The final workshop of the research project “iSafety – Leveraging artificial intelligence techniques to improve occupational and process safety in the iron and steel industry” was held at the University of Brescia. The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under the PNRR – Next Generation EU programme.
Developed by the University of Brescia in collaboration with ICAR-CNR, the project explored the application of mathematical models and artificial intelligence techniques to the analysis of safety data in the steel industry. The aim was to identify recurring patterns and support more effective prevention strategies.
Duferco Travi e Profilati took part as industrial partner. The company actively contributed to the project activities and provided the industrial case study on which the research was based.
The Industrial Contribution
Within Duferco, the analysis focused on the Electric Arc Furnace area, one of the most complex operational environments in the plant. Process data and information from monitoring systems were collected and analysed. This enabled a deeper assessment of operating dynamics and the identification of patterns relevant to the prevention of critical situations.
The integration of sector safety data with industrial data made it possible to validate the model in a real production environment. The results confirmed its ability to support risk analysis in a highly complex industrial setting.
Dialogue Between Research, Institutions and Industry
The final workshop provided an opportunity for discussion between academia, institutions and industry. Representatives from Confindustria Brescia, ATS Brescia and INAIL Brescia also took part, offering complementary perspectives on safety in the steel sector.
The collaboration between universities, research centres and industry highlights the value of a coordinated approach. It strengthens the protection of people through advanced data analysis and supports the transfer of scientific expertise into practical industrial applications.
