NSC Experts Caution Employers Against Shiny-Object Safety Tech

Washington — Matt Law, director of the Work to Zero initiative at the National Safety Council, told attendees of a June 2 NSC webinar that employers should select safety technology based on fit rather than novelty. “It’s not about the shiny object,” Law said during the session titled Moving Safety Forward: The Evolution of Safety Tech and the Safety Innovation Journey. Co-presenter Kenna Stanley, NSC research manager, added that the organization does not want employers investing in technologies that fail to address problems or fit workflows.

Survey Findings on Technology Adoption

Work to Zero conducts surveys of 500 employers and 1,000 employees every three years. In 2023, 65% of surveyed employers reported that their organizations had recently researched or considered adopting new safety technologies, according to Safety+Health Magazine. Among employees, 83% indicated they were open to trying and using new technologies at work.

Five-Step Safety Innovation Journey

Work to Zero developed a five-step process to guide technology adoption: assess risk, identify safety technologies, determine readiness, make a business case, and complete pilot and implementation. Stanley noted that the pilot phase allows organizations to learn, iterate, and reduce initial investment risk. She also referenced a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology report showing that 95% of generative artificial intelligence pilots have failed, while emphasizing that lessons can still be gained from unsuccessful pilots.

Non-Digital Safety Solutions

Law stated that safety technology is not always digital. Examples include self-retracting lifelines and trauma straps that reduce hazards associated with fall arrest. He also cited advances in hand protection, noting that 18-gauge gloves have progressed from Cut Level 2 to Cut Level 9. These points were presented during the same NSC webinar, according to Safety+Health Magazine.