About 330,000 people died as a result of workplace accidents in 2019Afonso Moreira, the chief executive officer and founder of Brazil-based AHM Solution, specialises in developing and managing damage prevention projects in the logistics, cold chain and materials handling sectors. He holds a degree in International Relations and a Master of Business Administration.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) report, A call for safer and healthier working environments, work accidents caused in 330,000 deaths globally in 2019.
However, these indicators have been continuously improving, with the help of active and passive safety systems.
A survey by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, published last year, found that the number of occupational accidents fell by almost 60% in 20 years on that continent.
According to the study, among the advances that contributed to these results are safety equipment in vehicles and machines, such as sound and light alerts for trucks and forklifts.
Sensors that detect the approach of pedestrians before they enter the vehicle operators' field of vision can enhance the safety of logistics operations by alerting operators to potential accidents.
These sensors are known as active safety devices and do not require human activation.
Passive safety systems such on-board cameras and light projectors can improve safety
In addition, passive safety systems like on-board cameras and light projectors help demarcate the vehicle's maneuvering area on the ground, preventing pedestrians from approaching during operation.
Despite rapid technological advancements, it is equally important to transform the safety culture within companies.
A study conducted across 33 European countries found that a significant 25% of companies do not conduct regular assessments to identify potential accident risks in their operations. This oversight stems from the mistaken belief that these risks are already well-known.
Unfortunately, this is a very common mistake and can be fatal. In our experience of more than 20 years in safety studies in logistics operations in Latin America, we have proven the need to carry out periodic assessments to map and mitigate accident risks.
It is well-known that this risk can be significantly reduced or even completely eliminated through a process of mapping critical points, segregating the flow of people and machines, and complementing these measures with active or passive safety technologies.
During our work with companies in Latin America, we developed a site assessment methodology. This methodology allows us to classify the critical points of an operation according to a risk hierarchy. Only after this stage do we make recommendations for control actions and auditing of results.
The business world is dynamic and operations are constantly changing and improving.
Therefore, accident risk assessments should also be carried out periodically.
By using methodologies like a site assessment, we can establish objectives and actions to achieve the highest level of safety for employees and service providers.
In our experience in several countries, we have proven that regular risk assessment and the adoption of active and passive safety equipment can reduce cases of absence due to work accidents by up to 80%. And this also leads to an increase in productivity in logistics operations, since machines and pedestrians can travel more safely.
For this reason, a large part of our work has been to raise awareness in the Latin American market about the importance of investing in safety systems.
Statistics prove the need for this work: among the 50 countries with the highest number of work accidents worldwide, in proportional terms (for every 100 thousand workers), 10 are Latin American, with emphasis on Costa Rica (1st place in ILO ranking); Colombia (5th position) and Argentina (10th).
Although Brazil is not included in this list, the Public Ministry of Labor reports that machinery and equipment are the leading causes of workplace accidents in the country, accounting for 15% of such incidents between 2012 and 2022.
Notably, forklift operators were involved in an average of 200 accidents per month during this ten-year period.
Recently, the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment launched a nationwide campaign for the prevention of workplace accidents, focusing on the theme of safety in machines and equipment.
This campaign will run until the end of 2024 and presents an excellent opportunity for companies to contemplate the significance of implementing both active and passive safety systems.
By doing so, they can enhance the safety and productivity of their logistics operations.