This article was created in partnership with ICW Group.
In the fast-evolving world of workplace safety, cutting-edge technology is no longer a luxury- it’s a bare necessity. From AI-powered video analysis to ergonomics-driven wearables, insurers are increasingly turning to digital innovations to better assess, manage, and mitigate workers' compensation risks.
Sandy Smith (pictured), vice president of risk management at ICW Group, is at the forefront of this transformation. In a recent interview with Insurance Business, she explained that while there’s been so many developments in the industry one stands out more than most.
"AI is currently the most transformative technology, as it leverages and amplifies the capabilities of all the other tools we use," she told IB.
And the data’s certainly there to reinforce Smith’s assertions. According to RDT’s recent Tech Poll, 61% of firms are currently utilising AI, while 52% of Insurtech professionals have confidence that the sector is using AI in ways that will provide real-time benefits to customers and brokers.
ICW Group has been piloting technologies that blend artificial intelligence with real-time physical assessments. As Smith told IB, one of the most advanced tools in their arsenal comes from a partner called Soter AI. Originally designed for ergonomic evaluations, Soter AI allows consultants to record short videos of workers on the job and instantly receive insights into biomechanical stress.
“It could tell you exactly how much stress and strain is being put on a particular body part,” added Smith. “Whether that’s an arm, joint or a back.”
And Soter AI is evolving quickly. What began as a posture-checking tool now also performs full workstation assessments. By capturing a simple photo or video, it can detect compliance with OSHA or state-specific standards like Cal/OSHA.
“It can look at a workstation and identify if there’s a guard missing on a particular piece of equipment, or they’re not wearing required personal protective equipment,” added Smith. “It can tell if the worker should be wearing a hard hat or safety glasses – and it really saves us time, because everything we put in is run up against the standards. It makes our jobs a little quicker...but we still have to have our folks who can analyze it and put it into action.”
ICW Group consultants are also now equipped with iPads that bring these tools directly to job sites. If a customer insists a long-standing process is safe, consultants can run a video through Soter AI on the spot and provide data-backed insights.
“Now we can show them right [away] that this is what can happen,” Smith explained. “And, because we have some science backing it up, they’re more likely to buy into it.”
This capability makes safety guidance more immediate and actionable - a crucial shift in industries where on-the-job injuries can result from routine tasks performed incorrectly over time. Another technology under early-stage pilot testing connects with a company’s existing security cameras to detect safety violations or near misses.
“It can help us identify near misses, which we don’t always know about,” Smith added. “And the more near misses we have, the more of a chance there is that we’re going to end up having an accident or an injury.”
Through an AI-enabled dashboard, the system monitors for compliance issues like missing PPE or unbuckled seatbelts. Employers can view alerts in real time, giving them an opportunity to act before an accident happens. But tech is only one side of the coin – it needs a person to follow up the results.
“It’s essential that they remain engaged and responsive,” Smith told IB. “We can provide all the insights and guidance, but without action, it ultimately serves no purpose.”
Telematics is another area seeing rapid innovation. From dashboard cameras to driver-monitoring systems, these tools offer another lens on workplace risk.
“They’re at the point where they can identify if the driver [is] starting to doze off, it can see that...it can pick something up and send an alert. The industry has really grown by leaps and bounds over the last just couple of years. All of these [new advancements] make us more efficient - but we still have to take that information, add in the personal touch on it, and work with our customers to get them to buy into it and take action.”
What’s more, these AI and digital tools are freeing up ICW Group’s consultants to further shift from rote inspection toward meaningful client engagement.
“We’ve been focusing on trying to spend more time consulting than inspecting,” added Smith.
With automation handling regulatory checks and policy alignment, consultants can spend more time educating clients and building safer environments. Smith points to ICW Group’s “Safety OnDemand” platform, which offers 5,000+ tools and resources to clients 24/7. One standout initiative here is ICW’s six-week leadership webinar program for managers and supervisors that emphasizes top-down safety culture.
“We want to make sure leaders at our policyholders are buying into creating a safe working environment,” explained Smith. “And we’ve had great turnout on that.”
Here, the role of data analytics is growing rapidly. ICW Group has been expanding its analyst team to better forecast and prepare for emerging loss trends.
“Our primary focus is leveraging historical data to anticipate where our next significant losses may occur,” explained Smith.
Applying the 80/20 principle, the team concentrates on the top 20% of loss drivers—whether by industry, cause, or environment. For instance, a recent increase in height-related injuries led ICW Group to develop targeted training and safety checklists, particularly for high-risk sectors such as tree trimming.
“The faster we can access and analyze the data, the more effectively we can pinpoint the sources driving the majority—roughly 80%—of our losses,” Smith added.
Despite the influx of AI, telematics, and predictive analytics, Smith is passionate that technology is only as good as the people applying it. And that any AI-augmented tool is meant as a partner to their people – not a replacement.
“It significantly improves our time efficiency, allowing us to dedicate more attention to our customers,” she added. “It’s about providing meaningful guidance and supporting them through the implementation and follow-up of our recommendations.”
This blend of tech-driven efficiency and on-the-ground consulting is reshaping not just how insurers work - but how they build trust and drive real change in workplace safety.
As Smith puts it: “Our folks have a lot of experience. Sometimes they can [just] look at something and understand that it’s not the correct or safe way to do it. [Historically] a customer might reply with that’s the way they’ve always done it. Now we can run [our recommendation] through AI right in front them and show them just how much stress is being put on [a worker]… that makes a big difference.”
