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AI-enabled health and safety tools on UK construction sites

Source article: The perception of craft construction workers on the application of artificial intelligence in health and safety in UK construction

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to play a bigger role in health and safety (H&S) in UK construction. While most studies today are concerned about managerial perceptions, technological possibilities and organisational readiness, there is a dearth of research on the use of AI based on the lived experiences of construction workers. This research aims to explore how craft construction workers perceive the application of AI in construction H&S. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research desig…

By the Truvace desk2 min read1 sourcePeer-reviewedTRV-2026-1517· cite & verify
The perception of craft construction workers on the application of artificial intelligence in health and safety in UK construction
"Construction workers in Hong Kong" by JoopDorresteijn is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.
Trace impact readingContested
P 69The P score combines the specificity and measured human impact of the grounded problem claim with the strength of this Trace’s cited sources.

Both sides are scored from claims and sources, not community votes.

G 67The G score combines the specificity and measured human impact of the grounded gain claim with the strength of this Trace’s cited sources.

In brief

Researchers interviewed 20 craft construction workers from England, Scotland and Wales, each with 5 to 20 years of experience, to learn how frontline staff experience AI in site health and safety. Thematic analysis showed adoption is slow and gradual, with AI mostly used to warn of hazards.

The work matters because earlier research mostly reflected managers, technology potential and organisational readiness rather than those who work under these systems. Attitudes varied with worker age and with how clearly a tool's function was explained, so acceptance is not guaranteed. The study is qualitative, so it describes perceptions rather than measuring safety outcomes.

Main points

  1. The sample was 20 purposively selected craft workers with 5 to 20 years of experience across England, Scotland and Wales.
  2. AI-enabled health and safety tools are being taken up slowly and gradually.
  3. AI is mostly used for hazard warning on construction sites.
  4. Workers' age influenced attitudes, and clearer tool functions improved acceptance.
  5. The authors say findings can help industry, policymakers and developers address concerns while leveraging benefits.

The gain

Workers identified AI-based hazard detection as a benefit, and some regarded AI-enabled safety tools as a beneficial modern addition to construction sites.

The problem

Some craft workers see AI safety tools as a form of surveillance and distrust their reliability, which may hinder acceptance.

The rundown

The study used a qualitative design with interviews and thematic analysis. Participants were purposively chosen from three UK nations, giving frontline perspectives on AI in construction health and safety.

Reactions were mixed: some workers viewed AI as a beneficial modern addition, while others perceived it as surveillance. Hazard detection was named as a benefit, but workers did not trust the tools to be reliable.

The authors describe the work as among the first qualitative studies to empirically explore the views of frontline UK craft workers on AI in construction health and safety management, aiming to inform future adoption.

What this doesn’t fix

The study is qualitative with only 20 purposively selected UK workers, so it reports perceptions rather than measured safety outcomes and may not generalise.

Sources

  1. Peer-reviewedJournal of Engineering, Design and Technology2026-10-14

The debate