Application of Artificial Intelligence in Electrical Safety

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more sophisticated in imitating human cognitive processes (e.g., problem solving, object detection, and learning), it has transformed several industry sectors and has had a growing impact on the way construction projects are delivered. One of the areas that has great potential to advance breakthroughs for innovative improvements is in electrical safety. Data generated from images captured from mobile devices, unmanned aerial vehicles, wearable sensors, building information modeling (BIM), and others present an opportunity for construction safety professionals and in many other sectors to analyze and benefit from the insights generated from the data using AI, machine learning and deep learning systems. For example, AI-based algorithms can be used to scan images from jobsites for safety hazards, such as workers not wearing protective equipment, and correlate the images with accident records; identify unsafe worker behavior and suggest training and education priorities; or track the real-time interactions of workers, machinery, and objects on the site and alert supervisors of potential safety issues. Using AI to execute the existing Shock and Arc Flash Risk Assessment Procedure templates from CSA Z462 and NFPA 70E as real-world scenarios and the potential ethical factors from the workers perspectives will also be discussed. Considering AI’s immense potential, this study aims to synthesize emerging trends of artificial intelligence in electrical safety.