At Irwin and Colton’s recent SafetyTech and AI event, one key takeaway resonated with everyone: To truly unlock SafetyTech's potential, businesses must start with the problem, not the SafetyTech solution.
We gathered at Make UK's Woodland Grange venue, surrounded by senior leaders from across the Health and Safety sector, and heard from a range of experts. The discussions focused on how the right technologies can make a meaningful difference to workplace safety, but they all came back to one crucial point: before you search for a technology solution, you need to thoroughly understand the problem you’re trying to solve.
Chris Newson: The Importance Of Data
Chris Newson, Director of Health, Safety, and Environment at Make UK, kicked off the event by stressing the importance of data in the health and safety sector. While technology is essential, data alone is not enough. Chris highlighted that businesses often collect health and safety data without properly interrogating it. The data should be a tool for identifying real challenges, not just numbers.
By asking the right questions about the data, organisations can gain a clearer understanding of their safety challenges and what exactly needs to be addressed.
Robert McCarthy: AI-powered Solutions
Next, we heard from Robert McCarthy from Protex AI, who demonstrated how their AI-powered solution is transforming safety in real time. However, Robert was quick to emphasise that the technology itself holds little value without human intervention. The key takeaway from his session was that successful implementation of SafetyTech doesn’t simply rely on buying the latest technology - it depends on ensuring that your team is equipped to use it effectively.
Protex AI has successfully reduced accidents by 67%, but this success was built on a clear understanding of the organisation’s needs before rolling out the technology.
David Roberts: Implementing Protex AI
David Roberts, Director of Health, Safety, Quality, and Environment at AB Agri, shared his candid insights from their experience with implementing Protex AI. His key advice was not to start with higher-risk/higher-incident sites. This allows for a smoother implementation, helps build the system, and offers valuable learnings that can be applied as the system scales.
It’s not about picking the highest-risk sites immediately - it’s about setting yourself up for success by first understanding your existing processes, then integrating technology where it will add the most value. David also stressed the need to get key senior stakeholders onboard as early as possible – especially IT and Legal. This is a big investment of time and resources, but it is critical for success.
Dave has recently implemented the system and is now seeing real-time insights for his line managers on the ground. His experience of being able to assess the video footage together has been described as powerful. He has also seen not only safety improvements but also a lot of crossovers into operational efficiency. He is in a position now where the system will even predict where the next incident will be—surely this is the future for health and safety!
Peter Jenkins And Richard Bradshaw: Eye-Opening Workshops
Peter Jenkins, lead facilitator at Simple Foundry, led two insightful workshops, which underscored the event’s core message: when it comes to selecting the right SafetyTech solution, businesses must first focus on understanding their problem, not just the latest tech trends. Peter’s session highlighted that businesses should begin by defining their specific safety challenges before embarking on a search for technology. This approach ensures that the solution chosen truly addresses the core issue and is integrated into the company’s broader goals.
Peter was joined in the delivery of his workshops by Richard Bradshaw from Rebel Safety. The workshops helped me understand the importance of conducting a thorough needs assessment before diving into tech selection. The process of identifying the problem and understanding the cultural and operational context of your organisation is critical to ensuring the right solution is chosen.
Peter also raised an important point: organisations must align their tech solutions with the broader business culture. Technology alone can’t drive change; it’s the culture around it that supports successful implementation. If the business culture isn’t aligned with the intended safety outcomes, the technology will struggle to make an impact.
Peter also highlighted a few elephants in the room that are important to consider – the days of a job for life are over, so companies really need to think about who is leading the SafetyTech implementation – what happens if they leave? The future is coming very quickly, and Health and Safety teams need to be upskilled to take advantage of the SafetyTech opportunities.
The realisation that the success of SafetyTech depends on the broader organisational culture and senior leadership involvement was another key takeaway. As David Roberts shared, it’s crucial to secure leadership buy-in from the outset to ensure smooth integration and alignment with company goals. The technology may be revolutionary, but if the business culture isn’t ready to embrace it, the results won’t follow.
To Conclude:
In conclusion, the event was a powerful reminder of the importance of taking a step back before jumping into SafetyTech adoption. To truly unlock its potential, businesses must start by identifying the specific safety challenges they face. Only then can the right solution be chosen and implemented in a way that drives real, lasting improvements in safety.
If you’re considering adopting SafetyTech in your organisation, I urge you to start by clearly defining the problems you need to solve. By aligning the right technology with your business’s culture and safety needs, you’ll be setting yourself up for success. Technology is a powerful tool, but only when it’s used to solve the right problem.
Get In Touch:
James Irwin is a Director at Irwin and Colton, a specialist health and safety recruitment company.
For further information, contact james.irwin@irwinandcolton.com