Will AI drones, robots and wearable sensors revolutionize workplace safety?
Will AI drones, robots and wearable sensors revolutionize workplace safety?
Publish Date: 2026-03-04 09:58:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
Around 60 per cent of Canadian employees can expect their job to be transformed through artificial intelligence (AI). For many, AI will complement, rather than replace, their work. For some, it could prevent illness, injury or death.
This might look like a nurse wearing a T-shirt equipped with sensors to track her lower back posture during a hospital shift. It might be an algorithm monitoring noise levels in a steel factory, to prevent worker hearing loss. Or it could be a robotic glove that helps workers avoid repetitive strain injury on an assembly line.
High-risk sectors such as construction, oil and gas, mining and heavy manufacturing may have the most to gain. Workers experience large numbers of serious injuries in these sectors, despite decades of safety regulations. Falls, equipment accidents, repetitive strain and exposure to environmental and psycho-social hazards are risks of the job.
Globally, there at least 60,000 fatal accidents on construction sites each year. In British Columbia alone, the construction industry reported more than 15,200 serious injury claims between 2015 and 2024.
AI systems — such as machine learning and large language models — can go far beyond traditional occupational health and safety practices such as inspections, training and audits. They can adapt to changing conditions, continuously monitor risks and provide real-time decision support, helping anticipate and prevent accidents before they occur.
These technologies also bring risks — to psychological health, privacy and worker rights. Canada and other nations need to develop robust governance frameworks, to ensure worker safety and well-being.
Smart helmets, boots, wrist sensors
Among the most visible applications of AI in occupational health and safety are commercial wearables and smart personal protective equipment. These include smart helmets, boots, belts, biometric garments and wrist sensors. They collect data on posture, movement, heart rate,…
