Automation is a phenomenon that has already radically transformed the manufacturing sector – and it promises to transform it still further in the coming decades.

The introduction of automated production lines has led to substantial increases in productivity and reductions in costs.

But automation is also able to protect workers, enhancing safety in the workplace, and reducing legal risk for employers.

Let’s look at how.

The Evolution of Automation in Manufacturing and Warehousing

The use of automation in this industry can arguably be traced back thousands of years, to the invention of the water wheel. However, it wasn’t until the industrial revolution, and the widespread use of electricity in the early 20^th century, that the process really accelerated. By the 1970s, microprocessors became affordable, which resulted in the widespread use of digital controls. The invention of the ‘Stanford’ robotic arm in the late 1960s had by this point allowed robots to perform complex tasks theretofore performed by humans.

Identifying Common Workplace Hazards

In manufacturing, safety hazards tend to fall within a handful of identifiable categories. These include fire, electrical shock, hearing damage, and manual handling injuries. The particular risks will vary from workplace to workplace, however – which is why a regular schedule for risk assessment and disaster planning is critical. Accidents at work not only drive down productivity, but reducing the risk of an accident at work is a key employer responsibility. Workplace accidents and injuries also create legal and reputational risk for the company, which might prove to be an expensive drain on resources.

How Automation Mitigates Safety Risks

Since the use of machinery removes human beings from harm’s way, it can reasonably be argued that any amount of automation will cause the workplace to become safer.

Robotics and conveyor systems might, for example, remove the need for items to be manually carried from one place to another. This will reduce the risk of a human being being injured by a lifting or handling operation.

Integrating Safety Protocols with Automated Systems

Of course, an automated system can also introduce safety hazards of its own. If the machinery is allowed to fall into disrepair, for example, it might pose a considerable risk to those using it. Robotic systems should be subject to regular maintenance, and employees should be trained in how to use them appropriately, effectively, and (above all) safely.

Case Studies: Automation Enhancing Workplace Safety

Of course, all modern manufacturing businesses use automation of one sort or another, because every one of them relies on the road network, and the trucks, vans, and cars that use it – all of which are sophisticated pieces of machinery.

Road vehicles, however, pose safety challenges. Sometimes, these challenges are obvious. Sometimes, they are more subtle. For example, Warburtons recently discovered that employees were being injured as they exited and entered the rear of their delivery vehicles. The solution was to install side access doors and internal steps in the load areas. The result was a sharp decline in accident rates.

Future Trends: AI and Predictive Safety Measures

It is difficult to say with certainty what the future might hold for automation. Recently, the Hyundai-owned robotics company Boston Dynamics demonstrated a new kind of humanoid robot that might ultimately be used in factory environments. More likely, the disruptive changes of the near future will involve predictive analytics and artificial intelligence, which might be used to spot patterns of accidents and recommend action to prevent them.