Declan Davis - Bringing AI and Empathy to the frontline | Pixaera

🎙 Taking Safety Conversations from Inspiration to Action.

Guest: Declan Davis, Health and Safety Director at Ferrovial

Host: Mousa Yassin, CEO & Founder of Pixaera

"The people on the field have the answers, not just to safety, but to better quality, reduced waste, and smarter decisions." – Declan Davis

Episode Summary

In the premiere episode of Safety Heroes, host Mousa Yassin sits down with Declan Davis, a seasoned operations and safety leader with a passion for frontline empowerment.
Together, they unpack the power of immersive tech, the role of AI in shaping safer environments, and the urgency of building systems that are as human as the people they serve.

From starting out in the field to spearheading large infrastructure projects, Declan brings a deeply empathetic and practical view on how safety can—and must—be reimagined for the modern workforce.

Key Takeaways:

• The future of safety lies in simplicity.
• AI can personalize safety training.
• Storytelling in 3D environments creates stronger safety retention.
• Multilingual, adaptive tools foster trust and engagement at the front line.

Quickfire Q&A: Straight Answers, No Fluff

Mousa: How do you bring frontline workers along the tech journey?
Declan: The way it's been successful for me is introduced them to the technology slowly, just show them and actually show them the value of what that technology can bring, educate them about that it's not there to replace them and actually show them actually how we can actually add value to them to their work, to their product, to their well being, to how they're delivering that work. I like using the same. Just plant a seed with them and then nurture that, see, help it grow and grow and grow. Water it, look after it, prune it, keep feeding it with more information, keep feeding them actually with the benefits of it all.

Mousa: What’s the biggest benefit of AI in frontline safety work?
Declan: It can help us condense these 140 page meta statements, work plans down to micro pieces of information that are needed to actually, to manage the specific risk. And it can be delivered personalized. It can be delivered in real-time and it actually can show you risk that we might have missed out.

Mousa: How do you keep safety training relevant over time?
Declan: One of the key things I look at in a safe environment is that we have to be curious. And actually this is all about humble inquiry, being curious, asking people right questions and actually trying to get them engaged. [...] Every day there's some new risk. Risks are changing. The hazards on site are evolving, the interfaces with other contractors and everything else is just evolving and the technology is evolving so fast.

AI Will Improve Safety

AI is no longer a distant concept in construction and safety, it's a practical tool for transformation.

Artificial intelligence can serve as a powerful enabler for safety professionals, rather than a replacement.

Micro-Learning Overload Becomes Micro-Learning Precision

• AI enables organizations to break down lengthy safety documentation into actionable, digestible insights tailored to specific job roles and tasks.
• Workers no longer have to memorize or interpret complex method statements, AI can help deliver just what they need, when they need it.
• Personalized content delivery ensures each worker is briefed in real-time, based on the risk they face on a given day, in their own language.

Real-Time Risk Communication and Updates

• AI dramatically shortens the feedback and update cycle. Where changes to safety protocols once took weeks, updates can now be delivered instantly.
• In dynamic environments like construction, AI supports real-time response to changing site conditions, helping teams adjust safety measures on the fly.
• As Declan put it, "We can actually now do it instantly… might be half an hour a day, but it's a shorter period to give that real-time information so the risk is managed as it's going along."

Multilingual and Inclusive Communication

• One of the most powerful uses of AI lies in its ability to instantly translate safety messages into multiple languages and dialects, removing a huge barrier on global job sites.
• This not only improves comprehension but also fosters trust - workers feel seen, respected, and supported.

Predictive Safety and Behavioral Insights

• With AI, safety doesn’t stop at training. Declan and Mousa discussed how AI can begin predicting incidents before they happen by analyzing site behaviors, tool usage, and historical data.
• AI tools integrated with site access systems and digital safety passports allow safety managers to identify patterns of risk, competence gaps, and even mental fatigue.
• This evolution means organizations can shift from reactive safety to proactive prevention.

Enabling, Not Replacing Humans

AI should be treated as an enabler, not a threat. It is a way to empower frontline teams with clearer data, personalized learning, and streamlined operations.

AI for safety is not about removing people from the picture. It’s about giving them better tools, more context, and faster access to what they need to work safely, every day.

Storytelling in Safety: Why Simulation Triggers Retention

Along the episode, Musa and Declan discussed the transformative role of storytelling in immersive safety training.

The Power of Emotional Memory

When workers experience a simulated incident, such as a trench collapse or a fall from height, it becomes a story they lived through, not just a policy they read.

QUOTE: “You're showing individuals that if you make this decision, this excavation goes wrong, and you have a serious injury or fatality. But it’s in a safe environment, so you can learn without getting hurt.” Declan

Beyond Engagement: Empowerment

Declan also emphasized that immersive storytelling isn’t just engaging, it gives workers agency. They're not passive recipients of knowledge; they become the lead characters in their own safety journey.

“Sometimes we tell people all the time about how to do things right, but sometimes we need to show them what can go wrong,” he said.

In safety, retention is everything. Storytelling, especially through immersive simulation, is proving to be one of the most powerful tools in embedding that knowledge where it counts: in the worker’s muscle memory and intuition.

About Safety Heroes Podcast

Safety Heroes is the podcast where HSE industry leaders, innovators, and experts share real-world insights on workplace safety, sustainability, and leadership. Each episode uncovers practical strategies, powerful stories, and expert advice to help professionals create safer, smarter, and more resilient work environments.

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