How Safety Regulations Impact the Next Wave of Manufacturing Technologies

Safety regulations are constantly evolving as new technology and new applications are developed across the globe. Even countries that are not known for extensive safety regulations have taken significant steps recently, such as India (where occupational safety, health and working conditions code improvements are pending) and China (which is implementing new food safety regulations.).

Regardless of industry category, it’s important for facility managers to stay up-to-date on the newest safety standards and to be aware of what’s coming down the regulatory pipeline. A number of the regulations mentioned in this report are currently phasing in or under review, such as ISO 450001 (Occupational Health & Safety), BSI BS EN 415-6 (Safety of Packaging Machines) and ISO 13857 (Safety Distances). However, there are many other areas of potential regulatory change that may be on the horizon. These include: 

• Drone Delivery Regulation: Although Amazon, Google and UPS have already begun using drones, regulation on this “last mile” of the supply chain is still very much in flux, due to safety concerns involving drones and manned aircraft. The FAA has limited these deliveries for now, but that is expected to expand in the near future.
• Smart PPE Privacy Concerns: Smart personal protective equipment (PPE) devices are now on the market and employers are using them to monitor workers blood oxygen levels, vital signs and blood alcohol, among other things. Legal issues and legislation related to personal data collection and privacy issues are expected.
• Supply Chain Traceability Requirements: FSMA isn’t the only new regulation in this area. New, tighter FDA requirements for pharmaceutical supply chains went into effect November 27, 2019. Look for traceability requirements in all industries to continue ramping up.
• Industrial Software Solutions: While Software technology can reduce headaches for facility managers, it can also create a larger opening for cyber criminals to hack systems and steal intellectual property. Cyber-security issues and regulations will be increasingly significant in coming years.
• Artificial Intelligence in Shared Environments: AI is transforming how humans and machines interact in a shared environment. The availability of data about how people work, what their emotional state is while working and how they engage with equipment and the world around them will likely lead us to a whole new level of industrial safety.

Be sure to not only consult the government agencies that create safety laws, but also to reference industry standard guidelines, because those often influence future standards. When in doubt, if a process or application carries an element of risk, facilities should make every attempt to document and mitigate that risk as soon as possible. Employee safety is critical in any industry and at any facility.

This blog was developed from the Essential Guide: Safety Regulations. For additional information on these topics and a full list of  sources, click here.