SafetyTech News | Issue 038

This is SafetyTech News Issue 038 full of the latest news at the intersection where safety and technology meet at the cutting edge - I'm you ed. Cam Stevens let's dive straight...

Forming a view: a human factors case study of augmented reality collaboration in assembly

Advanced technology adoption is changing how we work. Supporting greater flexibility, agility, and efficiency through digitally connected processes. Research on AR technologies is expanding, driving industry interest and re-imagining human work - this latest research from Valerie O'Keeffe and her team is the latest addition to this growing body of knowledge.

With responsible innovation - people remain central to future work; technology augments their capabilities to ensure consistent quality and enhanced safety. Realising this potential requires testing new technologies with systematic, human-centric approaches. This study focused on augmented reality devices and their application in heavy industry. Despite challenges, the findings show high levels of technology acceptance and motivation in the industrial workforce, with the potential to enrich work and promote learning opportunities.

Valerie wrote on her LinkedIn:

Delighted to share our newest paper... It's a case study describing using augmented-reality head mounted technology to guide shipbuilders through an electrical assembly task, then inspecting the work using a collaborative robot fitted with computer vision technology. Findings show the AR headset to be a potentially useful vehicle for integrating multiple technologies without extra burden for end-users. This may help reduce training time, costs and assist in upskilling manufacturing workers, with benefits for overcoming workforce skill shortages. The study took place at the Osborne shipyard with the support of our partner BAE Systems Australia Maritime via Evangelos Lambrinos .

Read the article here:

If you are experimenting with augmented reality in the enterprise this is a great resource that has recently been updated.

AR Safety Infographic

The?Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance ?has recently announced the latest version of the AR Safety Infographic , a tool that explores the benefits and potential safety risks of using AR in the workplace. By carefully considering safety before deploying AR solutions, organizations may be able to avoid issues before they occur.

I was heavily involved with the AREA safety committee during my time at RealWear and Lenovo and contributed to the AR Safety Playbook and early revisions of the first AR Safety Infographic so it's a real delight to see this evolve.

Each section of the AR Safety Infographic contains the benefits and challenges of using AR and includes a summary to the left when it is clicked on. There is also a detailed page for the section when clicking the ‘LEARN MORE’ button to help you understand the benefits and potential risks and how to manage them.

The sections include:

AR Experience – integrates the digital and physical worlds seamlessly, and any interactions should feel like you are interacting within a real-world environment.

Cognition – Effective use of technology-based environments and augmented reality reduces cognitive load by scaffolding information and lessons’ contents

Sensory – Engaging in immersive experiences can offer many benefits, catering to personal growth, entertainment, education, and even therapeutic purposes.

Environmental – Augmented Reality has all the trapping to encourage sustainability in the energy sector; AR is being used to power renewable energy systems by providing a more detailed understanding of energy sources and their potential.

Physical – The most prevalent benefit is the AR headset experience, enabling users to see their physical surroundings while interacting with virtual assets. This allows not only safety for the user by seeing their surroundings but also mobility.

Devices & Accessories – Augmented Reality Devices encompass various hardware, each offering unique immersive experiences.

Download the infographic here:

AI x H&S Compliance

Philip N. , Associate at law firm, Pinsent Masons , and Karl Simons OBE , Chief Futurist at technology firm, FYLD , delve into the potential impact innovative technologies can have on H&S management and legislative compliance thanks to SHP - Health and Safety News

ThinkSafe News

ThinkSafe (note the name change from Thinksafe NZ as they focus their sights globally) have recently announces a significant enhancement to their web portal: the introduction of multilingual support and the innovative USERLANG() function. Founder Andrew Burns talked to SafeytTech News how these features are designed to revolutionise how health and safety professionals engage with their technology across the globe.

With our new multilingual capabilities, ThinkSafe is now more accessible than ever, allowing users from diverse linguistic backgrounds to navigate our platform in their language of choice. This development is critical for fostering a truly inclusive digital environment. The USERLANG() function is particularly transformative for the health and safety sector. Whether you're conducting safety audits, risk assessments, or managing compliance across different regions, our function ensures that all forms and communications are automatically adapted to the user's preferred language. This means clearer understanding, better compliance with local regulations, and ultimately, enhanced safety outcomes. For example, a safety inspector in Germany can receive and submit forms in German, while their counterparts in Spain can do the same in Spanish, all within the same system. This feature not only simplifies procedures but also ensures that every piece of communication is as effective and compliant as possible. We're proud to make these tools available, propelling ThinkSafe into a new era of connectivity and user-centric design.

Learn more here www.thinksafe.co.nz

Understanding 42001

Standards Australia in collaboration with CSIRO 's National AI Centre have recently released: “Understanding 42001.” This comprehensive document sheds light on the critical aspects of AI management system standards and their impact on Australian organisations and the broader community. The report covers

• Background and information about 42001
• The benefits of the standard
• Why we need AI standards in Australia

Read the full report here

Health & Safety Conversations with Tom Bourne + Cam Stevens

The fabulous 汤姆 hosted me on his podcast to have a chat about the things I love most - data, technology and innovation and their role improving WHS. I hope you find it valuable...

NSC MSD Solutions Lab - Call for applications

Last year I had the immense privilege of facilitating the Safety Innovation Challenge on stage at the National Safety Council Congress in New Orleans. This year the biggest event on the NSC calendar is in Orlando and they are actively seeking contributions to the MSD Solutions Lab.

This MSD Safety Innovation Challenge will raise awareness about the risks of MSDs and showcase technologies that promote workplace safety to help reduce repetitive motion, awkward positions and forceful exertion. Apply today to be a part of the expo https://lnkd.in/gBQp-Paz . Contact [email protected] for further questions.

Soter News

The team at Soter have been busy iterating and improving their latest offering #SoterGenius - with ongoing plans for integrating it with #SoterTask and the rest of the Soter dashboard and existing wearable solution #SoterCoach.?

Matthew Hart is in Perth tomorrow - I'll be there; register and come along.

Check out their recent webinar hosted by SoterGenius product manager Dr. Mike Goetsch

These Soter Analytics insights were provided to SafetyTech News via direct email - if you have insights and news you'd like featured be sure to connect with Cam Stevens directly for inclusion in future issues. Thanks Ashleigh A. for taking the time to provide insider news from Soter.

Exo News with Karl Zelik

Karl Zelik shared these three exo-related articles for SafetyTech News - thanks Karl!

1 A first-of-a-kind exo ROI case study assessing impacts of exosuits on both productivity and worker well-being in logistics:

2 Overview and primer on the current state of occupational exos (covering little-known facts and common myths, and certainly the best summary of emerging exo tech )

3 An interesting case study on the implementation and usability of exoskeletons in the meat processing industry:

Blood Collection XR Trial

The Australian Red Cross recently conducted a trial of mixed reality devices during blood donation.

The headset served as a super-distraction tool. Donors found themselves immersed in a world of colourful flowers, effectively diverting their attention away from the donation process, while still being aware of their surroundings.

Learn more here - thanks to regular blood donor and great friend Dean Pettit for sharing...

Event News

It's very pleasing to see so many #safetytech events happening around the world - here's a selection; if you are hosting an event make sure to DM Cam Stevens to get your event listed in future issues of SafetyTech News.

EHS Congress Berlin is this week

The EHS Congress kicks off in Berlin tomorrow for Day 0 workshops - if you're there may sure you say hello to the Siemens EHS team. If you'd like to watch the event via livestream check it out here:

Protex AI at Dublin Tech Summit

Protex AI 's Ciarán O'Mara will be on a panel at Dublin Tech Summit later this month... more here:

NSC Workplace Safety Summit: Harnessing Innovation and Collaboration

The National Safety Council is hosting a complementary webinar on June 13th. Register here

AI at Work | Sydney

Curious about harnessing AI's power? ????The Australian National AI Centre is hosting a free 'AI at Work' event on May 22nd, Sydney: Attendees will gain insights into how AI enhances processes and boosts business resilience with:

? Expert panel discussions

? AI adoption and management case studies

? An AI prompt engineering workshop

Over 20 Australian AI providers will demonstrate their services and products, with solutions catering to a broad spectrum of industries.

Australian Robotics Roadmap 2025 | Roundtable forums | Online

Are you keen to contribute to the next version of Australia's Robotics Roadmap?Roundtables (in the form of webinars) will be starting in June - I'm registered for the Ethics, Trust & Safety Workshop scheduled for 6th June.

Details here:

Anticipate London | Call For Speakers

The OG Safety & Health Expo is now Anticipate London , a world-leading event that combined the facilities show, FIREX, IFSEC and the safety and health expo - attended by 20,000+ professionals. They are taking applications to speak until Monday, 29 July 2024. Submit your application here: https://lnkd.in/d-6YpHaG.For any inquiries or additional information, please reach out to Joanna Tanner and Rhianna Sexton .

Would be great to see some #SafetyTech & #SafetyInnovation topics on the speaking agenda.

And last up... this one is for Health and Safety Leaders who can make it to Perth on 13th June for a 1/2 day workshop on #SafetyTech - I'm excited to share learnings for how to get started integrating technology, data and innovation to improve WHS risk management. My personal guarantee that this will be super valuable and worth waaaaay more than the $ investment.

Registration: Perth SafetyTech Workshop

And that's it for this issue so until next time...

Be Safe & Stay Curious

'Cam Stevens