Cyber physical systems for occupational safety at industrial sites: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

In last decade, many Cyber Physical Systems CPSs for occupational safety have been developedwithin research programs funded by national and transnational bodies. Many of them are now readyfor the market. The paper focuses on the industrial sectors, where the safety of the worker and thesafety of machines, equipment and processes are linked each other. The papers proposes to safetymanagers criteria and suggestions for choosing appropriate CPS for seizing the great opportunitiesfor safety improvement. The paper discusses a few issues, including cybersecurity and privacy, whichare critical for a successful implementation of the CPSs in occupational safety. Safety ManagementSystem SMS, in particular, must be adequate to collect the amount of data generated by many sensorsdistributed in work ambient and worn by workers.

Keywords

• cyber physical systems
• occupational safety
• industrial safety