Foot injuries are among the most prevalent incidents in the workplace, with overexertion listed as the No. 11 most frequently reported injury, and slips and trips as the second. The effects are staggering.

For decades, the science and practice of safety has been based on incident-based approaches based on manual processes. Today, even the most digitally advanced companies are still basing their safety processes on data from events that have already occurred.

Most companies have data that can be used to prioritize and analyze employees, processes or workspaces at elevated risk. But currently, most organizations must first compile and export their data from multiple EHSQ and HCM platforms and then analyze it outside of these applications.

Private sector companies could take a few lessons from the U.S. Navy when it comes to implementing and managing their flame resistant (FR) clothing programs. Earlier this year, the Navy announced a new piece of FR apparel for sailors stationed aboard ships and submarines.

Falling objects are a common risk for injuries, even when dropped from only a few feet. Safety boots are important in many work environments, and depending upon the severity of the risk of foot injury, work boots with a metguard component should be part of an employee’s PPE.

When you’re looking to protect workers from a common job hazard, your course is clear. You call your safety sales rep, or maybe even just jump on the internet to look for what you need.

Emergency eyewash systems and drench showers should be easy to access and readily available with tepid water. But as many safety facility managers will attest, these potentially life-saving fixtures aren’t always easy to provide in locations where they are required.

Pinching your finger in a door can be painful but certainly not life threatening. Pinch-point injuries involving industrial machinery are another story, one that rarely has a happy ending.

Mobile is enhancing the way safety professionals do their jobs. While mobile use in safety circles has lagged behind the curve when compared with other industries, it is trending upward as EHS software capabilities improve and solutions grow more affordable.

Pankaj Singh is a recent Ph.D. graduate in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. He is also a co-founder of OrthoFit Inc, a new company developing smart wearables and software. ISHN interviewed Pankaj by email to discuss smart glove wearables.