Unmanned aerial or terrestrial vehicles, commonly known as drones, are aircraft or land craft controlled by a ground-based operator.
Drones
Confined Space Entry
Unmanned aerial or terrestrial vehicles, commonly known as drones, are commonly aircraft or watercraft controlled by a ground-based operator. Common uses involve drones being sent into hazardous areas, such as confined spaces or work at height, effectively eliminating the risk for workers. While OSHA has no specific regulation governing the use of drones, the agency has issued a memorandum to regional administrators outlining the protocol for drone use during enforcement activities.
Emergency Response
Work at Height
Workers:
Employers:
Overall, 19% of workers indicated that drones are relevant to their role in preventing serious workplace injuries or fatalities. Employees in utilities (31%) and construction (30%) found the technology most relevant compared to other industries.
In 2024, 26% of employees reported having tested, interacted with, or used drones in the workplace.
20% using
12% tested or tried
20% considering
23% no knowledge
21% of users adopted them in the previous year
Source +
Findings from the NSC 2020 Safety Technology in the Workplace Survey of 500 employers and 1,000 workers from safety-sensitive industries.
Why It’s Important:
Technology for gathering data using drones has undergone significant advances in recent years. Drones now often come equipped with 3D cameras, thermal imaging cameras, artificial intelligence, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 4K cameras with advanced sensors. Additionally, a variety of sensors and transducers use electronic gravitational, thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic and chemical capabilities, among others, to sense measures including gas leaks and atmospheric pressures. Drones also can perform numerous surveying tasks, many of which are already being undertaken commercially (Watkins, et al., 2020).
Drones have the ability to minimize safety risks associated with hazardous work conditions, and, in certain cases, eliminate them completely (NAEM, 2019). Operators can fly drones into high-risk situations and hard-to-reach areas to perform reality capture and take accurate measurements that
otherwise would have required employees to expose themselves to risky environments (Karakhan & Alsaffar, 2019).
The drone market comprises 12 usage scenarios for commercial, industrial and civil government (CICG) over four categories: inspections, monitoring, surveying and mapping, and emergency response. Despite the advancements of drone technology, short battery life remains a concern in many applications.
View from the Top: Using Aerial Drones for High-risk Situations
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Aerial drones can be used to reduce or eliminate serious injuries and fatalities related to working at height, the most common non-roadway hazard leading to workplace fatalities. Drones are used more and more to conduct aerial inspections and other work to keep employees safely on the ground.
Webinars:
Relevant Resources:
Augmented Reality for Real-time Safety Application
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A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
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Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Augmented Reality for Real-time Safety Application
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A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
An Introduction to Drones for Workplace Safety
Learn More
Panelists discuss how the application of drones has evolved over the years and the wide range of industries adopting drones for improved safety. Common uses involve drones being sent into high-risk areas, such as confined spaces and areas requiring work at height.
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Augmented Reality for Real-time Safety Application
Learn More
A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
View from the Top: Using Aerial Drones for High-risk Situations
Learn More
Aerial drones can be used to reduce or eliminate serious injuries and fatalities related to working at height, the most common non-roadway hazard leading to workplace fatalities. Drones are used more and more to conduct aerial inspections and other work to keep employees safely on the ground.
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Augmented Reality for Real-time Safety Application
Learn More
A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
Drones for Working at Height and Confined Space Inspections
Learn More
A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
White Papers:
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Augmented Reality for Real-time Safety Application
Learn More
A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
View from the Top: Using Aerial Drones for High-risk Situations
Learn More
Aerial drones can be used to reduce or eliminate serious injuries and fatalities related to working at height, the most common non-roadway hazard leading to workplace fatalities. Drones are used more and more to conduct aerial inspections and other work to keep employees safely on the ground.
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Nutrien’s use of underwater drones
Learn More
Boiler work is notoriously dangerous, though necessary, often exposing employees to confined spaces, high temperatures, and poor air quality. To combat this risk, AES implemented the use of drones to minimize human entry into boilers. This case study explores the process and impacts of the technology on productivity, operations, and
safety in the workplace.
AES’s use of drones
Learn More
Boiler work is notoriously dangerous, though necessary, often exposing employees to confined spaces, high temperatures, and poor air quality. To combat this risk, AES implemented the use of drones to minimize human entry into boilers. This case study explores the process and impacts of the technology on productivity, operations, and
safety in the workplace.
Case Studies:
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Augmented Reality for Real-time Safety Application
Learn More
A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
View from the Top: Using Aerial Drones for High-risk Situations
Learn More
Aerial drones can be used to reduce or eliminate serious injuries and fatalities related to working at height, the most common non-roadway hazard leading to workplace fatalities. Drones are used more and more to conduct aerial inspections and other work to keep employees safely on the ground.
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Nutrien’s use of underwater drones
Learn More
Boiler work is notoriously dangerous, though necessary, often exposing employees to confined spaces, high temperatures, and poor air quality. To combat this risk, AES implemented the use of drones to minimize human entry into boilers. This case study explores the process and impacts of the technology on productivity, operations, and
safety in the workplace.
Safety Technology Investment Calculator
Learn More
Boiler work is notoriously dangerous, though necessary, often exposing employees to confined spaces, high temperatures, and poor air quality. To combat this risk, AES implemented the use of drones to minimize human entry into boilers. This case study explores the process and impacts of the technology on productivity, operations, and
safety in the workplace.
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Relevant Hazardous Situations:
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Relevant Hazardous Situations:
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Augmented Reality for Real-time Safety Application
Learn More
A deeper dive into augmented reality with an overview of AR for safety training and real-time application. Speakers discuss case studies and impact, hardware and software solutions, and barriers and integration.
View from the Top: Using Aerial Drones for High-risk Situations
Learn More
Aerial drones can be used to reduce or eliminate serious injuries and fatalities related to working at height, the most common non-roadway hazard leading to workplace fatalities. Drones are used more and more to conduct aerial inspections and other work to keep employees safely on the ground.
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Learn More
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
A Deeper Dive into Reducing Risk with Submersible Drones
Learn More
Learn how submersible drones are used to conduct underwater inspections and other critical safety tasks.
An Introduction to Drones for Workplace Safety
Learn More
Panelists discuss how the application of drones has evolved over the years and the wide range of industries adopting drones for improved safety. Common uses involve drones being sent into high-risk areas, such as confined spaces and areas requiring work at height.
Webinars:
Learn More
View from the Top: Using Aerial Drones for High-risk Situations
Aerial drones can be used to reduce or eliminate serious injuries and fatalities related to working at height, the most common non-roadway hazard leading to workplace fatalities. Drones are used more and more to conduct aerial inspections and other work to keep employees safely on the ground.
Learn More
Expanding Safety for Confined Space Entry and Other Critical Tasks
Critical workplace tasks may include a variety of jobs involving performing work in permit-required confined spaces or conducting surveys at height. Confined spaces typically have restricted means of entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy due to a lack of ventilation or other situational factors.
Learn More
A Deeper Dive into Reducing Risk with Submersible Drones
Learn how submersible drones are used to conduct underwater inspections and other critical safety tasks.
An Introduction to Drones for Workplace Safety
Learn More
Panelists discuss how the application of drones has evolved over the years and the wide range of industries adopting drones for improved safety. Common uses involve drones being sent into high-risk areas, such as confined spaces and areas requiring work at height.