Rapid Global, the workplace safety technology leader, today releases new research highlighting a sharp disconnect between managers and frontline workers in the UK Building and Construction sector in terms of their readiness to embrace workplace safety Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitalisation…
The study reveals, for example, that:
– 51% of managers believe their business is fully ready to adopt AI to improve workplace safety, compared with just 20% of frontline workers
– 77% of managers say a unified safety system would make compliance easier, yet nearly a quarter of workers (22%) believe old habits are slowing down the adoption of new technology in the business
– 18% of frontline workers admit safety tasks such as inductions, sign-in and incident reporting are still managed on paper, compared with 14% of managers.
The divide is also evident on safety visibility and training. While 86% of workers believe managers have good visibility of safety trends and incidents, for example, only 56% of managers agree. On training, meanwhile, 50% of managers say their sites deliver comprehensive safety onboarding, but just 24% of workers see it that way — a gap that points to inconsistency in delivery and communication.
Commenting on the results, Paul Rapuano, Global Strategic Partnerships Manager at Rapid Global, says: “Construction leaders are ready to digitise, consolidate systems, and explore AI, but too often workers remain unconvinced or stuck with outdated processes.
“To reap the full rewards of new technologies like AI, the way forward for the sector has to be visible proof that technology makes safety easier, training more consistent, and worksites safer.
“That will be the ideal on-ramp for companies in the sector to see digital transformation deliver on its promise.”
The research commissioned by Rapid Global was conducted in August 2025 by market research consultancy Research Without Barriers, which surveyed more than 504 UK managers and 503 frontline workers, including 146 managers and 88 workers from the Building and Construction sector.
Other findings in the Rapid Global Workplace Safety 2025 Report include:
– Tech adoption 75% of managers say adopting new technology would cut risk and improve safety, compared with 44% of workers.
– AI in workplace 28% of managers believe the process of implementing AI is slower than anticipated, whilst 25% of workers agree
– Incident processes 73% of managers believe staff understand incident response protocols, compared with 59% of workers. Paper-based reporting persists for both groups (14% managers vs 20% workers).
– Training shortcuts 30% of managers admit to fast-tracking safety training to get people on-site faster, compared with just 14% of workers.
– Worker wellbeing Nearly one in five workers (18%) say safety processes cause them anxiety, while 60% do not believe their business supports positive mental health care.
Paul concludes: “UK Building & Construction firms that move to modernise safety systems, replacing paper with digital-first tools to show how AI can support, not replace, frontline expertise, will strengthen compliance, cut risks, and build the resilient worksites the sector needs.”
Download the report here: The Rapid Global UK Workplace Safety Building & Construction Research Report.
