The Next Chapter in Safety: Progress or Price Tag?
Safety used to mean steel-toed boots and a two-way radio. Now it means biometric wearables, computer vision, and predictive dashboards.
From construction zones to control rooms, organizations are leaning hard into AI, automation, and data-driven tools to minimize danger. Some platforms crunch thousands of safety records to spot emerging threats. Others send alerts when a worker’s posture signals fatigue or their vitals show strain.
But here’s the kicker: Is all this smart tech really improving safety—or just giving us the illusion of control?
Wes Rundle, who’s spent over a decade in the trenches, doesn’t hesitate:
“You can throw all the tech at a jobsite you want. If your crew doesn’t trust you, it won’t make a difference.”
Robin Postnikoff, who’s trained everyone from rookies to veterans, agrees:
“Learning doesn’t happen in a classroom. It happens on-site, in pressure. Until then, it’s all theory.”
As digital tools spread, safety leaders are learning where they fit—and where they fall short.
AI That Spots Risk Before It Happens
Predictive Tools That Read Between the Lines
Platforms like Avetta One and SparkCognition EHS are turning old data into tomorrow’s safety strategy. At Newmont Mining Corp, predictive tech helped reduce incidents by spotting risks buried deep in operations logs and maintenance records.
Deloitte found that companies using these tools saw a 25% drop in incidents within a year. In oil and gas, that figure can hit 50%.
Brett Burkard, a project lead in high-hazard sectors, says:
“Tech gives us perspective. It sees what routine blinds us to.”
AI Surveillance That Catches What Humans Miss
Computer vision is replacing manual inspections. One study in Sustainability showed PPE detection accuracy as high as 97.5%. These systems scan video feeds and ping supervisors if a worker skips goggles or ditches a hard hat.
Firms using this tech are reporting tighter compliance and fewer injuries—without more site visits.
Sensors That Think, Wearables That Warn
Tracking Fatigue in Real Time
Workers now wear smart devices that measure stress, body temp, and workload. The PNAS Nexus study showed that multimodal sensors, paired with machine learning, can predict fatigue before symptoms surface.
In construction—where fatigue plays a role in 1 in 5 injuries—that kind of early warning matters.
Martin Tanwi, who’s spent years on the front line, sees it clearly:
“You can’t expect sharp decisions from exhausted people. I don’t care what sensors you have if your shift runs too long.”
Machines Stepping In Where Humans Shouldn’t
Robotics in the Hot Zones
At companies like BASF, robotic systems now manage hazardous material processing. Drones handle remote inspections. Automated lifters manage heavy cargo without a single back strain.
Burkard again:
“I’ve worked in places where you hold your breath every day. A drone doesn’t care about that. It just gets the job done.”
Equipment That Monitors Itself
Heavy machines now come with diagnostics built in. If a bearing’s wearing down or oil pressure drops, the system sends a maintenance alert before failure happens.
No more breakdowns. No more guessing.
Taking the Risk Out of Repetition
Repetitive jobs—sanding, lifting, sorting—used to wear workers down. Now robots take on the burden, freeing humans for higher-skill, lower-risk roles.
Allan Moore, a longtime industry voice, says:
“If the machines can take the hits, let them. I’ve seen too many people retire broken.”
Cautionary Case: The Amazon Experience
During the pandemic, Amazon deployed an AI-based system called Proxemics. It tracked worker proximity and flagged violations of distancing rules. On paper, it was about health. In practice? It felt like surveillance.
Worker backlash was swift. Morale dropped. Questions swirled about whether tech meant to protect was now policing productivity.
It’s a reminder: Tech is only effective when it’s trusted.
The New Wave of Safety Wearables
Helmets That Think
At companies like Shell, AR-enabled helmets give workers real-time repair steps, structural scans, and hazard alerts. These hard hats don’t just protect—they guide.
Kevin Swinden of Global Hazmat puts it simply:
“Out in the field, you need answers fast. Smart helmets give them on the spot.”
Mechanical Muscle
Exoskeletons now assist with lifting and overhead work, reducing strain and injury risk. Ford, Toyota, and other employers have embraced them to support long-shift labor.
The payoff? Healthier workers. Fewer missed days. Lower long-term injuries.
Biometric Feedback on the Fly
Smartwatches and vests monitor heart rate, dehydration, and stress levels. When thresholds hit dangerous levels, alerts are sent instantly.
Psychological safety expert Johanna Pagonis warns:
“It’s not just about having data—it’s about culture. If people don’t feel safe speaking up, the tools won’t save them.”
The Complications of Going Digital
Safety or Surveillance?
The more gear tracks your body, the more it tracks you.
Jennifer Lastra, who’s worked in high-stakes fields, doesn’t mince words:
“If tech’s used to control, not protect, it becomes a threat.”
Amazon’s experience shows what happens when the lines blur.
A False Sense of Security
Automation can dull attention. One team ignored a damaged scaffold because their system hadn’t flagged it. A near miss followed.
Rundle says:
“Just because tech didn’t warn you doesn’t mean you’re safe.”
Affordability Gaps
For large corporations, safety tech is a rounding error. For small firms? It’s often out of reach.
Guy Martin rebuilt a safety program on a shoestring:
“The people who need these tools most can’t afford them. That’s the irony.”
Looking Ahead
Blending Instinct with Data
No AI replaces gut instinct—but it can support it.
John Holmes, who now leads Skycrest, says:
“Good tech makes good judgment better. But it never replaces it.”
Regulation Playing Catch-Up
Agencies are beginning to address the tech surge. But change is slow. Leaders are pushing for policies that allow safe testing of new tools before formal adoption.
“We’re iterating midair,” says Rundle.
What the Next Decade May Bring
- PPE that diagnoses trauma
- AI-driven behavioral alerts
- Fully integrated safety platforms
But culture? Still king.
Canadian Tech at the Forefront
Game-Changing Tools:
- Intenseye: AI visual compliance
- Soter & Kinetic: Ergonomics via wearables
- IBM Watson: Predictive models
- ProcessMAP: Enterprise-wide risk mapping
- Honeywell Safety Watch: Industrial-grade alerts
Canadian Leaders:
- Jason Lee (SmartCone): IoT-enhanced hazard zones
- Noel Simpson (EHS Analytics): AI-powered injury forecasting
- Cody Slater (Blackline): Real-time gas and fall detection
- Andrew Morden (Fatigue Science): Sleep and shift-based risk models
- Neil Cawse (Geotab): Fleet behavior analytics
- Christian Browne (Humo): Posture-corrective wearables
- Greg Brouwer (Teck): AI-backed mining safety systems
These are the architects of Canada’s safety future—merging innovation with accountability.
Why It Still Comes Down to Culture
Even the best tech can’t replace vigilance.
Postnikoff says:
“Training isn’t theory. It’s repetition. It’s habits. No tech builds that on its own.”
In the end, safety isn’t in the sensor. It’s in the team.
And the moment someone says, “Hold up—something’s not right.”
That’s the moment safety tech actually works.
