Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest producers and retailers of electricity and heat, has used Flyability’s Elios 3 drone to create 3D models of restricted areas inside a decommissioned power plant, improving its understanding of locations deemed unsafe for human entry.

Once decommissioned, power plants often remain untouched for extended periods due to safety hazards and security concerns. Large industrial facilities present risks such as falls, head injuries, and confined space dangers. Additionally, the proprietary designs and operational methods of power plants require protection, leading to further restrictions.

Despite these constraints, companies must continue maintaining decommissioned plants. However, limited access makes it difficult to assess structural conditions, posing challenges for routine inspections and long-term planning.

Leveraging drone technology for inspection

The decommissioned facility, no longer in operation, had been repurposed as a training site for firefighters, but certain sections were still off-limits due to falling debris risks.

A long-time Flyability customer, Vattenfall saw potential in the Elios 3, an indoor drone equipped with a LiDAR sensor, for creating precise 3D maps of no-go zones. The company conducted test flights at the plant to determine whether the Elios 3’s simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) capabilities could generate usable models.

Using the FlyAware SLAM algorithm, the drone processed real-time LiDAR data, creating 3D visualisations of restricted areas. The collected data was later refined with FARO software for higher-resolution post-processed models, enhancing the team's ability to understand the facility’s layout.

The test flights focused on a deteriorating stairwell, an area deemed unsafe for human entry. The Elios 3 successfully navigated the confined space, flying 30-40 m (98-130 ft) up the stairwell while maintaining a strong signal and collecting high-precision data.

Vattenfall’s R&D team confirmed that both the SLAM-generated and post-processed models met their inspection needs, demonstrating the potential for broader applications across other decommissioned plants.

Anders Lindström, Digital Inspection Specialist in Vattenfall’s R&D Department, said,
“The LiDAR capability is a great addition to the Elios' capabilities and it is so far the only drone with LiDAR capability in this size segment”.

Without the Elios 3, personnel would have needed rope access or scaffolding to inspect the site manually, a process that could take weeks and incur high costs. Instead, the drone completed the task in just 30 minutes, showcasing significant time, cost, and safety benefits.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has rolled out the second phase of its public awareness campaign to promote the safe and responsible use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems across the emirate.

Timed to coincide with the start of Ramadan, the initiative, titled Your Safety is Our Priority, emphasises the importance of following safety standards and regulations to protect lives and property.

With cooking activities surging in homes, restaurants, and kitchens during Ramadan, the campaign seeks to remind residents and businesses of the critical need for safe LPG practices.

Protecting a wide range of sectors

It also aims to foster a culture of shared responsibility by engaging government and private sector stakeholders to deliver impactful safety messages and ensure a secure environment in Abu Dhabi.

The campaign targets a wide range of audiences, including domestic workers, labourers, employers, and companies in the food and hospitality sectors. It also focuses on recruitment agencies, urging them to provide adequate training for workers handling LPG systems.

H.E. Dr. Saif Saeed Al Qubaisi, acting director general of regulatory affairs at the DoE, highlighted the department’s commitment to building a sustainable and efficient energy sector while ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all residents.

Al Qubaisi further stated, "We firmly believe that the safety of the community is paramount in all aspects of LPG handling. With this campaign, our goal is to ensure that all organisations and individuals adhere to safety protocols and implement the required standards and conditions. This necessitates ongoing collaboration with all relevant parties to prevent accidents or potential hazards. Our collective commitment to upholding these standards helps build a more secure society and promotes the long-term sustainability of the sector as a whole."

Eng. Ahmed Alsayed Mohamed Alsheebani, the DoE’s acting regulatory affairs petroleum product sector executive director, stated, "The LPG Safety Campaign is a significant step in promoting safety practices within the community, particularly given the heightened gas usage during the holy month of Ramadan. We place considerable emphasis on delivering comprehensive awareness workshops and training programmes for all the campaign's target audiences, as we understand that ongoing education and training are key to mitigating risks associated with gas utilisation."

Alsheebani also pointed out that, "The success of this campaign relies not only on the awareness programmes we provide, but also on the unified efforts of the whole community. Accordingly, we urge restaurants and employment agencies to offer suitable training to workers; in doing so, we can effect a positive change in individual behavior and promote overall public safety."

Encardio Rite, a leader in geotechnical and infrastructure health monitoring, is set to host Safe Dubai 2025 in collaboration with the Society of Engineers – UAE.

The event, taking place on February 27 at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai, will focus on advancing infrastructure resilience and safety amid the city's rapid urban expansion.

Bringing together top industry experts, policymakers, academics, and innovators, Safe Dubai 2025 will provide a platform for exchanging insights and shaping a roadmap for long-term infrastructure sustainability.

The event comes at a time when the global geotechnical engineering market, valued at US$2.57bn in 2023, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% through 2030, reflecting the rising demand for advanced engineering solutions in high-risk environments.

Building resilience

Dubai’s skyline, home to iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Metro, stands as a testament to engineering excellence.

However, as urbanisation accelerates, there is an increasing need to prioritise safety, resilience, and sustainability in construction.

Safe Dubai 2025 will address critical topics such as resilient infrastructure development, cost management, risk mitigation, global best practices, AI’s role in construction, and sustainability in urban planning.

With its reputation as a global leader in urban transformation, Dubai has the opportunity to set a new benchmark in infrastructure resilience.

Safe Dubai 2025 aims to drive a multi-disciplinary dialogue, ensuring that innovation, safety, and sustainability remain at the forefront of the city’s development strategy.

“Dubai continues to lead the world in urban innovation, ensuring the safety and longevity of its infrastructure is paramount. Infrastructure safety is about people – reliable roads, buildings, and transportation networks directly impact public safety, economic stability, and quality of life,” said Arushi Bhalla, managing director, Encardio Rite.

“Safe Dubai 2025 is not just about engineering excellence; it is about creating a sustainable future where technology, resilience, and safety work hand in hand to shape the cities of tomorrow.”

Bhalla, who will be present at the event, will discuss topics surrounding the UAE's construction landscape & trends, UAE projects Encardio Rite are currently working on, the need for construction safety monitoring & reducing site uncertainty in urban development, impact of tech on the sector, green construction practices, and industry best practices and the latest innovations. 

Key topics that will be addressed at Safe Dubai 2025 include: building a resilient infrastructure, managing costs, risk management, global best practices, how artificial intelligence is revolutionising the construction sector and sustainability in construction.

The 2024 European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER) provides fresh insights into workplace risks across Europe, with musculoskeletal disorders, psychosocial stress, and digitalisation emerging as key concerns.

The survey, conducted across all sectors, highlights persistent challenges, such as prolonged sitting and repetitive movements, while also revealing the increasing impact of modern work practices on occupational safety and health.

Musculoskeletal risks remain dominant, with 64% of workplaces citing prolonged sitting as the most common issue, followed closely by repetitive hand or arm movements, reported by 63%.

Additionally, 52% identified lifting or moving heavy loads as a significant risk. The growing prevalence of remote work—up from 13% in 2019 to 23% in 2024—has further contributed to concerns about ergonomic hazards and digital workplace risks.

Psychosocial risks have also become a major challenge, particularly in service industries. More than half of surveyed organisations (56%) identified dealing with difficult customers, patients, or pupils as a key issue.

However, 25% of organisations still fail to acknowledge psychosocial risks, a shortfall that underscores the need for targeted interventions.

Worrisome trends

Reflecting on the results, EU-OSHA executive director William Cockburn stated, “25% of organisations still fail to recognise the presence of psychosocial risks, highlighting a significant shortfall in addressing these important issues. This underlines the importance of our upcoming Healthy Workplaces Campaign, launching in 2026, which will focus on tackling the impact of psychosocial risks at work on workers’ mental health.” 

Among workplaces that recognise psychosocial risk factors, 21% find them harder to manage than other occupational safety and health (OSH) risks. Perceptions vary by country, with Sweden (38%) and Denmark (37%) reporting the greatest challenges.

Employee participation in designing measures to mitigate psychosocial risks has declined slightly, dropping from 61% in 2019 to 55% in 2024.

Digitalisation is increasingly influencing workplace safety, with 43% of organisations incorporating digital technologies into their risk assessments, a rise from previous years. Spain and Slovenia lead the way, with over 60% of workplaces considering digital risks in their assessments.

Training on digital technology usage has also expanded, reaching 42% of workplaces overall and 75% in Malta.

Companies are also reporting new risks associated with digitalisation, including increased work intensity (34%), information overload (32%), and blurred boundaries between work and personal life (27%).

Encouragingly, consultation with employees on the impact of digitalisation has improved, with 35% of workplaces engaging workers on these issues—up from 24% in 2019.

These preliminary findings mark the beginning of a deeper analysis of ESENER 2024 data.

Additional reports will be published through 2026, offering further insights into the evolving landscape of workplace risks in Europe.

AI-powered Integrated Operations Platform Motive has unveiled new AI features intended to tackle drowsy and distracted driving, one of Mexico's biggest traffic safety issues.

Safety managers can now proactively address driver weariness and other risky behaviours to increase fleet safety with Motive's AI-powered Forward Collision Warning and Drowsiness Detection, which have been introduced to the Mexican market.

In Mexico, driver weariness poses a serious concern to road safety. The Mexican Institute of Transportation (IMT) claimed that driver behaviour, particularly distracted and sleepy driving, was responsible for about half of all traffic collisions in 2023. Drivers are pushed to their limits by long driving hours, which are made worse by a lack of workers.

This leads to harmful behaviours including crossing into oncoming traffic, making unsafe lane changes, and being involved in fatal collisions.

Motive has introduced advanced AI-driven safety features designed to tackle driver fatigue and prevent collisions, enhancing overall road safety. Integrated with Motive’s AI Dashcams, these innovations proactively detect drowsiness and potential crashes, offering real-time alerts to drivers and safety managers.

Key features

The AI-driven feature identifies both early and advanced signs of driver fatigue, such as repeated yawning and prolonged eye closure. Once these indicators are detected:
- Drivers receive immediate in-cab alerts, encouraging them to take necessary breaks.
- Safety managers are promptly notified, allowing them to intervene and reinforce rest periods.
- If a driver begins to nod off, the system issues an urgent alert to wake them and prevent a possible accident.

Rear-end collisions, often caused by distraction or drowsiness, can now be significantly reduced with Motive’s AI-powered Forward Collision Warning. This system, available with all Motive AI Dashcams, continuously assesses vehicle speed, following distance, and estimated time to impact. When a driver approaches another vehicle too quickly, it triggers an alert, allowing them to brake in time. Studies show that such warnings can reduce rear-end crashes by 27%.

Motive’s technology generates alerts for these behaviours three to four times more frequently than competing solutions, giving fleet operators greater visibility into driver performance.

Organisations using Motive’s AI Dashcam have seen up to an 80% reduction in accidents, a 30% drop in accident-related expenses, and a 21% decrease in insurance costs.

Motive is further refining its safety tools with the upcoming Driver Fatigue Index (DFI), which will analyse multiple fatigue indicators such as yawning frequency, lane deviations, eye movement, unusual speed changes, total driving hours, and environmental factors. 

The AI-powered drowsiness detection and forward collision warning capabilities integrate directly into Motive’s platform, equipping transportation, logistics, and fleet operators with the necessary tools to mitigate safety risks. 

Also read: Intersec 2025 sets new benchmark for global safety and security

The director-general of the UN International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo, has praised Saudi Arabia's role in shaping the future of the global labour market.

Speaking at the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC) 2025 in Riyadh, Houngbo highlighted the Kingdom’s comprehensive labour reforms, which can enhance market competitiveness and drive sustainable economic growth.

Saudi Arabia has implemented significant changes in its labour market, including updates to labour laws, improvements in occupational safety, and initiatives to boost employment for youth and women. 

Speaking on occupational safety, the ILO chief acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s efforts to enhance workplace safety through labour market reforms. The adoption of the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health, the establishment of a dedicated national council, and the implementation of modern reporting systems for workplace incidents demonstrate the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ well-being.

Digital transformation

Houngbo commended Saudi Arabia’s investment in digital technologies and its proactive approach to addressing challenges. He noted that the Kingdom’s focus on digitalisation is not just about improving efficiency but also about creating attractive and sustainable workplaces. These efforts, he said, place Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the global transition towards a sustainable economy that balances development with social equity.

The ILO and Saudi Arabia have been working together across multiple areas, including occupational safety, aligning workforce skills with market demands, and enhancing social protection. Houngbo noted that the Kingdom’s experience serves as a valuable model for other nations looking to modernise their labour markets.

The GLMC in Riyadh provided a crucial platform for dialogue on the pressing challenges and opportunities shaping today’s global labour landscape. Houngbo reaffirmed the ILO’s priorities, including addressing labour market disparities, promoting social justice, and preparing for the impacts of digitalisation and demographic shifts. He stressed that achieving social justice is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity that fosters stability and inclusion.

Promoting diversity and equality

Houngbo highlighted the need for comprehensive strategies to tackle youth unemployment in the Arab world. He emphasised the importance of quality education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship initiatives to bridge the gap between education and employment. While global youth unemployment rates have improved, the ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Youth report indicates a 1% rise in unemployment across Arab nations. Houngbo called for stronger alignment between educational systems and labour market needs to address this issue effectively.

Gender equality remains a core focus for the ILO, and Houngbo underscored the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for all workers. He praised Saudi Arabia’s recent legislation mandating maternity insurance for female workers, describing it as a significant milestone in promoting gender equality in the labour market. He also called for further measures to support work-life balance, including flexible work arrangements and enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies.

Time is running out! Don’t miss your chance to attend the SafeStart Trainer Certification Level 1 Course in Dubai, UAE, on 18–19 February 2025.

This immersive two-day programme is your opportunity to:

✅ Enhance workplace safety and reduce incidents
✅ Gain expert insights into human factors and critical errors
✅ Become a certified SafeStart trainer and lead safety transformations in your organisation

Location: Media Rotana, Hessa Street, Dubai, UAE
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

What past global participants had to say:

“My perspective on safety has completely changed!”
– L.V., Guadalajara, Mexico

“SafeStart concepts have taken my safety awareness to the highest level. More importantly, they’ve made me realise that safety is for life, not just for the workplace.” – B.S., São Paulo, Brazil

SafeStart is a globally recognised safety awareness process that helps organisations create a lasting culture of safety excellence. This course will provide you with practical tools and strategies to drive real change.

Limited seats available – register now!
https://events.offsnet.com/SafeStartTrainerCertificationWorkshop#/

Looking forward to seeing you in Dubai!
Larry Wilson
SafeStart Author and CEO