How tech keeps danger at bay

Across the construction sector, firms are harnessing smart tools such as Al-powered cameras and VR headsets to prevent workplace accidents

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Perched high in the cab of his excavator, Mr Phapho Sangdee relies on artificial intelligence (Al) cameras to watch the corners he cannot see. Each time a coworker steps too close, an alert flashes on his screen. In an instant, he pulls a 13-tonne machine to a stop, averting a mishap before it happens.

The technology, introduced at one of Or Kim Peow's (OKP) construction sites, is part of the construction industry's broader push to cut workplace accidents.

Proximity sensors, including those mounted on excavators, have become an ubiquitous fixture in a sector where vehicular incidents and workers getting caught between objects remain a leading cause of injuries and fatalities.

At OKP's site, the Al-powered sensors are more accurate than the traditional kind they replaced.

"Previously, we would get alerts for everything - equipment, barriers, even large debris," says corporate safety manager Jong Hua Kwan. "Now, it triggers only when people are nearby, giving reliable alerts and allowing workers to stay focused without constant distractions."

Since installing the Al cameras in 2024, OKP has recorded zero near-miss incidents at all of its projects across Singapore. Mr Sangdee adds: "It's not just about safety, it's also about working efficiently and smarter."

Gammon, too, has reported similar success at its worksites. Since it frequently uses mobile elevated work platforms such as boom and scissor lifts, the company requires each to be fitted with three proximity sensors two placed diagonally and one in the middle of the platform to reduce entrapment risks.