By Robert Tenhagen, M3 Insurance
The construction safety professional of tomorrow will be part safety expert, part data analyst, and part communicator. AI is the force multiplier that makes all three roles more achievable. AI tools are compressing timelines, improving accuracy, and freeing safety professionals to focus on what matters most, keeping people safe. This article aims to describe some of the tools and programs available as you incorporate AI into your workplace.
AI Tools: Using AI in Real Time to Help Manage Safety
Monitoring sites, drivers, and hazards in real time is virtually impossible for any safety professional. AI tools for safety professionals are evolving. Several product types (not promoting any one brand) listed below will give you an idea of where AI is going.
- Temeke Ergonomics is an AI-powered ergonomic assessment platform utilizing computer vision to analyze video footage taken from your phone of workers in motion. This program generates color coded stick model overlays of your workers to evaluate poor posture, at risk movement, repetitive strains, and inefficient workstations. The program then applies ergonomic assessment models to complete risk scores per body part and provides recommended interventions.
- Vehicle Cameras can provide 360 Degree views with up to six cameras, critical incident capture, real time in-cab voice coaching for those that are distracted and generate driver safety scores. They also identify at risk behaviors from leading indicators to coaching drivers. Systems can generate AI alerts to drivers for pedestrians, cyclists, and others.
- AI Driven Communication Tools such as Wevix provide dedicated two-way radios or Apps for phones that can manage location tracking, man down alerts, send mass or targeted alerts, provide historical location reports, workforce visualization and real time language conversion for folks on each end of their device. This product also transcribes, timestamps, and archives all messages to keep ongoing records of communication to drive behaviors. You can also create unlimited channels, favorite changes for different groups, or 1:1 channels.
- Facility/Site/Worker Monitoring products such as Intenseye identify employees not wearing required PPE, unsafe behaviors in the work area such as working at heights or three points of contact issues, establish work area flags when workers are in areas they are not supposed to be or at times they are not supposed to be, forklift and other vehicle traffic conflict flags, and poor housekeeping such as walkways not clear of debris.
What AI products to use:
Some AI products are more creative, as others are analytical. Also, open AI platforms can generate a greater frequency of inaccurate or biased information, so you should always use a subscription-based platform for sensitive and intellectual data. What project you’re working on dictates the ideal platform to use.
1) Research & writing assistance – ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude
2) Data analysis & injury tracking – Excel Copilot, Power BI, Procore Safety
3) Program updates & gap analysis – AI document tools, custom GPTs
4) Dashboards & visualizations – Power BI, Tableau, Google Looker
5) Presentations & reporting – Copilot in PowerPoint
Remember, when “talking” to AI, phrase questions and provide detail as though you are talking to a day one intern.
The technology is here. AI is a valuable tool, but it cannot replace human input and expertise. Teams should train both on how to use it, and how to verify its accuracy. The question is no longer whether to use AI, it’s how quickly you can integrate it into your practice and do it responsibly.
