At the Senate of the Italian Republic, the event ‘DP(AI) For safety at work, let’s use intelligence!

In Italy, there are about 2,000 accidents and 3 deaths at work every day, a figure that shows no signs of decreasing. Helmets, gloves, safety shoes and all personal protective equipment are essential, but the technology available today can make a difference with intelligent and active devices. However, it is necessary to adapt the regulations and the occupational safety system to break down the wall of 1,000 white deaths per year. This was discussed in the Nassiriya Room of Palazzo Madama, seat of the Senate of the Republic, where a debate organized by the Optimists & Rational Foundation “DP(AI) For Workplace Safety Let’s Use Intelligence! 

On this occasion, Proger presented the first voluntary project of massive testing for more than 400 workers, together with ACEA and GCF, opening a new chapter in the protection of health in the workplace, through a scientific approach to the detection of bio-vital and environmental parameters in any condition, thanks to Accyourate, an innovative textile technology patented and internationally certified as “medical device”, capable of making any garment intelligent, thanks to the integration of imperceptible polymeric sensors in the fabric. A new way towards a new concept of protection, prevention and conscious well-being of the worker, capable of preventing possible accidents due to inattention and fatigue, as well as intercepting parameter anomalies even before pathologies manifest themselves with obvious symptoms.

Among the participants were Claudio Velardi, President of the Fondazione Ottimisti & Rational, Claudio Durigon, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Susanna Camusso, Senator – former General Secretary of CGIL national labor union, Cesare Damiano, Pres. Ass. Labor & Social Welfare – former Minister of Labor, Francesco Saverio Violante, Lecturer Occupational Medicine – UniBO – Dir. Occupational Medicine of the Policlinico di Sant’Orsola (BO), Fabrizio Palermo, CEO ACEA, Giuseppe Brecciaroli, CEO General Costruzioni Ferroviarie S.p.A, Marco Lombardi, CEO Proger S.p.A.

Le Dichiarazioni

Regarding occupational safety, “we need to change our mental approach. We are a democratic republic founded on work, but still too many people die and are seriously injured in accidents. Technology, innovation and artificial intelligence can be a great tool and a great opportunity of hope to improve the safety of workers and the quality of work“. Senator and former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on the sidelines of the meeting.

“Artificial intelligence can interact in the best possible way, especially when it comes to job security. We are a bit late in AI, but we are lucky to have great entrepreneurs in Italy who are giving us input. These best practices, such as the sensor presented today, must immediately become a reference point even for the micro-work we live every day. The project of Proger, ACEA and GCF is a fantastic project, an evolution of prevention initiatives. If we want to reach zero deaths at work, we need a 360-degree use of artificial intelligence. And we also need an ‘armed arm’ to ensure that innovation can spread, considering that 95 percent of our economic fabric is made up of 95 percent small and medium-sized enterprises,” commented Claudio Durigon, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

“Accyourate is a technology that is certified and internationally recognized as a medical device. – explains Marco Lombardi, CEO of Proger and AccYouRate – It is a polymer dissolved in an aqueous solution that can be “printed” on any fabric without altering its properties, and that makes it so that a T-shirt can become a sensor capable of recording and transmitting vital parameters without conductive wires. This technology is like a holter, but non-invasive, you forget you are wearing it. By monitoring these parameters, even diseases that never occurred can be prevented. A technology that can make intelligent and active personal protective equipment that is currently passive, such as gloves and helmets”.

Susanna Camusso, senator and former General Secretary of CGIL national labor union, hopes for a “balanced” intervention by the legislator to prevent the critical problems that could arise: “The first problem is that, over time, being ill at work has become a reason to be considered unfit. It is absolutely necessary for the legislator to propose a balanced intervention, so that the investment in technology and safety does not lead to the detriment of workers”.

“”When I heard about this new technology, I applied to sponsor this initiative, which is perfectly in line with our Foundation’s policy of promoting all technological progress that can make us look to the future,” said Claudio Velardi, President of the Optimists & Rational Foundation.

“An important day to focus on the role that technology can play in taking that extra step to protect workers. We have an organization of health surveillance of workers that is about to turn 100 years old, since it was first introduced by royal decree in 1927. Today, workers are examined periodically by the doctor in charge. This technology, on the other hand, gives us the extraordinary opportunity to know how the worker’s health has evolved even in the interval between examinations. This changes the paradigm of health protection and opens up interesting scenarios,” continues Francesco Saverio Violante, Lecturer in Occupational Medicine – UniBO – Director of Occupational Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola (Bologna).

“Occupational safety is very important to us; anyone who comes to a railway construction site immediately realizes how risky the work of our workers is. When this project was presented to us, we immediately accepted it. Passive devices are necessary, but when technology comes to the rescue and presents you with a product that can save lives and improve the quality of work, we could only say yes and we are happy to have participated in the trial. We expect to see positive results soon,” added Giuseppe Brecciaroli, CEO of Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie S.p.A. 

“Acea is positioning itself as a company dedicated to people and sustainable infrastructure. As a group, we have a lot of employees, but we also work for people by providing essential services. This means that we focus on people and their safety. Today, our industry, like others, is undergoing profound changes dictated by the arrival of technologies related to artificial intelligence and the world of robotics. When we saw this type of device, it was an immediate choice for us because it is a very significant innovation for the safety of the workers and those close to them,” concludes Fabrizio Palermo, CEO of Acea.