Minister for AI and Digital Government road tests AI bionic back technology
Game changing bionic technology designed to cut workplace accidents and improve safety, has been tested by the Minister for AI and Digital Government as part of a trip to the Hertfordshire headquarters of Health and Safety experts, Stanley. The visit was part of a fact finding mission by Minister Feryal Clark, looking at how AI is being used for good, in UK workplaces. Stanley, based near St Albans, is pioneering the use of AI wearable technology in the UK as a solution for cutting accidents and improving workplace safety.
Graham Sharp, Managing Director of Stanley said:
“We were honoured to be visited by the by the Minister, who expressed a keen interest in learning more about the pioneering work we are conducting in the UK with AI technology to mitigate workplace accidents. During the visit, she had the opportunity to try on and test one of the exoskeleton suits we recommend for workers in sectors requiring additional support for tasks such as working at heights or lifting heavy loads. These suits have the potential to significantly reduce injury rates using AI technology to assess the suitability of exoskeletons to the task as well as gather data from the wearer. This data enables both the individual and the management team to identify hazardous movement patterns and, if necessary, develop appropriate training plans to mitigate them.”
Minister for AI and Digital Government, Feryal Clark said:
“My visit to Stanley Handling was an eye-opener, allowing me to see for myself the benefits of this AI technology which will make a difference in sectors including hospitality, logistics, IT, retail, and construction.
“AI is not just making our workplaces safer – it’s making us more productive, by taking on those mundane tasks which allow us to focus on getting the most out of our jobs. The work of innovators at Stanley Handling and beyond will help us realise AI’s incredible potential to kickstart economic growth, delivering safer and more productive jobs for people across the UK.”
According to the latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive, 473,000 workers in the UK were suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2022/23 with 6.6 million working days lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders including back injuries, in 2022/23. Stanley’s push to introduce AI wearable technology into UK aims to reduce those statistics as it works with clients across a range of sectors to help keep workplaces safe. The wearable technology is most suitable for physically demanding sectors like construction and the automotive industry, where workers have to lift, reach, stretch and bend on a constant basis throughout the day, making the risk of injury greater.
