The safety of products—or of the workspace as a whole—usually aren’t high on the list of concerns for most tech companies. After all, a job where someone spends most of their time at a computer desk is unlikely to result in many workplace accidents. And tech products are usually fairly safe. But as recent headlines surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and its exploding battery reveal, when even seemingly minor safety aspects are ignored, disaster can strike.
So what can you do to ensure both a safe workplace and the production of safe tech products? There are a few things you can do to guarantee that when safety and security become a priority, everyone comes out a winner.
Smarter Tech, Safe Workers
Regardless of the industry you work in, the emphasis on safety and security should begin long before a product or service is offered to potential customers. And that emphasis starts with protecting your employees and your work area. For example, modern mines use a selection of safety products especially suited for the mining industry in their day-to-day work. These products warn of impending dangers in the work area, allowing companies to better protect both their employees and equipment from cave-ins and other hazards.
While the average tech company isn’t going to be working in such a high-risk environment, the implementations of smart technologies and common sense safety practices can protect both your employees and your valuable equipment.
Take, for example, the recent developments in motion-sensor cameras and other security tech. Many modern security systems are able to connect with your smart phone to send alerts when motion is detected near the camera. Smart locks can be synced with employee smart phones so that only authorized individuals may access select areas—protecting your valuable equipment and projects from theft or sabotage. These monitoring systems also enable greater employee accountability to further improve your company’s productivity.
By implementing smart security and safety products in the workplace, you can have greater peace of mind and create a better environment for your employees.
Testing, Testing
When it comes to the mass production of a tech product, your testing should cover more than just whether or not it can surf the internet at high speeds. As Samsung’s recent fiasco demonstrates all too clearly, companies would do well to submit their products to rigorous testing under a wide range of usage conditions. While this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that every potential problem will be caught and addressed before the product is released, it certainly will greatly decrease the likelihood of a dangerous safety issue affecting your customers.
Consider this: if Samsung had undergone additional testing of its Galaxy Note 7, the issue with its exploding lithium ion batteries could have been corrected prior to arriving on the market. Instead of being forced to issue a recall and offer free replacements to customers in the wake of a public relations nightmare, the company and its customers could have enjoyed sales of the new product.
By making rigorous safety testing a key part of your product development, you not only ensure that a higher-quality product is released to your customers, you also protect your company from liability and the sometimes irreparable damage caused by bad press.
Conclusion
These two practices may seem overly simple, but they can ultimately make all the difference in your company’s ability to attain lasting success. Security and safety devices create a better environment for your employees while simultaneously protecting your valuable equipment and products, and rigorous safety testing ensures that your products are safe for your consumers. The combination of these elements ensure financial stability for your company and a better overall result for everyone involved.
