New AI Assistant from Skanska Delivers Real-Time Jobsite Safety Guidance

Skanska has introduced a new AI-powered assistant aimed at improving safety on construction sites. Called Safety Sidekick, the digital tool provides instant access to safety guidance by combining Skanska’s Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Manual, OSHA construction standards, and additional safety materials into one accessible platform.

Available on both desktop and mobile devices, Safety Sidekick is designed to assist both frontline workers and project leaders by offering timely, task-specific safety recommendations.

According to Paul Haining, Chief EHS Officer at Skanska USA, the tool is intended to support informed decision-making at all stages of construction. “It enables our teams to quickly access relevant safety information and apply it in real time,” he said.

Key features of Safety Sidekick include:

• Immediate access to safety protocols and best practices tailored to specific tasks
• Context-sensitive recommendations based on site conditions
• Guidance on classifying and documenting safety issues through a built-in learning model
• Scenario-based policy explanations to support day-to-day decision-making
• Tools for navigating the full Plan-Do-Check-Act safety cycle

Safety Sidekick is part of a broader suite of generative AI tools under development at Skanska, known as Expert Sidekicks. These tools are being integrated into project workflows with the goal of making job site operations more consistent and data-informed.

Anita Nelson, Chief Strategy Officer at Skanska USA Building, noted that incorporating AI into daily operations helps teams better utilize enterprise data. “We’re working to ensure that key information is not only accessible, but actionable,” she said.

The tool is currently being deployed across Skanska USA job sites, with training and support resources available to assist teams during the rollout.