Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have become increasingly popular in recent years for a variety of commercial uses in industries such as construction, land development, Photovoltaics (PV), utilities, local governments, and even disaster response. But one area where drones are proving to be particularly useful to these industries is in improving workplace safety.
Drones can now be equipped with 3D cameras, thermal imaging cameras, artificial intelligence, X-ray technology, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and 4K cameras with advanced sensors. Additionally, a variety of sensors and transducers can use electronic gravitational, thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic, and chemical capabilities, to take measurements for many different types of testing like gas leaks and atmospheric pressures. All of this combines to make drones one of the best technology solutions for increasing worker safety.
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Eliminating Dangerous Practices & Reducing Risks
As drones continue to advance and new applications are found, they have the potential to reduce the risks that workers often face. In some industries, drones can even eliminate hazardous work environments entirely, effectively eliminating any risk to workers.
"Drones are revolutionizing the construction industry, where, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one in ten workers are injured each year—and up to 1,000 die each year from falls, exposure to toxic chemicals, vehicle collisions and electrical hazards."
Several major corporations, including Dow Chemical, State Farm, and AIG, have begun to understand the potential for drones to enhance safety and have sought approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to incorporate drones into their safety protocols. The use of drones allows companies and their employees to monitor potentially hazardous areas without exposing workers to danger.
Key Industries Where Drones Improve Worker Safety
As drones continue to improve, new ways of using them to improve worker safety are emerging. Some industries, such as construction, railroads, utilities, and search and rescue, have been quicker to adopt drone technology due to the high risk to human lives. In these industries, drones are being used in areas where the risk of injury is highest.
The areas most identified where drones can be utilized are:
- Falls from heights – ladders, rooftops, structures
- Managing normal daily Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
- Post disaster response
- Project monitoring
- On-site inspections
- Survey power lines
- Managing large structure maintenance
- Data collection
- Communication
- Underwater inspections – using underwater drones
- Perimeter security
- Access difficult to reach or hazardous areas
- Monitor worker safety in real time
- Observing traffic patterns
- Observing public spaces
Other industries have started to find new uses for drone safety such as real estate, conservation, and research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also identified practical applications of drones in preventing injuries in both public and workplace settings. According to a study at the CDC:
"A recent paper from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 'Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Construction and Worker Safety' describes the four major uses of UAVs, including their use in construction, the potential risks of their use to workers, approaches for risk mitigation, and the important role that safety and health professionals can play in ensuring safe approaches to their use in the workplace."
As drones are phased into service across different industries these annual reports on worker safety should see declines in both fatality accidents and general work injuries.
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Construction
Construction work carries a significant risk of injury and death, and the number of reported incidents in this industry remains relatively high.
In the fiscal year 2021, according to OSHA, a staggering 4,764 fatalities occurred in the workplace with the most frequent reason listed as falls from heights. Great Britain reported similar findings in their Health and Safety Executive summary with the majority of fatalities also occurring from falls.
The use of drones has had a significant impact on worker safety reports. According to a 2020 survey conducted by the National Safety Council (NSC) among 500 employers and 1,000 workers in safety-sensitive industries, 50% of those surveyed reported being exposed to dangerous work environments such as heights or confined spaces, where drones could potentially reduce the risk of injury.
"The only way to ensure some of these fatalities will not occur is to completely remove people from dangerous environments. Drones are ideally suited to complete many of the tasks that place humans at dangerous heights."
Related Article – The Role of Drones for Construction Photo Documentation
Given the high number of fatalities in the construction industry, it is important for decision-makers to take steps to protect workers from harm. Investing in drones can be particularly beneficial for the construction industry, as it is one of the sectors with the highest level of risk. Drones can help to reduce these risks and keep workers safe.
Railroads and Transportation
Rail transportation in the United States in 2022 has reached a market size of $98.6 billion, an 11.5% growth from 2021, with a forecast to double worldwide by 2030. With such enormous growth, the railway industry has discovered drones solve multiple problems while greatly improving safety for their workers. The three main areas drones are deployed in rail transportation center around guarding freight against thieves and organized crime, accident reconstruction and investigation, and infrastructure inspections.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) in Britain, which investigates rail accidents, has been using drones since 2017 for accident investigations where drones can maneuver around very hazardous debris instead of putting workers directly in harm’s way. This has kept workers from having to enter areas unnecessarily and respond to issues that arise faster.
Following a year of accidents in 2017, Indian Railways has started using drones to monitor its extensive rail network in order to prevent accidents. In the past, this task was carried out by workers on active lines, which exposed them to high-risk situations.
"This is in line with railways’ desire to use technology to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations," the railways, the world’s eight biggest employer with nearly 1.3 million staff, said in a statement."
Furthermore, drones can be equipped with sensors and other equipment that allow them to detect and assess hazards in real-time, such as spills or debris on the tracks. This can help railroads to quickly identify potential safety issues and take action to prevent accidents from occurring.
Utilities: Photovoltaics, Wind, and Power Lines
Utility companies place a high priority on safety due to the large amounts of energy they produce and the risks involved with directly handling the energy produced. The use of drones to address safety concerns is particularly prevalent in the inspection of oil and gas, power lines, solar farms, wind turbines, and hydropower plants.
For example, oil and gas companies have begun using drones to inspect chimneys, tanks, refineries, and offshore oil rigs, including small drones to inspect the tight spaces inside chimney stacks that are too dangerous for human workers. Drones are also now being equipped with gas detectors to locate methane leaks and other hazardous materials.
Regular and high-tension power lines are traditionally some of the most difficult and dangerous workplaces for technicians. Inspections require technicians to dangle beneath helicopters and use ropes to climb poles. Drones have reduced work time and labor costs while increasing the safety for workers. Drones allow the lines to be inspected more frequently with a higher level of accuracy, but they significantly reduce the need to put humans at risk.
Just about any area of the utility industry that requires technicians to work at heights have benefited from the use of drones. Photovoltaics have a longer history of using drones to reduce risk to technicians during inspections of solar farms, and wind turbine inspections have some of the most challenging inspections if done manually. Many are offshore, where conditions can be extremely dangerous, and most inspections can take place at heights of 800 feet or more.
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Emergency, Disaster, Search and Rescue Response
Drones can potentially be utilized in emergency response situations in the workplace. If there is an accident or injury, a drone can be deployed to quickly gather information about the incident and transmit it to first responders. This information could include the location of the incident, the number of individuals involved, and the severity of any injuries sustained. Using a drone allows for an assessment of the situation quickly and safely.
Drones were available for search and rescue as early as 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina, but these drones went unused when the Department of Defense was unsure how to deploy them. As late as 2014 the FAA was still taking a hard stance against drones by putting laws in place banning commercial drone use. A Texas search and rescue company challenged the FAA laws in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and prevailed, allowing them use of commercial drones as a private company. The FAA has since put in place specific requirements to allow drones to fly for almost all commercial purposes, especially in emergency services where safety is the highest priority.
One of the earliest real world use cases came in 2014, after a three-day search for a lost 82-year-old man. A local man who used his drone to make videos for his ski business volunteered his drone in the search after hearing about it on the news. He was able to locate the elderly man within 20 minutes.
Today drones are being used in countless areas that are too dangerous for first responders. Drone are able to find missing people, deliver medical aid like defibrillators and supplies, and assist in rescuing people already in dangerous situations.
Drone Safety Starts with the Pilot
Drone safety starts with the Pilot in Command (PIC), as it is the PIC’s responsibility to operate the drone safely and responsibly. A pilot without proper training or experience can make the working environment less safe for workers.
FAA Part 107 Certificate covers FAA standards and regulations for UAS operations and provides for basic safety in flight operations. Proper training is essential for ensuring the safety of both the pilot and those around them, and this goes beyond a Part 107 certification. This includes understanding:
- Local laws and regulations
- How to properly operate and maintain the drone
- Emergency procedures.
- Proper attire with personal protective equipment (PPE)
- How to collect and maintaining data properly and securely
- Good takeoff and landing zones
- Weather conditions specific to drones
In addition to proper training, it is important for pilots to be aware of potential hazards and take steps to avoid them. This includes avoiding flights near people or objects that could be damaged by the drone, not flying in poor weather conditions, and always maintaining a clear line of sight. By following best practices and using common sense, pilots can greatly reduce the risk of accidents or incidents. It is also important for pilots to stay up to date on any changes to laws or regulations, as well as any new safety guidelines that may be issued.
Implementing Drones at Your Company for Safety
Most Americans are not eager early adopters. A Pew Research study found that just 28% were likely to adopt new innovations, while many businesses will wait even longer for technologies to prove themselves.
UAVs are one of the technological advancements in the process of proving itself to many different industries. Common hesitations against drone solutions were once things like privacy, lack of confidence in the technology, the perceived costs, concerns over regulatory conditions, and legal considerations. Most, if not all, of these concerns have been addressed and businesses are starting to see the many advantages.
Overall, drones are proving to be an essential tool for improving workplace safety making it a great time to pitch drones solutions to your company. Often, implementing drones at your company can start with a simplified cost/benefit analysis. After that, there are two ways to begin working with drones; in-house or hire a professional drone company who can provide you the benefits of using drones without having to make a huge investment in time and equipment.
When looking to hire a drone company, they should be able to evaluate the needs of your project and design a customized plan specific to the outcomes you desire. A highly experienced professional will be able to process and analyze all the data collected and give you the tools you need to make the best decisions possible for your company. This is where hiring licensed professionals can save you time, money, and frustration.
The Future of Job Site Safety
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will continue to provide new ways to protect workers. As drone technology advances, there will likely be a decrease in fatalities and injuries on the job site. This benefits both workers and their families, as well as businesses and organizations.
In the future, it will be possible for organizations to monitor workplace safety in real time using drones equipped with sensors and cameras. These drones can be used to track the movements and location of workers, allowing safety managers to quickly take action if a worker is at risk, particularly in hazardous environments such as construction sites or mines.
Drones have the potential to become commonplace on many job sites, similar to trucks and forklifts, due to their ability to enhance worker safety in various ways. As drone technology progresses, it is expected that their use will increase across multiple industries, especially if they can continue to improve worker safety, increase job site efficiency, and lower costs for contractors.
Are you ready to integrate drone solutions for your company? The Drone Life works with a broad range of companies and organizations to create unique plans specific to your project. We have an expert team of highly qualified licensed professionals ready to document your very own project. You can schedule a free consultation with a drone expert today.
What's included in the PDF...
The key elements to look for in a professional drone pilot.
How to avoid government fines and personal liability.
What a drone license is, and how to confirm a pilot has one.
