Exploring AI in Construction Health and Safety: Professor Billy Hare
In the second of our new series of academic insight blogs, Professor Billy Hare explores the topic of Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Construction Health and Safety.
Being at the forefront of construction health and safety research and education, I relish any opportunity to explore how digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming our industry.
When I was invited to speak at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health West of Scotland branch on ‘Digital Technology and AI in Construction H&S’, I knew it would be a great chance to not only share my insights but also spark debate about the opportunities and limitations of AI in managing safety risks.
To set the stage, I took the audience through the digital technologies that are already shaping construction health and safety. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is revolutionising how we visualise and manage risks before they become real-world problems. Drones are being deployed more and more for site inspections, helping to detect hazards and monitor progress in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Sensors are playing a crucial role in tracking environmental conditions and keeping workers safe, while cloud platforms and data software are enabling real-time storage, sharing and analysis of safety data like never before.
As a member of the BIM4H&S working group, chaired by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), I was keen to highlight some key projects other members are involved in. One of the most promising is the Construction Risk Library, designed to integrate into BIM platforms. This resource helps project teams proactively manage design risks, embedding safety considerations right from the outset rather than dealing with them reactively. This valuable resource should be made available soon.
One of the most thought-provoking aspects of my presentation was a comparison of risk assessments — one carried out by my students and another generated by ChatGPT. I gave them identical criteria and the results were fascinating. The AI picked up on many standard hazards and control measures, yet it missed some key risks that my students identified. At the same time, AI flagged some hazards that the students overlooked. It was a powerful demonstration that AI and human expertise can work together, but AI is still far from replacing human judgment when it comes to risk assessment.
While AI holds great promise for construction health and safety, I also addressed some of its key limitations and ethical challenges. Overreliance on AI-driven risk assessments could be dangerous, as AI lacks the intuition and contextual understanding that experienced professionals bring to the table. There are also pressing ethical questions around accountability — who is responsible if AI gets it wrong? These are issues we must tackle as we integrate AI into safety management.
AI is a valuable tool, but it is nowhere near replacing the role of a competent H&S advisor. Many safety challenges require in-depth conversations, professional judgment and a level of nuance that AI simply cannot replicate… yet.
Reflecting on this presentation, I am more convinced than ever that AI should be seen as a support system rather than a substitute for human expertise. As technology continues to advance, our challenge will be to strike the right balance between innovation and the irreplaceable insights of experienced H&S professionals.