Boston-based Shawmut Design and Construction is leading the charge in making job sites safer through artificial intelligence. With over 150 active sites and 30,000 workers, the firm has been using AI since 2017 to analyze risks, enforce compliance, and anticipate safety incidents. By pulling data from weather forecasts, crew changes, and project plans, their systems can predict potential dangers before they occur.

During the pandemic, Shawmut expanded its efforts by implementing GPS-based AI tools to ensure social distancing and monitor worker behavior, including proper use of fall protection and equipment. Data privacy remains a priority—employee data is anonymized to protect identities.

The company plans to roll out real-time alerts that monitor worker locations and adapt safety rules based on regional regulations. “You’re talking about a business that, quite literally, 20 or 30 years ago was driven by paper and clipboards,” said Chief Safety Officer Shaun Carvalho. “Anything we can do to leverage technology, we’ll do it.”

Though challenges around data quality and system reliability remain, Shawmut is committed to advancing AI’s role in construction safety, setting a high bar for the rest of the industry.

For full article go to Business Insider.