viAct’s startup journey: building safety tools that workers need
Every great startup begins with a “why.” For viAct, that why echoed loudly across dusty construction sites, roaring factory floors and oil rigs lost on the horizon – “Why are we still risking lives in the age of AI?”
Back in the early days, the answer wasn’t in code. It was in conversations.
“We didn’t start with technology. We started by listening to the boots on the ground,” says Gary Ng, CEO of viAct.
From sketches to safety: where the viAct story begins
In 2016, amidst the fast-paced tech scene of Hong Kong, two visionaries – Gary Ng and Hugo Cheuk came together to co-found a startup rooted in one simple belief: AI for good.
From the outset, the founders were deeply committed to the use of technology not just for innovation’s sake, but for purpose-driven impact – specifically, to improve frontline safety in high-risk environments such as construction, manufacturing, mining, and oil & gas.
Drawing from their background in scenario-based AI and computer vision, they took a problem-first approach. They spent time at actual worksites, speaking directly with supervisors, safety managers, and workers on the ground.
Every solution was born from a real, observed need: a near-miss that went unreported, a blind spot that caused a fall, or a red zone no one was monitoring.
AI at the frontline: protecting the people who power industry
Here are the top five safety tools that have surely made a difference in workplace safety:
From paperwork to protection: digital permit-to-work system
The first challenge was clear – manual permits were slow, error-prone, and dangerously outdated. So viAct launched its Digital Permit-to-Work (PTW) System, replacing spreadsheets and clipboards with digital approvals, dynamic checklists with instant labour qualification verification and real-time monitoring.
Permits no longer sat in dusty folders, they moved with the worker, ensuring safety was never delayed.
From compliance burdens to smart oversight: AI-powered health and safety management
Once permits were digitized, the next natural step was managing health and safety in a smarter, more connected way. An AI-powered Health & Safety Management software brought together incident reports, compliance audits, training logs, and more – on a single, centralised management platform.
From recording and reporting worker fatigues, equipment failures, PPE non-compliance, or chemical hazards, the health and safety management system made workers feel safe around worksites.
From hazards to actions: incident management software that closes the loop
Identifying hazards is only half the battle, responding to them effectively is where safety is truly tested. That’s why they developed its Incident Management Software, designed to turn near-misses and accidents into opportunities for faster resolutions and smarter prevention.
Suppose a falling object narrowly missed a worker at a construction site. The Incident Management Software with Vision AI captured the near-miss, auto-logged the incident, and alerted the EHS team instantly.
Outcome? Reporting was completed 85% faster, proactive actions reduced similar incidents by 80%, and downtime was cut by 30% that week.
From remote alerts to on-the-spot action: Edge AI and IoT safety devices
What if the network went down mid-shift? What if there’s no Wi-Fi underground? These are potential risks that can lead to compromised workplace safety.
That’s where the Edge AI devices and IoT sensors came in. Whether it’s a gas leak detector protecting a tunnel or an edge AI device noting abnormal vibration in a crane, the safety breach response is instant.
From confusion to clarity: conversational AI co-pilot
As the ecosystem matured, viAct asked a final question: What if workers could simply ask safety questions and get the right answers instantly? The result: viGent, the conversational AI powered by LLMs that speaks the language of the worker.
Need to know which PPE is required? Ask viGent. Need an incident report auto-filled? viGent’s got it.
In real-time. In local dialects. In the palm of your hand.
What’s next in safety management?
Today, viAct’s AI-powered safety tools are driving operational safety across sectors like construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and mining. Yet, our journey is far from over.
The vision is clear: to support safety teams with intelligent AI tools that enhance decision-making, reduce risks, and create safer environments for all. As the landscape of workplace safety evolves, viAct remains committed to leading the way through innovation, reliability, and trust.
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