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Artificial intelligence and personal protective equipment: a scoping review

Objectives . Smart technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), have significant potential to enhance occupational health and safety programs. This scoping review examines AI applications in personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods. Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were systematically searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024. Two independent reviewers screened 277 records, and 47 stud…

By the Truvace desk2 min read1 sourcePeer-reviewedTRV-2026-1756· cite & verify
Artificial intelligence and personal protective equipment: a scoping review
"Construction worker water break" by David McSpadden is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.

In brief

A scoping review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and searched PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed studies from 2010 to 2024. Two reviewers screened 277 records, and 47 studies were included. The authors sorted the uses of AI in protective equipment into three groups.

The review matters because it shows where AI is already being tested to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses in sectors such as construction, healthcare, oil and gas, and nuclear work. The authors describe the field as emerging, and they call for more research and wider industrial implementation before its potential can be realized.

Main points

  1. Of the 47 included studies, 59.6% addressed AI-based detection of PPE compliance using computer vision and deep learning for helmets, masks and vests.
  2. About 23.4% covered smart PPE that combines sensors and AI for real-time worker monitoring and risk prediction.
  3. About 17.0% examined big data frameworks for PPE stockpiling, supply chain management and inventory optimization.
  4. Common techniques included convolutional neural networks, YOLO, SSD and support vector machines.

The gain

AI combined with protective equipment, through compliance detection, supply management and sensor-based smart gear, has shown promising results for improving worker safety across several high-risk industries.

The rundown

The review covered peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 2024 and was published in 2026. It started from the premise that Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, particularly AI, can strengthen occupational health and safety programs.

Compliance detection was the largest category. These systems automatically monitor whether workers wear helmets, masks and vests, which replaces manual checks with computer vision and deep learning models.

Smart PPE integrates sensors and AI algorithms for real-time monitoring of workers and prediction of risk, while the big data category addresses stockpile analysis and inventory management. Applications spanned construction, healthcare, oil and gas, and nuclear industries.

Sources

  1. Peer-reviewedInternational Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics2026-10-07

The debate