Construction-PPE Dataset

The Construction-PPE dataset is designed to improve safety compliance in construction sites by enabling detection of essential protective gear such as helmets, vests, gloves, boots, and goggles, along with annotations for missing equipment. Curated from real construction environments, it includes both compliant and non-compliant cases, making it a valuable resource for training AI models that monitor workplace safety.

<strong>Watch:</strong> How to train Ultralytics YOLO on Personal Protective Equipment Dataset | VisionAI in Construction 👷

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Dataset Structure

The Construction-PPE dataset is organized into three main subsets:

Training Set: The primary collection of annotated construction images featuring workers with both complete and partial PPE usage.
Validation Set: A designated subset used to fine-tune and assess model performance during PPE detection and compliance monitoring.
Test Set: An independent subset reserved for evaluating the final model's effectiveness in detecting PPE and identifying compliance issues.

Each image is annotated in the Ultralytics YOLO format ensuring compatibility with state-of-the-art object detection and tracking pipelines.

The dataset provides 11 classes divided into positive (worn PPE) and negative (missing PPE) categories. This dual-positive/negative structure enables models to detect properly worn gear and identify safety violations.

Business Value

Construction remains one of the most hazardous industries in the world, with over 51 out of 123 work related fatal injuries in the UK in 2023/2024 happening in construction. However, the issue is no longer an issue with lack of regulation with 42% of construction workers admitting to not always adhering to processes.
Construction is already governed by an extensive framework of health and safety (HSE) standards, but HSE teams are challenged with consistent enforcement. HSE teams are often stretched thin, balancing paperwork and audits and lacking the ability to monitor every corner of a busy and ever-changing environment in real time.
This is where computer vision based personal protective equipment (PPE) detection becomes invaluable. By automatically checking whether workers are wearing helmets, vests and other personal protective equipment, you can ensure HSE rules are not just present but effectively enforced consistently across all sites. Beyond compliance, computer vision provides leading indicators of risk by revealing how well crews follow safety practices, enabling organizations to spot downward trends in compliance and prevent incidents before they happen.
As a bonus, personal protective equipment detection has also been known to identify unauthorized site intruders, since those not equipped with proper safety gear are the first to trigger a notification. Ultimately, PPE detection is a simple yet powerful computer vision use-case that delivers full oversight, actionable insights and standardized reporting, empowering construction firms to reduce risk, protect workers and safeguard their projects.

Applications

Construction-PPE powers a variety of safety-focused computer vision applications:

Automated compliance monitoring: Train AI models to instantly check if workers are wearing required safety gear like helmets, vests, or gloves, reducing risks on site.
Workplace safety analytics: Track PPE usage over time, spot frequent violations, and generate insights to improve safety culture.
Smart surveillance systems: Connect detection models with cameras to send real-time alerts when PPE is missing, preventing accidents before they happen.
Robotics and autonomous systems: Enable drones or robots to perform PPE checks across large sites, supporting faster and safer inspections.
Research and education: Provide a real-world dataset for students and researchers exploring workplace safety and human-object interactions.

Dataset YAML

The Construction-PPE dataset includes a YAML configuration file that defines the training and validation image paths along with the full list of object classes. You can access the construction-ppe.yaml file directly in the Ultralytics repository here: https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/blob/main/ultralytics/cfg/datasets/construction-ppe.yaml

!!! example "ultralytics/cfg/datasets/construction-ppe.yaml"

```yaml
--8<-- "ultralytics/cfg/datasets/construction-ppe.yaml"
```

Usage

You can train a YOLO26n model on the Construction-PPE dataset for 100 epochs with an image size of 640. The following examples show how to get started quickly. For more options and advanced configurations, see the Training guide.

!!! example "Train Example"

=== "Python"

    ```python
    from ultralytics import YOLO

    # Load pretrained model
    model = YOLO("yolo26n.pt")

    # Train the model on Construction-PPE dataset
    model.train(data="construction-ppe.yaml", epochs=100, imgsz=640)
    ```

=== "CLI"

    ```bash
    yolo detect train data=construction-ppe.yaml model=yolo26n.pt epochs=100 imgsz=640
    ```

Sample Images and Annotations

The dataset captures construction workers across varied environments, lighting conditions, and postures. Both compliant and non-compliant cases are included.

License and Attribution

Construction-PPE is developed and released under the AGPL-3.0 License, supporting open-source research and commercial applications with proper attribution.

If you use this dataset in your research, please cite it:

!!! quote ""

=== "BibTeX"

    ```bibtex
    @dataset{Dalvi_Construction_PPE_Dataset_2025,
        author = {Mrunmayee Dalvi and Niyati Singh and Sahil Bhingarde and Ketaki Chalke},
        title = {Construction-PPE: Personal Protective Equipment Detection Dataset},
        month = {January},
        year = {2025},
        version = {1.0.0},
        license = {AGPL-3.0},
        url = {https://docs.ultralytics.com/datasets/detect/construction-ppe/},
        publisher = {Ultralytics}
    }
    ```

FAQ

What makes the Construction-PPE dataset unique?

Unlike generic construction datasets, Construction-PPE explicitly includes missing equipment classes. This dual-labeling approach allows models to not only detect PPE but also flag violations in real-time.

Which object categories are included?

The dataset covers helmets, vests, gloves, boots, goggles, and workers, along with their “missing PPE” counterparts. This ensures comprehensive compliance coverage.

How can I train a YOLO model using the Construction-PPE dataset?

To train a YOLO26 model using the Construction-PPE dataset, you can use the following code snippets:

!!! example "Train Example"

=== "Python"

    ```python
    from ultralytics import YOLO

    # Load a model
    model = YOLO("yolo26n.pt")  # load a pretrained model (recommended for training)

    # Train the model
    results = model.train(data="construction-ppe.yaml", epochs=100, imgsz=640)
    ```

=== "CLI"

    ```bash
    # Start training from a pretrained *.pt model
    yolo detect train data=construction-ppe.yaml model=yolo26n.pt epochs=100 imgsz=640
    ```

Is this dataset suitable for real-world applications?

Yes. Images are curated from real construction sites under diverse conditions. This makes it highly effective for building deployable workplace safety monitoring systems.

What are the benefits of using the Construction-PPE dataset in AI projects?

The dataset enables real-time detection of personal protective equipment, helping monitor worker safety on construction sites. With classes for both worn and missing gear, it supports AI systems that can automatically flag safety violations, generate compliance insights, and reduce risks. It also provides a practical resource for developing computer vision solutions in workplace safety, robotics, and academic research.