Workplace incidents are on the rise across industries, whether it is due to unexpected accidents or occupational diseases stemming from the nature of the work. In 2023 injury and illness reports provided by OSHA showed 825 deaths and 1,352,074 non-fatal injuries with issues such as skin disorders, respiratory conditions, or hearing losses joining the list.
Traditional incident reporting methods often rely on manual processes—paper forms, phone calls, and face-to-face reporting. These systems are time-consuming and prone to errors, which can delay response times and overlook critical safety hazards.
The amount of time taken to report a worker exhibiting respiratory issues at work can determine the severity of his condition in the upcoming time. With human surveillance such minute details are often difficult to note but by using AI for workplace safety, the response time can be minimal.
What is the role of an AI-Powered Incident Reporting Software?
AI for workplace safety has revolutionized the way incident reports are managed. Take a factory floor accident, for example. Traditionally, a worker would need to manually report the incident, filling out lengthy forms, followed by a time-consuming investigation.
The delay between the incident and the actual report could lead to critical details being missed, affecting both the investigation and future prevention.
In contrast, AI-powered incident reporting software can detect the incident in real-time, automatically generate detailed reports based on the video and audio footage, and alert EHS managers and supervisors immediately. This leads to a faster and more accurate record of the event, ultimately ensuring workplace safety.
AI ensures no detail is missed and provides actionable insights almost instantly. The integration of modern tools such as AI video analytics, computer vision, and Generative AI for workplace safety has added an extra layer of supervision.
But the question here is –
What are the core benefits of using an AI-powered Incident Reporting Software?
viAct’s Incident Reporting Software uses Computer Vision to monitor and report incidents in real time, enhanced by Generative AI for data analysis and insights. From minor safety violations to major accidents, the software transforms how EHS teams handle workplace incidents.
Below are five core benefits that viAct’s Incident Reporting Software offers, allowing organizations to maintain safer, more efficient, and more compliant worksites.
1. Proactive Incident Detection
Incident Reporting Software uses real-time monitoring with computer vision technology that helps the EHS monitoring software to identify any safety breach that can lead to an accident.
Detection of even a small violation such as the helmet being tilted for a worker standing under a cargo being forklifted is instant. More common forms of violations often seen in worksites of different industries are also swiftly detected such as -
Wrong harnessing method
Improper use of safety ropes
Slippery Floors
Unstable equipments
Change in Temperature
Hazardous Gas Leak
Chemical Spills
Worker’s Unsafe Behaviour
Operator Distraction
The power of AI-based Incident Reporting Software is its ability to even record the premises of a near-miss incident with precision. Details such as the temperature, time of the day, number of workers in the surroundings, and the position of the worker, every such detail is recorded for further investigation.
The behavioral analysis of a worker using AI can prevent incidents that might lead to violence, security breaches, and thefts. With an unexpected behavior detected in a worker, for instance, feeling drowsy or extremely tired, any further health deterioration can be prevented.
Another issue that can be pointed out by Incident Reporting Software is the scope for occupational diseases such as the chance of musculoskeletal disorders. For example, in a manufacturing plant, ergonomic assessments can identify workers at risk of repetitive stress injuries.
By flagging these issues early through REBA and RULA ergonomic assessments, companies can prevent long-term harm and improve workplace safety and productivity.
In mobile plant operations such as forklift operations or managing a loading vehicle in a crowded worksite, the operator must pay their full attention to ascertain pedestrian safety. Computer vision for safety allows detection of any distractions such as smoking, talking to others, or using mobile phones and prevents chances of potential collision.
The diverse range of incidents that can be tracked by AI-powered incident reporting software increases the efficiency of using AI for workplace safety.
2. Accurate Estimation of Incident Impact
A key benefit of incident reporting software is its ability to measure the overall impact of incidents. This includes financial, operational, and health-related repercussions. The association of incidents and illnesses at a worksite brings many long-term impacts with it. With the use of AI for workplace safety, these can be addressed with ease.
For instance, in the construction sector, tracking the number of accidents involving forklifts and evaluating their cost in terms of downtime and medical expenses can help businesses understand the true consequences.
While with a traditional EHS monitoring system, this impact analysis could have taken many productive hours, with AI, this response time was significantly reduced to minutes.
3. Data-Driven Corrective Actions
Incident Reporting Software provides insightful data, allowing organizations to create data-based corrective measures. This not only helps resolve existing problems but also prevents future occurrences.
For instance, if frequent slips are recorded in a food & beverage plant, the software can analyze patterns to recommend installing anti-slip flooring in certain areas.
The traditional methods of monitoring involve subjective judgments from the EHS managers for the future actions to be implemented. With an AI-powered EHS monitoring system, the recommendations being made are objective, factual, and effective.
4. Automated Reporting & Auditing for Compliance
One of the most time-saving features is automated incident reporting and auditing. This ensures compliance with regulatory standards, avoiding penalties, and maintaining workplace safety. One tool that plays an essential role in this regard includes Generative AI solutions.
Let’s understand -
How does Gen AI-enabled Incident Reporting Software make a difference in EHS Management?
Generative AI automates the documentation process, creating detailed incident reports without manual intervention. It can also ensure compliance with industry-specific regulations by generating audit-ready reports.
For example, in mining, AI ensures that environmental and safety incidents are documented in line with legal standards, helping to avoid penalties.
Gen AI-enabled Incident Reporting Software can detect incidents through advanced video analytics and sensor data, without relying solely on human reporting. The automated reports are made available in the centralized management platform which is easy to access by the supervisors at any point in time.
This includes receiving important EHS monitoring information in just a click – leading causes of incidents, number of incidents reported, corrective actions taken, and their impact on overall compliance.
The ability of Generative AI solutions to make communication for the safety teams easier impacts the overall incident regulation process.
5. Personalized Training & Preventive Instructions
Continuing the communicative power of Gen AI-enabled Incident Reporting Software, based on the data from incidents, the LLM-based safety chatbot viGent can generate personalized training and instructions for workers.
If a particular task or piece of equipment frequently leads to accidents, the conversational AI could recommend specialized training for those workers handling it. This customized approach ensures workers are not overburdened with generic training that may not apply to them.
As AI continues to evolve, its impact on workplace safety will only grow. By harnessing the power of Computer Vision, Generative AI, and automated incident analysis, safety teams can prevent accidents before they happen and respond faster than ever when they do.
The future of safety is smart, proactive, and data-driven—and viAct is at the forefront of this transformation.
Are you interested in making your worksite safer with
Incident Reporting Software?
Read More
How Computer Vision Transforms SOP Compliance Monitoring
Benefits of an AI-enabled Digital EHS Management System in Manufacturing
Revolutionizing Industry 4.0: The Impact of viAct's Generative AI Chatbots
