AI-Powered Workplace Safety Monitoring Protects Factory Personnel

Background 

As workplace safety becomes an increasing priority, companies seek smart ways to enhance worker protection. While many factories have established IP camera and video surveillance infrastructures, conventional monitoring solutions depend on manual observation and are unable to proactively identify potential safety risks. 

Consequently, companies are integrating AI-powered video analytics into existing surveillance infrastructures to enable real-time hazard detection, automated safety oversight, and rapid incident response, creating a safer workplace without requiring the costly replacement of cameras or recording systems.

Challenges

1. Limited manpower for continuous safety supervision
2. Delayed response to safety incidents 
3. Increasing regulatory requirements 
4. High upgrade costs of conventional systems

Solutions

Advantech AIR-150 is an edge AI inference system and EAI-1961 is an edge AI acceleration module from Advantech. By combining the AIR-150 industrial AI system with the EAI-1961 AI acceleration module, the solution delivers real-time AI inference for safety monitoring at the edge. 

Existing IP cameras continuously stream video to the AIR-150 through standard video streaming protocols. AIR-150 performs AI inference using the EAI-1961 to detect unsafe behaviors and abnormal events. When the system detects a safety violation or potential hazard is identified, it immediately generates alerts and event notifications for operators and safety personnel. 

At the same time, video streams and event records are transmitted to a centralized NAS system for long-term storage, incident investigation, compliance reporting, and audit purposes. This architecture enables AI analytics and video recording to operate simultaneously. 

Designed for seamless integration with existing IP cameras, NAS, and VMS platforms, the solution allows companies to upgrade their conventional surveillance infrastructure to AI-powered monitoring systems without replacing existing hardware.

Key Functions

PPE Detection

1. Safety helmet detection 
2. Safety vest detection 
3. Other PPE compliance verification

Intrusion Detection

1. Restricted zone monitoring 
2. Dangerous area protection

Equipment Monitoring 

1. Abnormal machine status detection 
2. Emergency situation identification

Benefits

• Improved Worker Safety: Potential dangers are identified before incidents occur.
• Faster Response Time: Real-time notifications allow immediate intervention.
• Lower Safety Risks: Continuous AI monitoring reduces operational risk.
• Better Compliance: Digital records support safety audits and regulatory reporting.