4 emerging tech tools for EHS and sustainability professionals

What does it take to prevent environmental pollution? How do you make sure employees perform their work in a way that keeps them safe from injury? Which sustainability metrics are best for helping your company change how it operates?

A新报告from the National Association for Environment, Health and Safety and Sustainability management (NAEM) reveals that emerging technologies are rapidly changing how companies answer those questions. In its latest research into the trends shaping the profession, the association found that companies are experimenting with some truly high-tech solutions to improve data collection, reduce risks and monitor their environmental impacts in live time.

Here is a look at a few technology tools that are starting to take hold:

1.智能传感器

Thirty-one percent of NAEM respondents are using or evaluating using smart sensors in the workplace. It’s no surprise — smart sensors have a variety of possible applications at work. These devices take input from the physical environment and use built-in computational resources to respond, performing predefined functions upon detection of specific input. Smart sensors can be used for everything from tracking worker safety — to see if a line operator is at risk of an ergonomic injury — to monitoring a storage tank’s walls for stability and the liquid contents within to ensure they are in the correct balance.

All of these applications increase the rate that key data reaches the people who can act on it and reduce the likelihood of bad things happening.

2. Drones

无人机和其他无人机可监视大量土地的大片和那些难以通过公路或脚的访问。在森林地区，他们可以跟踪野火非法砍伐森林和监视器。在农业应用，他们可以监控作物生长，侵袭和灌溉渗漏领域。牧场主可以使用配有高清晰摄像头和热成像监控牲畜的位置和健康无人机。

New data is only as good and as useful as the algorithms that make sense of it.

所有这些应用程序的关键是，他们允许在比“地面上的靴子”，可以提供更低的成本更强大的监控。快速识别问题指遏制的成本将大大降低。它的受访者难怪14％正在使用或评估在EHS监测，检查和数据收集使用无人驾驶飞机。

3. Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Twenty percent of respondents are using machine learning — a form of artificial intelligence — on the job. The most crucial applications combine raw data with a computer powerful enough to identify patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention. One machine learning platform NAEM documented automates decision-making for retailers on unsaleable items such as leaking detergent or expired hair dye. It provides retail employees with a barcode scanner connected to a database which advises employees about the hazardous materials contained in the products and the best way to dispose of them: donation; recycling; or landfill.

Artificial intelligence brings automation to many other routine EHS&S tasks as well, from air quality sampling to greenhouse gas emissions management.

4. Virtual reality

当涉及到工作场所安全，培训是关键。虚拟现实正在EHS＆S培训更快，更方便，更有效。而不是简单地描述安全风险的公司可以使用一个模拟的工作环境，教导员工如何安全地解除和负载，实践新的技能和工作在密闭空间。他们在建造时，旗合规性问题，并提供建议的修改，而该项目仍处于设计阶段，可以进行前EHS＆S专业人士也用它来进行虚拟的“演练”的设施。那些正在使用或评估虚拟现实工具，以帮助调查的16％的工作做好。

Don't forget the important role of data management

As these new technologies come on line, effective data management becomes a new opportunity and challenge. New data is only as good and as useful as the algorithms that make sense of it. Privacy concerns also come into play. Data security protocols must be strong and algorithms must be carefully crafted to avoid inserting bias. These concerns are top of mind for any EHS&S professional integrating new data systems into their work. The most effective integrations of new technology will be mindful of these challenges and work proactively to resolve them.

Ultimately, it’s not the data you have but what you do with it that makes new technology most impactful.