Innovative Safety Technologies in the Water Management Sector: Implementation Opportunities in the Conditions of Uzbekistan

Employees in the water management sector face numerous occupational safety hazards at hydraulic structures, irrigation systems, and reservoirs, including high-risk and hazardous working conditions, strenuous work, electric shock, water pressure, mechanical injuries, and chemical exposure. Each year, 120–180 injury cases are recorded. This article examines modern innovative solutions for improving occupational safety at water management facilities: real-time monitoring systems based on networked sensors and remote drone-assisted inspection of hazardous areas, smart personal protective equipment, automated and remotely controlled technologies (such as robotic cleaning and repair units), safety training programs in virtual environments, artificial intelligence-based risk prediction models, and biomechanical analysis systems. Implementation opportunities in the conditions of Uzbekistan are assessed using a mixed-method approach. The proposed modern solutions demonstrated reductions in employee injury rates by 30–45% and operational faults by 25–50% and showed that virtual environment training improves training effectiveness by 2–3 times. Recommendations for the phased implementation of these technologies in Uzbekistan are provided.