Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of safety technology come and go in warehouses and manufacturing environments. Some tools make a real difference; others look great on paper but don’t hold up in the chaos of daily operations. AI cameras definitely fall into the “game-changer” category — but only when we understand what they can do and their limitations.
What AI Cameras Do Really Well
AI cameras are powerful for line-of-sight safety. They detect pedestrians, identify near misses, and alert operators in real time. On forklifts, these systems can recognize when someone steps into a danger zone, warn the operator, or even slow the vehicle automatically. When implemented properly, AI cameras absolutely improve awareness and reduce incidents. I’ve seen it firsthand.
The Limitation: Cameras Can Only See What’s in Front of Them
Cameras can’t see through racking, pallets, or other vehicles — which means blind spots. In a warehouse, those blind spots are exactly where accidents happen. If a pedestrian walks in a blind spot, similar to ones we have in our own cars, or steps out from behind a wall or stacked material, even the smartest AI system won’t detect it until it’s too late. That’s not a flaw — it’s reality. Relying solely on line-of-sight technology can create a false sense of security in environments where visibility is limited more often than not.
Closing the Gaps with Wearable Technology
This is where wearable safety devices change the game. When workers wear connected sensors that communicate with AI-equipped forklifts or facility systems, you move from seeing danger to sensing it.
Wearables can:
- Detect people and vehicles even out of camera view
- Provide real-time alerts to operators and pedestrians, making the alert Personal
- Capture proximity data for training and analytics
- Integrate with cameras for true 360° protection
Together, AI vision and wearables form a complete safety net — one that covers every person, every vehicle, every time.
From my experience, AI cameras are an excellent foundation for safety. But on their own, they only cover part of the picture. When combined with wearable proximity systems, you move beyond reactive safety and into true prevention — where potential incidents are stopped before they happen.
“AI cameras are powerful eyes, but wearables are the heartbeat of a complete safety system. Together, they’re how we truly prevent the preventable.”
— Eric Martinez, CEO, Modjoul
Preventing the Preventable
At Modjoul, we’re helping warehouses and industrial operations create safer, smarter, more connected workplaces — where every worker goes home safe, every day.
If you’re ready to close the gaps in your safety program and achieve true 360° protection, we’d love to help.
By Tom Scott, Chief Revenue Officer
