TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTH AND SAFETY VIDEO STAR Daren Lang at Axis Communications looks at how security camera
technology is enhancing health and safety for staff and employees in a spectrum of industry segments and applications.
Video surveillance technology continues to develop, with today’s cloud-based integrated systems and services being far more powerful and much more useful than the traditional analogue CCTV technologies of the past. In many environments, where the protection of staff and members of the public is paramount, cameras for security purposes are the norm. As technology has progressed, the usefulness of these systems from a health and safety viewpoint, not just for security, is something that can be used to great advantage across industries and sectors.
MONITORING FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY Today’s cameras boast high definition sensors that can capture unprecedented detail. They are network- connected so that captured images can be part of a rich ecosystem of data drawn from many sources, which in the future could be ideal for generating analysis through applications of machine learning
As staff responsible for health and safety, including the Health and Safety Officer, cannot be everywhere at once, the installation of network cameras with remote- monitoring capability allows coverage across multiple sites and working areas, and a more accurate view of how standards of health and safety are being achieved.
In food preparation areas, for example, cameras can be deployed to ensure that surfaces are being cleaned down, hands are thoroughly washed and that staff are following appropriate protocols. Footage can be used to monitor situations in real-time, or for forensic analysis at a later date, to provide further staff training where required, or even to show to a health inspector as proof of good practices.
Edge-based analytics can be employed to monitor for PPE compliance in various environments. Staff can be continuously monitored within restricted areas and alerts raised if appropriate PPE is not being worn or used correctly, ensuring the safety of staff and their environment, and compliance with appropriate regulations.
INCIDENT AND INJURY PREVENTION There are around 158,000 non-fatal work-related injuries reported each year. The intelligent algorithms that can interpret data for security purposes can also be trained to recognise hazards, reducing the risk of injuries and issue alerts to relevant staff to clear any obstacles.
In areas where queuing customers could block entrances and exits, potentially causing a hazard or preventing emergency access for example, staff can be swiftly deployed to direct the public to an alternative waiting area or to open new tills. A hazard, such as
twitter.com/TomorrowsHS
a spillage that threatens to become the cause of an incident, can be spotted immediately and dealt with more effectively.
Video evidence improves the ability to deal with compensation claims for incidences where evidence would previously have been difficult to obtain, or eyewitness accounts are unreliable. It’s also worth noting that storing video in the cloud means that it can be accessed quickly and efficiently for passing to the authorities when necessary.
IMPROVING ACCESS CONTROL FOR
SECURITY AND SAFETY It’s imperative that staff routes to kitchens, stockrooms, entrances and exits are kept secure to prevent members of the public wandering into off-limit areas without authorisation. In order to build upon card- swipe technology, two-factor authentication is often rolled out to add an additional layer of security, often in the form of keypads or biometric sensors.
However, fingerprint sensors cannot be operated through gloves, and keypads run the risk of spreading infection in environments where food is handled, or where there are other reasons that protective clothing must not be removed for risk of contamination. This is where camera technology can become essential as part of an access control system which identifies and unlocks doors automatically for authorised staff.
As we can see, the very ubiquity of security cameras in today’s world means that they can offer a versatile way to improve health and safety levels as well as provide effective security. Cloud platforms simplify the process of deploying cameras in temporary facilities set up for events, and the emerging business model of “video surveillance as a service” means that advanced capabilities are available in pay-for-use models, so the features can be delivered without large upfront investment.
www.axis.com
www.axis.com/en-gb/solutions-by-industry 31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
