Labour Dept eyes AI drones to detect smoking on construction sites

The Labour Department began using drones to improve construction site safety.

After launching drone inspections late last year, the department is now developing AI technology to identify workers smoking on site.

From towering high-rises to major infrastructure projects, construction sites are increasingly being monitored from the air.

Since October last year, the Labour Department has deployed drones for site inspections and accident investigations.

The aircraft allow inspectors to monitor workers from a safe distance, checking whether they are wearing safety harnesses and helmets properly, while also spotting unsafe lifting operations involving tower cranes.

During industrial accidents, drones can help build a 3D model to facilitate investigations.

By the end of last month, the department carried out 64 enforcement operations, leading to 224 prosecutions and 623 statutory notices issued.

Some drones are also equipped with thermal imaging cameras, enabling inspectors to detect potential fire hazards.

The next step is using AI to enforce the construction industry's smoking ban with its development expected to take nine months.

The department says the thermal camera on drones can detect temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Celsius, which is typically the temperature range of a lit cigarette.

Combined with AI analysis of smoking-related body movements, inspection teams can identify the smoker effectively.

As the smoking ban at construction sites has been in force for around two weeks, the Labour Department issued 39 fixed-penalty notices, 11 improvement notices to contractors and more than 570 verbal warnings and advisory notices.