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The Intervention Project: Using Computer Vision AI to Help Make Manufacturing Workplaces Safer.

Have you ever wished you had an extra set of eyes that could spot workplace hazards before anyone gets hurt? That's exactly what we’re working to provide for New Zealand's manufacturing sector through ACC's Workplace Injury Prevention grant programme.

R/VISION is a product developed in-house at RUSH Digital, a digital design & software engineering company based in Auckland. The R/VISION platform uses a combination of CCTV and computer vision AI to monitor real-time movements of people and objects in New Zealand's manufacturing sector, providing insights into hazards that could lead to injury.

Through this ACC grant-funded opportunity, we’re offering a free 6-12 month trial of our AI-powered health & safety platform designed specifically for New Zealand manufacturers. The system connects to your existing CCTV cameras (up to 5), and ACC will cover the full integration cost as part of this pilot.

The software works in near real time, detecting common safety risks like missing PPE, machine guarding issues, body postures/ stress positions, people and plant proximity violations – before they escalate. Also your data stays yours — we don't share what R/VISION captures with ACC, WorkSafe, or any third party without your explicit permission.

The project officially kicked off in 2025, and the team has already been working with manufacturing partners Will&Able and Stainless Design.

There’s no obligation to continue after the trial, and no cost to participate. We’re simply looking for forward-thinking manufacturers who want to validate how AI can help prevent injuries and strengthen compliance.

If this is something you think your company or any other manufacturing organisation that might be interested in participating in or learning more about the project, they can contact Caleb Perelini, AI Technology Consultant on +64 21 0844 5096 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Who is RUSH?

RUSH is an almost-20 year old Auckland-based digital design and technology company that's been developing their R/VISION computer vision AI platform since 2017. You might not have heard of them, but you've likely used something they've built – they’re behind digital products for Z Energy, Watercare, UNICEF, Kiwirail, and they designed and built the NZ COVID Tracer app.

Their R/VISION platform essentially teaches cameras to "see" and understand what's happening in workplaces, spotting potential safety risks in near-real-time. It's like having a tireless safety observer who never blinks, takes breaks, or gets distracted.

Why manufacturing?

As many of us know all too well from ACC claims data, manufacturing has one of the highest rates of workplace injuries in New Zealand, second only to construction in terms of lifetime cost of claims. In 2022 alone, sprains and strains resulted in around 240,400 lost work days and an estimated lifetime cost to the ACC scheme of $43 million.

Even more concerning is that Māori kaimahi are disproportionately impacted, making up 16% of the manufacturing workforce but 22% of the estimated lifetime cost of injuries.

What are we doing with the funding?

The two-year project will focus on several key areas:

1. Creating an industry sandbox where manufacturers can experiment with and learn about the technology in a supported environment
2. Developing and refining AI models specifically for manufacturing safety risks
3. Conducting frontline worker-centred design assessments to ensure the technology works for the people who need it most, including a specific focus on cultural inclusion
4. Prioritising Accessibility & Cultural Action to ensure the project respects, includes and engages with particular communities, especially Māori due to the disproportionate injury impact
5. Developing a framework and guide for computer vision AI adoption in health and safety
6. Creating a compelling business case showing the connection between safety, wellbeing, and operational efficiency

What’s especially promising is that RUSH isn't just dropping in new technology and hoping for the best. They're taking a human-centred approach, working closely with frontline workers and H&S practitioners to make sure the insights from the AI can be seamlessly integrated into existing processes.

We’re also establishing a "H&S Practitioners AI Mentoring Panel" where health and safety experts will receive training on AI applications and collaborate with the team to improve workplace design.

Early success in road safety

RUSH has already proven this approach works. They previously partnered with Downer and NZTA to use their R/VISION technology at traffic management sites, where it acts as what they've called a "guardian angel” for road crews.

With funding from Waka Kotahi's Hoe ki angitū-Innovation Fund, they developed mobile camera units that can detect risks like workers in exclusion zones, missing PPE, vehicles speeding through work sites, and even "worker down" situations.

According to Murray Robertson, COO of Transport & Infrastructure at Downer: "R/VISION has the potential to act as a crucial safety net, providing our teams with the right information to make informed decisions on-site."

Learn more

New Zealand businesses that are interested in the progress of the trials and developments in AI Health & Safety are encouraged to register for newsletter updates and project briefings: ​​https://www.rvision.ai/intervention-project

RUSH Digital acknowledges the co-funding of this project by ACC's Workplace Injury Prevention programme.