Data‑center fire safety market boom – Expected to grow from $1.4 B in 2024 to over $3 B by 2034. Eco‑friendly flame retardants surge – Non‑halogenated products projected to reach $7.5 trillion by 2035. Automatic fire sprinkler growth in Europe – Uptake rising due to new regulations and technological advances. Global first‑aid market expansion – Driven by stricter workplace safety rules and increased awareness. Fire‑rated door demand rising – Market expected to exceed $60 B by 2027. Fireproofing materials surge – Projected to hit $2.5 B globally by 2032 due to urban development. AI‑powered safety inspections – Revolutionizing risk prediction, compliance tracking, and accident prevention. Battery‑fire safety regulations – Proposed standards for e‑bikes and e‑scooters address rising lithium fires. Smart suppression systems – Buildings adopting real-time, intelligent fire detection and response tech. VR fire‑drill training – Virtual and augmented reality used for immersive safety drills and simulations. Machine‑learning false‑alarm reduction – Smarter smoke detectors with advanced data models reduce errors. Residential electrical fire surges – Overloaded circuits and aging infrastructure causing urban fire spikes. Community fire‑norm tightening – Neighborhoods enhancing evacuation plans and safety audits. Highway truck fire incidents – Major transport routes increasingly disrupted by vehicular fires. Heatwave‑linked workforce risks – High temperatures causing increased health incidents on the job. Workplace psychosocial hazards – Burnout, stress, and mental health now prioritized in safety planning. Wearables & connected‑worker tech – Smart helmets, vests, and watches boost real-time health monitoring. Fatigue‑driven safety risks – Healthcare and logistics sectors face growing issues from long shifts. Hazardous heat exposure protocols – Employers adopt hydration stations and cooling breaks amid rising heat. Global OSH literacy push – Global efforts to improve safety signage understanding and hazard training.
Emerging Trends & Technology Artificial Intelligence in Safety Inspections. Wearable Safety Tech & Connected Workers. Smart PPE: Sensors and Real-time Monitoring. Virtual Reality (VR) for Safety Training. Data-Driven Safety Analytics & Dashboards. Physical Safety & Risk Management. Fall Protection Systems and Best Practices. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA). Confined Space Entry Safety Protocols. Machine Guarding and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO). Fire Safety: Prevention, Drills, and Equipment Standards. Chemical & Environmental Safety. Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) Handling Procedures. Respiratory Protection in Toxic Environments. Heat Stress and Cold Exposure Management. Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Control. Waste Management and Environmental Compliance. Health & Wellbeing at Work Psychosocial Risks and Mental Health at Work. Ergonomics in Office and Industrial Settings. Workplace Fatigue and Sleep Deprivation Risks. Substance Abuse Policies and Testing Programs. Occupational Diseases: Prevention and Reporting. Regulatory, Culture & Compliance. ISO 45001 Certification and Implementation. Creating a Culture of Safety: Leadership Roles. Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis. Legal Liability and Compliance in OHS. Worker Participation and Safety Committees.

IATA annual safety report shares insight into accident trends

IATA annual safety report shares insight into accident trends

IATA annual safety report shares insight into accident trends. The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual safety report for 2024 concludes that since 2023 there has been an increase in air travel accidents and fatalities, but the overall figures remained below the benchmark of the five-year average.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, said: “Even with recent high profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare. The long-term story of aviation safety is one of continuous improvement.

“A decade ago, the five-year average (2011-2015) was one accident for every 456,000 flights. Today, the five-year average (2020-2024) is one accident for every 810,000 flights. That improvement is because we know that every fatality is one too many.”

The safety report stated one of the major causes of concern for aviation incidents to be rising conflict zones, citing the December crash in Kazakhstan, which reported 38 fatalities, and the crash in Sudan, with five, as examples of the growing issue.  In the aftermath of these incidents, IATA highlighted the importance of Canada’s Safer Skies initiative, that works with commercial airlines and international organisations to ensure passenger safety in risk areas.

In the category of most common accidents, two areas were flagged: tail strikes and runway excursions, with North America in particular as a risk area.  The emerging data underpins the need for international aviation organisations to institute measures to ensure passenger and crew safety during take-off and landings.

While it was not a main cause of aviation accidents in 2024, IATA also reported a sharp rise in Global Navigation Satellite system (GNNSS) related interfaces, like signal disruptions, jamming and spoofing, that have flagged it as a concern on the index looking toward 2025.

“Reliable navigation is fundamental to safe and efficient flight operations. Immediate steps by governments and air navigation service providers are needed to stop this practice, improve situational awareness, and ensure that airlines have the necessary tools to operate safely in all areas,” said Walsh.

The numerous crashes that have occurred since the beginning of 2025, suggest that these may still be areas of concern for airlines, and the key to ensuring public safety and instituting better preventative measures is more accident investigation, according to Walsh.

“Accident investigation is a vital tool for improving global aviation safety. To be effective, the reports of accident investigations must be complete, accessible, and timely,” said Walsh.

OHS Magazine
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