Job safety risks have given rise to numerous creative solutions over the years. Recently, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recognized innovative approaches to improving job safety.
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The society’s 2017 Award for Innovation in Occupational Safety Management went to a safety professional at a petroleum and gas company. She developed a system that alerts drivers in real time to high-risk behaviors and biometric levels. Known as Intellisense, the innovation incorporates science and engineering principles, human-computer interface technology, and behavior change to reduce traffic accidents.
Four honorable mentions were awarded as well:
- A mobile slip simulator teaches people how to navigate slippery surfaces. The first-of-its-kind mobile learning laboratory is equipped with a slippery walkway, unique shoe covers, mirror, and monitor for instance feedback. The unit exposes workers to slip-and-fall techniques in a cost-effective manner.
- A peer-to-peer ergonomics program empowers automobile production workers to make positive change and reduce risk. Program elements including training, coaching, and mentoring led to a 36 percent reduction in musculoskeletal disorders at a Honda manufacturing plant.
- A module lift pulls 45-pound solar modules up a ladder to workers on top of a roof, avoiding manual lifting. The device has a self-locking brake to prevent the pieces from crashing down.
- A dry ice block loading project uses a combination of off-the-shelf components and custom-designed equipment to safely load dry ice blocks into shipping containers. The innovation shifts the physical burden from the operator to the equipment.