Boston-based contractor Suffolk Construction is taking a sports-inspired approach to jobsite safety, partnering with Arrowsight to introduce video-based coaching across its projects.
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Much like athletes reviewing game footage to refine performance, Suffolk is leveraging recorded jobsite activity to identify both strong and weak safety behaviors. The initiative relies on Arrowsight’s camera systems and human-led video review process to deliver actionable insights without burdening workers with additional administrative tasks.
Arrowsight, headquartered in New York City, deploys fixed-point, battery-powered cameras across jobsites to capture hours of daily footage. These systems are designed to function without consistent power or internet access, making them adaptable to dynamic construction environments.
At the end of each day, the footage is reviewed by OSHA-trained auditors who flag both risky behaviors and examples of best practices. Unlike many emerging solutions, this system intentionally avoids AI-driven analysis in construction due to the variability and complexity of jobsites.
The reviewed insights are then shared with Suffolk’s safety teams, enabling targeted coaching and recognition of positive worker behavior.
The partnership builds on a multi-year pilot conducted with Zurich North America and Zurich Resilience Solutions. During that period, Suffolk reported four times fewer claims and ten times lower incurred losses.
Doug Ware, senior vice president of risk management, highlighted the simplicity of adoption.
“We’re not going to them and saying, ‘Hey, you have to log into this iPad, or you have to use this portal and do this and enter your hours or your daily reports,’ or anything like that,” Ware said.
Despite its benefits, the rollout initially faced resistance from workers concerned about constant monitoring and productivity disruptions. Ware noted that some workers viewed the technology as intrusive.
To address this, Suffolk emphasized that the system is intended strictly for coaching—not surveillance.
“We’re reviewing this so we all get better, and how do we utilize this to ensure our individuals that are working on the job site aren’t exposed to hazards?” Ware said.
The collaboration between Suffolk and Arrowsight is also dynamic. Feedback flows both ways—Suffolk can clarify when flagged behaviors meet internal safety standards, while Arrowsight can highlight overlooked risks that lead to updates in company policies.
“Again, it really helps with the dialogue piece to help everybody get better, to identify potential existing hazards that are out,” Ware said.
Arrowsight CEO Adam Aronson underscored the company’s stance on AI in construction:
“Regarding AI, we do use AI extensively in manufacturing where there is full time dedicated power and extremely consistent work activities, but we do not use any AI in construction and rather audit 100% of the smart sampled high hazard work activities with OSHA trained civil engineers; furthermore, any flagged coaching videos are reviewed by at least one more senior manager prior to being sent to the clients,” Aronson said .
Footage is often delivered to Suffolk’s team as early as 4 a.m., enabling rapid response to serious issues and timely reinforcement of safe practices.
Ultimately, Suffolk views the initiative as more than a cost-saving measure—it’s a cultural shift toward proactive safety.
“The big piece that we look at this is, it’s a tool to mitigate those exposures or reduce those injuries,” Ware said. “Yes, the money is good, but it’s much more about changing those behaviors, making sure people are going home at the end of the day safe.”
Originally reported by Matthew Thibault, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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