VISAKHAPATNAM: The Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence can reduce the rate of accidents that are taking a toll on human lives and causing financial losses to employers, banks as well as the government. Andhra Pradesh has over 26,000 major industries, of which 300 are hazardous and 30,000 are small and medium-scale industries.
The state also witnessed the worst industrial accidents during the last two and half decades. A cloud of gas exploded in the Visakh Refinery of HPCL killing 560 persons in 1997. The Styrene gas leak in LG Polymers on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam killed 14 persons in 2020. Thereafter too, a series of accidents have been occurring in pharmaceutical units and other major industries across the state.
“We are proposing industries to go for IOT and Artificial Intelligence to prevent accidents. This will not only prevent loss of life but also reduce the financial burden on industries and government,’’ said the director of factories, Chandrasekhar Verma.
Verma told Deccan Chronicle that a multinational thermal power corporation in Nellore has introduced smart personal protective equipment for workers. If a worker removes his helmet, sensors would immediately alert the floor supervisor and other departmental heads. IOT-based sensors can detect gas leaks early and the well-being of workers.
State president of CITU, Narsinga Rao, said the government always remained negligent when it comes to the safety of workers. “When corruption is high, even AI cannot help,’’ Narsinga Rao said, referring to the ‘bribe’ mechanism that undercuts safety inspections.
“Artificial Intelligence can help reduce accidents in the industry by providing real-time monitoring and analysis of data from various sources, predicting potential hazards, and improving safety training for employees. Predictive maintenance, safety monitoring, autonomous systems, and virtual simulations are key to the industry, which can be improved by AI,” said Dr Srinubabu Gedela, CEO, of Pulsus Group, Visakhapatnam.
Other experts felt that despite clear safety regulations and procedures, risk management remains a huge challenge for employers in many industries.
Sources said the IOT keeps an eye on things. It collects data by means of connected sensors that help understand working environments. These sensors can monitor everything from factory equipment to the location and well-being of the people within its sphere.
