EHS on Tap E279: How Technology is Transforming Construction Safety
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Jan 20, 2026 In this discussion, David Tibbetts, Chief Safety Officer at Highwire and former construction safety manager at Harvard, dives into the challenges of construction safety, highlighting rising fatality trends and workforce experience issues. He explores how AI can revolutionize safety by providing data-driven insights for job sites. David also emphasizes the importance of strategic AI integration, warns against misconceptions, and predicts future innovations in the industry. His insights shed light on the potential of technology to enhance safety practices.
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Focus On Highest-Risk Activities
- Fatality rates in construction have been flat or rising despite lower recordable rates, so focus must shift to highest-risk activities.
- Targeting SIFs (serious injuries and fatalities) is necessary to reverse the trend and reduce fatal falls.
Define Clear AI Use Cases First
- Start by defining use cases and ask how AI will drive measurable value in your organization.
- Prioritize applications that make day-to-day field work more efficient and support critical decisions.
AI Synthesizes Diverse Safety Data
- AI can analyze contractor safety programs, inspections, photos, and videos to surface critical gaps and direct attention.
- This enables teams to focus scarce resources on the most important hazards and inspections.