 

It’s also important to look at business’ impacts on the wider community. Adopting automation can help keep the environment healthy in various ways. Automated tools — whether smart production robots or smart thermostats — tend to boost efficiency and reduce energy waste. This is because they can autonomously respond to conditions and needs, and remove the potential disruptions caused by human error.

Further, optimizing transportation routes with automated fleet management software also tends to reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions. This contributes not just to workers’ well-being, but also that of their families. The benefits for businesses here go beyond boosting wellness. This demonstration of care can also bolster the company’s reputation in the community, affecting consumer loyalty and strengthening local relationships. 

Conclusion

As robotics continues to develop and become more accessible, the opportunities for its use in workplace safety and inclusivity grow. Machines are useful for everything from directly minimizing workplace accidents to supporting talented workers who face physical challenges. 

As with any investment, businesses need to be mindful that this tech is geared toward empowering workers, rather than replacing them. This human-first approach is ethical, and it helps companies make decisions that enhance their access to talented employees and build relationships that are beneficial for everyone involved.