IEN: What strides do you see in: ease of integration? Flexibility and scalability? Safety management? Personal injury prevention? Risk management? Safety design? Emergency response/management? Hazardous substance ID/evaluation? PPE? Egress/fire safety?
Rice: Industrial managers and operators have a better understanding of safety, ergonomics, and comfort than just a few years ago. It''s not just for big companies with big budgets. Small companies are paying attention to safety and ergonomics, even though sometimes it may seem minor compared to getting product out the door and small company growing pains.
IEN: What improvements can users expect in: Software? Machine safety? Protective technology? Ergonomic design? Safety equipment and systems? Environmental equipment? Training? Elsewhere?
Rice: There is an increase in ergonomics education, and a hunger to learn more. New products coming out have a greater focus on ergonomic design, and it''s becoming more accessible.
Because ergonomics and safety are becoming more mainstream topics, operators are recognizing their own personal safety rather than having a manager call it out. Often, operators are ahead of the manager in recognizing problems and potential issues because they are closer to it (e.g. working on a table with sharp edges every day). There is a more global understanding and exposure to safety and ergonomics.
Mass customization of products is still gaining momentum -- modular components, manufacturer flexibility, and equipment bring customization costs down, making it easier for the customer and the manufacturer. This allows plant engineers and risk managers to request products and configurations that encourage safety and ergonomics within their world.