For any of us that have worked in a manufacturing environment, we have witnessed many levels of automation that have helped improve worker safety, whether it’s a conveyor belt, a lifting table, or a robot-welding cell.
These improvements over the decades since the industrial revolution have reduced repetitive strain injuries, exposure to workplace chemicals, and have taken away some truly unpleasant manual jobs. Will today’s technological advancement of AI, Machine Learning, and sophisticated robots continue to improve workplace health and safety?
Many individuals say they will.
Here is an article that says collaborating robots can reduce lost time injuries by 35 percent. This is a significant decrease to WCB costs as well as to workers’ suffering. However, many HR professionals have never heard of this term “collaborative robots” or “Cobots.” Here is the overview of the definition a collaborating robot. According to WHATIS.com, a Cobot is:
“A robot that is capable of learning multiple tasks so it can assist human beings. In contrast; autonomous robots are hard-coded to repeatedly perform one task, work independently and remain stationary.”
Cobots can work alongside humans and have the ability to scan their environment and learn by demonstration and repetition. This could be very helpful in the homecare setting for a Personal Support Worker or RN. They could bring a Cobot with them to the home visit and the Cobot could do the heavy work of lifting or transferring the non-ambulatory patient, thus reducing the risk of a lifting injury to the caregiver. On the other hand, a construction worker could give the Cobot all the work above a certain height. These technological interventions could drastically reduce work-related injuries.
Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) and working robots make the workplace safer? This is an interesting question to ponder. For centuries automation and robotics have had a positive effect at reducing workplace injuries while increasing efficiency, but will robots that are AI enabled help workers reduce human errors?
Discussion Questions
Read the article Brave new world from OHS Canada, click here to read the article.
What does the article say about Risk Management and AI?
What solutions does the article state to avoid malfunction of AI Robots?
What does the article say about introducing AI Robots into the workplace?