AI threat detection helps Australian retailers strengthen workplace safety in 2026 by using advanced video analytics on existing CCTV systems to automatically detect blocked exits, walkway hazards and safety risks in real time.
Retail establishments are busy places. Throughout the day staff members rotate, displays change, stock arrives and customer traffic ebbs and flows. This constant activity means minor safety concerns are often overlooked.
One of the most common safety issues is also one of the most preventable: blocked exits and cluttered walkways. Unfortunately, this is also one of the biggest causes of trips and falls, which can lead to costly insurance claims and lawsuits (falls, slips and trips led to 32,000 serious claims in Australia in 2025).
In 2026, smart and proactive Australian retailers will combine clear policies with AI to improve workplace safety by identifying safety hazards earlier and managing them more consistently without the need for additional headcount.
Take a look at the role modern AI technology has to play in workplace safety and how to use it to complement your safety policies.
How AI identifies safety risks in retail environments
Most retail teams try to do the right thing, but when a store gets busy, shifts change or attention is pulled elsewhere, checks can slip. For multi-site retail environments, those slight differences in routine can add up, making it hard to spot where risks are building. This is where AI can make a huge difference.
Monitoring Exits, Aisles and Back-of-House Areas with AI
Many retail stores already have cameras covering exits, aisles and back-of-house areas. AI technology can add to existing systems to monitor these spaces 24/7 and alert the right people as soon as a walkway or exit is blocked.
Reducing Manual Checks and Improving Real-Time Response
Instead of relying on someone to remember to check or catch issues at the end of the day, safety-focused AI helps lighten the load. Teams are notified as soon as something needs attention, leading to supported and safer behaviour in real time without adding extra tasks to already stretched staff.
The result of a robust Workplace Safety Suite of AI Agents that detects and provides alerts on hazard and safety issues quickly is fewer incidents, reduced risk and cost and faster resolution when issues do arise. When you consider the costs associated with workplace safety incidents, the benefits of investing in this technology are clear.
How AI reduces and prevents common retail safety hazards
Common retail environment hazards:
- Delivery cages or pallets left near fire doors
- Promotional displays that gradually narrow aisles
- Stock staged in corridors during replenishment
- Bins or trolleys are parked in exit paths
- Layout changes that unintentionally restrict access
- Wet floors left by cleaners
- Slippery floors caused by polish or spills
- Customer activity leaving a mess in the aisles
- Electrical cables that are easily tripped over
These problems may not be identified until after an audit or inspection, especially if staff numbers are limited, which can leave the store exposed to potential safety issues for days at a time.
Photo credit: Safework Australia
Safe work guides have extensive recommendations to prevent the problems caused by slips, trips and falls, but with AI workplace safety solutions implemented, teams can respond more quickly to actively manage risks and reduce the likelihood of a safety issue becoming a serious problem.
Key Benefits of an AI Threat Detection System for Retailers
- Lower exposure to incidents: Fewer workplace accidents means reduced claims and fewer disputes to manage.
- Reliable detection at scale: the best AI threat detection delivers over 95% accuracy, even in high traffic, cluttered retail environments.
- Context-aware analysis: AI can interpret movement, behaviour and surroundings, significantly reducing false alerts.
- Near-zero nuisance alarms: Smart systems are trained on real world scenarios to cut false alarms by up to 99.9%.
- Built-in incident records: Threat detection technology from Smokeshield Security automatically creates time-stamped logs and video clips to support faster reviews and investigations.
- Searchable incident history: Quickly locate events using plain language searches such as “blocked entryway”.
- No additional hardware: This technology integrates with existing camera systems, avoiding new wiring or sensor installations.
Improve retail safety with the latest AI threat detection solutions
AI workplace safety solutions give Australian retailers a practical way to keep exits and walkways clear without adding pressure to already busy teams. By continuously monitoring key areas, this cutting-edge technology enables faster responses, better visibility and more consistent safety standards across single or multi-site operations.
Smokeshield Security’s AI Workplace Safety solution uses your site’s existing camera infrastructure to detect blocked exits and walkway risks in real time. This is then supported by simple alerts and auditable reporting that scales with your business.