Workers in all industries in Illinois and elsewhere face serious injury hazards and even death on a daily basis. Figures released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that the number of fatal workplace accidents in 2015 equaled approximately 13 deaths per day — the total was 4,836. Reportedly, one of the most common causes of occupational fatalities is fall accidents — either falls from higher levels or falls from trip or slip hazards.
One solution that is gaining support is the use of drones to move about dangerous areas that pose particular fall risks. Drones that can send high-resolution images for examination after carrying out remote inspections of dangerous industrial work sites. They can also be used to inspect the roofs of buildings for cracks and other damage, which will eliminate the need for workers to move about risky roofs at dangerous heights and face the risks of falling through hidden roof lights or from the sides of buildings.
Other industries in which the use of drones could be beneficial include those where workers typically have to scale bridges, cell towers, power lines and other large structures. Field inspections of elevated water towers can also be left to the imagery produced by aerial drones. Along with saving money and time, the use of drones will undoubtedly save lives.
The higher the number of Illinois employers who prioritize employee safety, the lower the number of fatal falls or other workplace accidents there might be. In the meantime, experienced workers’ compensation attorneys will be available for families who have lost loved ones in on-the-job accidents. They can assist with the navigation of death benefits claims to help with end-of-life expenses and lost income.
Source: unmanned-aerial.com, “How Drones Are Saving Lives at Industrial Jobsites“, Mike Winn, April 24, 2017