According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2019, slips, trips, and falls accounted for 880 workplace fatalities, representing 17.4% of all fatal occupational injuries. In addition, slips, trips, and falls also accounted for approximately 244,000 nonfatal workplace injuries involving days away from work.
According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), Slips and falls account for more than 8 million emergency hospital visits.
If these statistics are not enough to generate a pressing need for slip and fall prevention, let’s look at some other astonishing figures;
The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index 2022 indicates that workplace injury and illnesses cost related to slips, trips and falls was over $11 billion, which was around 20% of the total compensation cost to businesses. Not only this, companies also have to account for the number of days missed by any worker for treating the injury, which further costs millions in lost productivity and higher insurance costs. More surprisingly, the average cost of a slip and fall injury is around $20,000.
These alarming statistics about slips, trips and fall incidents reveal the significant financial burdens for employers, as well as the threats they pose to employee safety and overall workplace productivity.
Slips, Trips and Falls are very common and apply to every industry.
As per Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Slips and Falls have been identified as one of the leading causes of workers’ compensation claims and occupational injury for workers. Slip and fall accidents are not limited to specific industries and can occur in any workplace.
However, OSHA admits that most slip-and-fall accidents that occur in the workplace are avoidable.
AI-powered Computer Vision solutions to help manage Slip and Fall Risks
In today’s fast-paced world, where technology plays a crucial role in various aspects of our lives, it comes as no surprise that innovative solutions for addressing safety are the way to go. One such area is slip and fall prevention, where computer vision solutions have emerged as a game-changer.
With object detection techniques, computer vision algorithms can locate instances of objects in video feeds. For instance, they can detect spilled liquids, loose floor coverings, loose cables or any other objects obstructing walkways.
VisionAI toolkit from Visionify that has over 60 scenarios, works as a comprehensive solution that helps in creating safer workplaces and a more compliant workplace. Vision AI powered solution is revolutionizing safety measures by detecting potential slip and fall hazards, significantly helping to prevent accidents and mitigate risks. Effortlessly installed with the existing camera infrastructure, Visionify’s Vision AI solutions enable automated monitoring and analysis of environmental conditions. This technology detects the hazards associated with slips, trips and falls and alerts security personnel in real-time.
Let’s understand the several ways the technology can help in slip and fall prevention:
Real-time Monitoring: Vision AI algorithms enable the implementation of real-time monitoring systems that constantly scan and analyze the environment for potential hazards. The algorithm analyzes live video feeds from surveillance cameras to detect slip and fall incidents, such as hallways, staircases, or entranceways and detects various factors contributing to slip and fall accidents, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, obstacles, or cluttered pathways.
In addition, surface analysis helps them to analyze the characteristics of different surfaces, such as flooring materials, to assess their slipperiness. The system can identify potentially hazardous surfaces requiring maintenance or modification by examining texture, reflectivity, or friction coefficient. These algorithms can also monitor environmental factors contributing to slip and fall incidents, such as poor lighting, wet floors, or uneven surfaces.
By continuously monitoring the environment, computer vision systems can identify hazardous conditions in their early stages, allowing for immediate intervention. Once a hazard is identified, the system can promptly send alerts to relevant personnel, enabling swift action to prevent accidents before they occur.
Fall Detection: Computer vision algorithms can recognize human postures and movements to detect potential falls in real time. By analyzing body positions, trajectories, or abnormal motions, the system can identify when an individual is at risk of falling and trigger alerts to prevent or mitigate accidents.
Data-driven Insights for Risk Assessment: With the help of Computer Vision and Deep Learning technology, organizations can collect and analyze vast amounts of data related to slip and fall incidents. This data can provide valuable insights into the root causes, hotspots/ prone areas, frequency and patterns of accidents. Organizations can implement preventive measures tailored to their specific environment by understanding the underlying factors contributing to these incidents. These measures can range from improving lighting conditions, optimizing cleaning schedules, enhancing floor traction, or redesigning spaces to minimize hazards.
Proactive Maintenance and Preventive Measures: Computer vision solutions can aid in proactive maintenance efforts by continuously monitoring the condition of infrastructure, such as floors, stairs, or walkways. By detecting signs of wear, cracks, or loose tiles, the system can alert maintenance teams to address these issues promptly. Proactive maintenance not only prevents accidents but also extends the lifespan of infrastructure, leading to cost savings for organizations in the long run.
Slip and fall accidents can have severe consequences, both in terms of human well-being and financial implications for organizations. The application of computer vision solutions in slip and fall prevention is proving to be a transformative approach to enhancing safety measures. By enabling real-time monitoring, early detection of hazardous conditions, data-driven risk assessment, and proactive maintenance, computer vision technology offers a comprehensive solution to mitigate slip and fall risks. Embracing these advancements will not only reduce workplace accidents but also create safer environments for individuals to thrive.
Visit Visionify if you want to know more about Slip and fall Prevention and other solutions for Workplace Safety and Compliance.
