Surveillance technology in construction is reshaping how insurers, contractors, and safety supervisors manage risk and protect workers. With advanced video analytics, real-time behavioral coaching, and data-driven insights, accident rates and workers’ compensation claims are plummeting across major job sites in New York City.
Zurich North America Sets a New Safety Standard
In a groundbreaking move, Zurich North America announced that it will now insure only those New York construction wrap-up projects equipped with video analytics and coaching systems provided by Arrowsight. This decision marks a turning point in how large-scale insurers approach safety compliance and workers’ compensation coverage.
According to Zurich, the shift comes after an extensive three-year, $2 billion pilot program across nine major construction sites in New York City. The program recorded a stunning 70% reduction in workers’ compensation claims and a near-total elimination of racketeering charges — all credited to Arrowsight’s video-based behavioral modification system.
“The dramatic results underscore the power of combining human insight with technology to drive measurable change,” said Tobias Cushing, Zurich’s Head of Construction. “We saw a virtual elimination of serious injuries and deaths on projects with Arrowsight.”
The Role of Arrowsight: Merging Video Analytics with Safety Coaching
Arrowsight is a safety technology company that has redefined construction site management through surveillance technology in construction. Its intelligent camera systems observe worker behavior and identify high-risk activities in real time.
When cameras detect violations — such as workers standing under suspended loads or failing to attach safety harnesses — the system automatically flags the incidents. Safety supervisors receive alerts, review footage, and provide feedback or coaching sessions. The process ensures that workers are corrected and retrained almost immediately, significantly reducing repeat violations.
Video Analytics in Action
Arrowsight deploys fixed-point, battery-powered, and cell-enabled cameras that function without external electricity or internet connections. These cameras can be moved easily between job sites and positioned to monitor critical operations such as crane lifts, scaffold work, and steel erection.
Adam Aronson, founder and CEO of Arrowsight, explained the system’s methodology: “We have a whole program where civil engineers work overnight reviewing high-risk activities and compiling short ‘coaching clips’ — similar to what you’d see on SportsCenter — to help supervisors coach workers to avoid taking these kinds of risks.”
Measurable Safety Improvements
Before implementing Arrowsight’s technology, many construction sites maintained an average safety compliance rate of 70%. Post-installation, those rates have soared to 97% to 100% on monitored projects. The result is not only fewer accidents but also fewer fraudulent claims, reduced insurance premiums, and a safer, more efficient work environment.
New York City: A Crucible for Innovation in Safety
New York City’s construction industry has historically suffered from some of the highest workers’ compensation costs in the United States. The combination of dense urban environments, high-risk labor, and aggressive project timelines made it fertile ground for innovation.
By integrating surveillance technology in construction with human coaching, Zurich and Arrowsight are creating a replicable model for high-risk industries. The NYC pilot’s success is prompting other states and insurers to consider similar partnerships to mitigate risk and improve compliance standards.
Fighting Fraud and Racketeering
The pilot project’s data revealed another benefit — a dramatic reduction in fraudulent and racketeering-related claims. Because video analytics provided objective evidence of on-site behavior, false injury claims and misrepresented accidents virtually disappeared. For insurers like Zurich, that represents massive savings and improved trust between contractors and carriers.
Beyond Construction: Expanding to Other Industries
While the construction industry has become the latest frontier for video-based safety systems, Arrowsight’s technology was already well-established in other sectors. The company initially deployed its behavioral analytics in health-care facilities and meatpacking plants — two industries known for physically demanding and risk-prone environments.
After seeing success there, CEO Adam Aronson identified the construction sector as a prime candidate for real-time visual coaching. The expansion was natural, given the increasing adoption of digital tools, IoT integration, and AI-driven monitoring in construction management.
Case Study: Posillico Civil’s Four-Year Safety Transformation
Posillico Civil, a New York-based infrastructure and heavy civil construction firm, was the first U.S. company to adopt Arrowsight’s system for its job sites. Over four years, Posillico achieved a remarkable improvement in its Experience Modification Rate (EMR) — the insurance industry metric used to assess a company’s workers’ compensation risk profile.
The firm’s EMR fell from 0.65 to 0.25, representing a 62% improvement in its relative safety rating. Since EMR scores below 1.0 are considered favorable, this shift positioned Posillico as one of the safest companies in its category. The lower EMR also translated directly into reduced insurance premiums and stronger bidding competitiveness.
Insurance Implications: Redefining Risk in Construction
For insurers, surveillance-based systems represent more than just a safety improvement — they are a way to redefine how workers’ compensation insurance is priced and managed. Historically, premiums have been calculated based on historical loss data and EMR ratings. With access to continuous, real-time safety analytics, insurers like Zurich can adopt a predictive risk assessment model that rewards proactive safety management.
Reduced Claims, Reduced Costs
The introduction of surveillance and AI-driven safety technology reduces claim frequency, minimizes fraudulent cases, and improves overall workplace behavior. Insurers are expected to leverage this data to offer lower premiums or improved coverage terms to companies implementing verified monitoring programs.
This dynamic may soon reshape the entire construction insurance landscape, pushing more contractors to adopt surveillance technology in construction not just as a safety measure but as a financial advantage.
Technology and Human Insight: A Collaborative Future
Experts emphasize that video analytics alone are not enough. What drives success is the combination of data with human judgment. Arrowsight’s model relies heavily on feedback loops — engineers review footage, identify unsafe patterns, and coach supervisors who in turn train their teams. This blend of human experience and technological precision builds a stronger, safety-first culture.
Zurich’s Cushing notes, “It’s not just about catching mistakes. It’s about changing behavior before an accident happens.”
Ethical and Privacy Considerations
While the benefits of surveillance are evident, the deployment of cameras across construction sites raises legitimate privacy and ethical concerns. Companies must balance the need for oversight with respect for workers’ dignity and consent. Transparent communication, restricted video access, and anonymized data reporting are becoming key to maintaining worker trust.
The Broader Impact on Construction Culture
The integration of surveillance technology marks a paradigm shift in construction site management. Instead of reactive incident reporting, companies are now embracing proactive prevention. Workers, once skeptical of constant monitoring, are beginning to see the advantages: fewer injuries, better communication, and higher safety bonuses.
Moreover, this digital transformation is helping bridge the gap between field workers and management. Instant visual feedback helps eliminate misunderstandings and reinforces safety policies as part of daily routines rather than bureaucratic obligations.
Strategic Partnerships and the Future of Insurtech
Following Zurich’s announcement, Arrowsight also signed a master service agreement with Chubb, another major global insurer, with a primary focus on expanding within the construction sector. The move signals an industry-wide trend toward integrating insurtech innovations directly into underwriting models and risk management strategies.
As insurers demand higher safety accountability and transparency, more contractors are expected to deploy AI-driven video systems as part of their standard site setup. This convergence of insurance, construction, and technology reflects the rise of a data-centric approach to workplace safety — one that rewards prevention over compensation.
Looking Ahead
The success of surveillance technology in construction in New York City is likely just the beginning. Industry analysts predict broader national adoption within five years, especially as insurance companies begin to tie premium reductions and policy eligibility to verified use of AI-based safety tools.
In the long run, the partnership between Zurich, Arrowsight, and forward-thinking construction companies could redefine what “safe construction” means — not merely compliance with regulations but a dynamic ecosystem where technology, coaching, and accountability converge to protect human life.
Conclusion: The integration of surveillance technology in construction is proving to be one of the most effective advancements in modern occupational safety. By merging artificial intelligence with human coaching, the industry is witnessing unprecedented reductions in workplace injuries and fraudulent claims. With leaders like Zurich North America and Arrowsight paving the way, the construction landscape is entering a safer, smarter, and more transparent era.
