Introduction to the Internet of Things(IoT)
Internet of things is the technology for communicating between multiple computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, or objects. Each device is assigned a unique identifier known as UID for transferring data over a network without requiring supervision or interactions from other sources such as humans.
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An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled devices, each connected to a network and is individually addressable, that make use of embedded systems, such as processors, sensors and communication hardware to collect, send and act on data that they acquire. The connectivity, networking and communication protocols used with these web-enabled devices largely depend on the specific IoT applications deployed. IoT is essentially used in transforming industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, etc. Industrial IoT is an extension to the applications of consumer IoT applications.
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How does the Internet of Things maintain workspace safety?
The data generated with the help of IoT drives insights that enhance productivity across the organizations. Developments in IoT allow all workspaces to connect, monitor and protect employees. Let us discuss a few key points in which IoT helps maintain workspace safety.
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Potential risk monitoring
IoT is used for predictive maintenance with the aim of monitoring workplace equipment. This effort prevents accidents by noticing various structural failures in the connected devices. With the combination of IoT and machine learning, companies can predict possible issues before they affect workers and also provide information monitoring and analysis.
Employee health tracking
Wearable devices with IoT embedded systems help measure different personal health indicators such as heartbeat, temperature, or blood oxygen levels. This data helps in analyzing the health condition of the workers and better understanding when they should be provided with breaks and reassigning resources.
Better understanding of the work environment
Environmental IoT sensors are used for monitoring potential hazards within the workplace, such as carbon monoxide levels, humidity or temperature. The ability to remotely monitor containers or equipment helps protect employees as it keeps them from personally inspecting dangerous environments.
Increased speed of rescue operations
Availability of real-time data for accessing immediately is a great advantage provided by IoT devices. In case of serious injuries or disasters, it helps the rescue crew or medical staff make an informed decision to implement the most appropriate plan. In addition, GPS systems will get the location of the injured workers immediately and help them as soon as possible.
Vehicle navigation
Collisions can be prevented with other vehicles and protect the employees by using laser scanners to monitor vehicle or equipment navigation in warehouses and storage areas.
Fire accident prevention
IoT devices can be used with specific fire safety sensors to prevent fire accidents as early as possible. No matter how minute, changes in temperature can be detected using IoT sensors, and in case of emergencies, workers can be evacuated to take preventive measures.
Remote Monitoring: Logistics and Transport
With the help of IoT sensors and monitoring devices, companies can track vehicle movements and driver conditions at regular intervals. On the other hand, monitoring driving behaviours and patterns can also deter reckless driving. Such monitoring can enable better and safer fleet management decisions by deploying only those who are both physically and mentally fit to drive.
Aggregate Monitoring
Using a human-machine interface, which is a component of industrial systems, operational data can be retrieved and put to use to achieve a holistic view of ongoing processes and provide alerts and guides from a managerial perspective.
Enforce operating procedures
Industrial processes follow standard operating procedures, which can be neglected due to human error. IoT helps prevent losses due to human errors and integrates independent systems together to ensure the sequential execution of these industrial processes.
Maintain Operating Conditions
In industries, deviations from standard operating conditions can result in safety risks to workers. This is very dangerous for industries in precision manufacturing or when working with harmful substances. IoT devices help in preventing disadvantageous situations by monitoring operating conditions remotely in real-time. In this manner, prompt action can be taken to mitigate safety hazards upon discovering anomalous operating conditions.
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