YOLO-Based Detector for Enhancing Workplace Safety: Real-Time PPE Detection and Monitoring

Ensuring the safety of workers in hazardous environments is crucial, given the potential severity of accidents. Indeed, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety helmets, vests, and boots, is vital in mitigating risks. However, adherence to PPE usage often falls short due to inadequate safety awareness among workers. To address this challenge, we aim to develop a robust safety monitoring system by leveraging advancements in deep learning and object detection technology. Our proposed method uses YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 algorithms for real-time detection and classification of safety equipment, including helmets, vests, and boots. For this aim, we carefully collect and annotate datasets from diverse sources like Roboflow and Kaggle. Then, we accurately evaluate performance metrics such as precision, recall, and speed through rigorous training and testing of various YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 configurations on annotated data batches. By conducting thorough comparative analyses, we aim to identify the most effective model for each PPE category, considering both detection accuracy and computational efficiency. Finally, the object detection system is deployed through a web interface to determine whether a person is protected or not.