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Tech and Innovation: The Future Of Workplace Safety Training
OHS Training Tech and Innovation
When considering some of the biggest challenges facing organizations that seek to provide more occupational health and safety training, many of them can be directly addressed through technology innovations that are already being implemented in the industry.
Innovations in AI
Over the past few years, AI usage and innovation have grown exponentially across every industry. From 2023 to 2030, AI is expected to achieve a 37.3 percent growth rate annually. AI’s strongest potential in safety training is related to personalizing education in relation to each individual employee and role. Everyone has different learning preferences, but it has historically been impossible to tailor training for each individual, due to the expense and time needed.
However, AI is unlocking new opportunities in terms of personalization, using machine learning and predictive analytics to tailor learning programs to an individual’s style, pace and preferences. Custom learning is already being incorporated into some classrooms and, as it develops, will become more feasible for workplace safety training options.
Innovations in AR and VR
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) tools are creating more accessible learning modules for safety training. One of the biggest challenges with safety training relates to both timing and finding trusted providers. Safety training, especially that required for specialized certifications, is often required to be in-person and completed within a certain time period. AR training modules address this challenge by allowing workers to experience a hands-on simulated environment without the need for concurrent training with other coworkers in person.
With certain wearable tech, equipped with downloadable modules, companies are going to be able to equip their employees with more efficient and more common safety training over the next few years. These tools can also help employees assess unsafe situations in a controlled environment where they are not experiencing the situation themselves, which can further help their learning. While these innovations are slowly being introduced into safety training, it is likely to become more common as demand increases and costs decrease.