Every day, utility workers climb high-voltage towers, fly low in helicopters, or walk miles of pipeline to keep critical infrastructure running, often in extreme conditions. But these jobs are becoming increasingly dangerous. In 2023, more than 5,280 workplace fatalities were recorded in the U.S., many involving those maintaining the energy grid.
With aging infrastructure and severe weather on the rise, the risks are escalating while inspection methods remain largely unchanged. Workers still rely on manual, visual checks from helicopters or on foot, a process that is not only inefficient but also unsafe.
Across industries, technology is helping reduce human exposure to hazardous work. In the energy sector, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are doing the same. Equipped with thermal, optical, and LiDAR sensors, UAVs can spot issues such as overheating components, corrosion, or gas leaks before they become dangerous, allowing companies to act early.
Thanks to advances in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities, UAVs can now cover 50 miles or more in a single mission, performing long-range inspections safely and efficiently.
We still need humans in the equation to make the critical repairs. But UAVs can keep those crews out of the most dangerous environments, shifting their role from frontline risk-takers to technology-enabled inspectors.
Integrating UAVs into inspection and maintenance processes can protect the people doing the work, while offering a more affordable and greener solution for keeping America’s critical infrastructure intact.
To learn more about how UAVs are transforming worker safety and infrastructure resilience, read the full article: Protecting workers in the energy sector: the case for unmanned aerial vehicles
%20(1).jpg)
