Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing our everyday lives. With huge potential to automate tasks, process data, and solve problems, its effects are apparent in almost every industry. And of course, the environment, health and safety (EHS) sector is no different.
Here, the emergence of AI promises to make life easier for busy EHS professionals tasked with implementing an effective safety program. From reducing violations and detecting risks to minimizing response times and simplifying incident reporting, AI is a revolutionary tool that will, without doubt, improve safety management.
In this article, we’ll explore the evolving role of AI in EHS, the core tasks that AI can optimize, and how this emerging technology will impact the day-to-day life of today’s EHS manager. In effect, what does AI mean for you?
what is artificial intelligence?
First and foremost, it’s important to appreciate that artificial intelligence is not a single technology. Rather, it is a term used to describe the use of computer systems to perform tasks that traditionally only a human could undertake.
Skills such as pattern recognition, predictive analysis, problem solving, and process optimization were once the preserve of humans. As computer systems have become more adept at learning from data, however, these capabilities can now be handled faster and more accurately by AI.
what is the role of AI in occupational safety?
In the context of occupational safety, AI’s innate flexibility means it can tackle a variety of tasks, automating routine jobs and easily sifting through large amounts of data to reveal key insights. Whether scrutinizing inspection logs or analyzing leading and lagging performance indicators to inform safety procedures, there’s every chance that AI can outperform its human counterpart in data processing.
Despite these advantages, however, the EHS community remains unsure of which AI enabled technologies to adopt and where they should be deployed. Organizations are often wary of compromising data security when processing large amounts of sensitive employee data. And in questions of liability, most are rightly cautious of relying 100% on AI to ensure regulatory compliance.
As in most things, however, success depends on selecting the right tools for the job. Sometimes that means machine learning, computer vision, or large language models can have a significant impact. Other times, in situations such as behavior analysis or in-person training, AI just cannot match up to a human EHS manager.
As we consider the evolution of artificial intelligence then, here are a few of the key areas where AI can be employed to improve workplace safety.
key EHS applications for AI
1. data analysis
Dealing with large amounts of data has always been a key part of the job description for EHS professionals. Today, with the increase in safety related data from across your operations, AI-powered data analysis tools offer solutions to consolidate, summarize and prioritize information from multiple sources. That means AI can look at thousands of observations, sensor readings, incident reports, audit outcomes, and inspection logs to identify and structure the most important findings.
2. real-time monitoring
Quite simply, EHS managers have access to more data than ever before. Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) have prompted a proliferation of sensors and monitoring systems able to provide real-time data on conditions such as air quality, noise levels, or temperature. All can be observed and recorded in detail, automatically enabling rapid action when thresholds are met. This kind of AI-enabled warning system supports regulatory compliance and a proactive approach to worker safety.
But it’s not just equipment and machinery that can benefit from monitoring. AI can also be employed to observe and shape employee behavior, using AI-enabled cameras to detect near miss accidents, or incidents where employees fail to follow safety protocols. This could include improper equipment operation, driving vehicles too fast, or a lack of PPE for example. Unlike the obligatory safety walk, AI enables EHS managers to see everything, everywhere, and even train AI to look for certain behaviors or events.
3. predictive analytics
With the ability to analyze large datasets in record time, AI is far better and faster at identifying patterns and correlations than the humble EHS manager. That means it can flag circumstances that previously led to an accident, injury, or even fatality in order to prevent a similar incident in future.
Not only that, AI can even suggest solutions or preventive measures that could be implemented to refine relevant safety procedures or improve training. For those with limited resources, these insights quickly result in a more targeted, proactive and cost-effective approach to creating safer workplaces.
4. incident response
In the event of an accident, AI can be used to simplify the process of collecting and collating evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing for an investigation. In addition to automating the reporting process, which can significantly reduce paperwork and boost reporting efficiency, AI can also be used to analyze incident reports and photographs. Utilizing AI in this way enables EHS teams to identify root causes and contributing factors that may have led to an incident. Spotting and eliminating these systemic issues paves the way for preventive measures that reduce the number of incidents in future.
5. regulatory compliance
Staying on top of EHS regulations and standards is a never-ending task. Regulations are constantly evolving and organizations must stay abreast of updates to ensure compliance. AI simplifies this process by automatically analyzing detailed regulations and updates, identifying relevant requirements and flagging any compliance gaps. With AI enabled tools to produce compliance reports and suggest corrective action, EHS managers can cut the cost of meeting legal obligations and reduce the risk of penalties for non-compliance.
6. employee training
Employees are at the heart of any safety program. Their actions can prevent, or contribute to, accidents, which is why creating and maintaining a safe workplace depends on training. Here too, AI can help, ensuring that staff understand and comply with safety procedures in a variety of ways.
From producing a comprehensive company-wide training program to devising targeted or personalized micro training sessions, AI can reduce the time EHS managers spend creating educational materials. It can determine who needs training based on behavioral analysis, what resources are required, and even create sophisticated simulations to replicate specific hazards.
benefits of AI in EHS management
- In its most basic form, AI provides task assistance by automating repetitive functions. Here organizations can leverage AI to increase efficiency, boost productivity and realize time savings for their EHS team by reducing admin.
- Beyond workflow optimization, AI also offers opportunities to glean new insights and inform decision-making based on EHS data. With the ability to filter thousands of observations into key themes or highlight safety issues, EHS managers are empowered to make effective changes to safety guidelines or update training to address specific risks.
- Finally, AI can even be used to provide prescriptive guidance. EHS professionals can access recommendations based on current behaviors and potential hazards, suggesting actions that could help to achieve specific EHS goals. Thus, in addition to improving accuracy and efficiency, artificial intelligence can also support a more proactive, rather than reactive, approach to safety, allowing EHS managers to mitigate future incidents before they occur.
what does AI mean for me?
For EHS managers reading this list of AI capabilities, it’s easy to think you might soon be out of a job. Far from replacing humans, however, EHS AI has the potential to make life safer for workers and easier for EHS managers.
Think of it as an assistant to help you do your job better. With AI managing some of the laborious tasks involved in data management, for example, EHS professionals have more time to expend energy where it will make a real difference such as delivering personalized, engaging training or building relationships with employees that can drive behavioral change.
And of course, AI always requires a human backstop. It’s important that any changes or corrective actions suggested by AI are reviewed by an EHS expert. AI can become biased as it learns from user choices and can occasionally produce skewed results so it’s a good idea to have an EHS professional monitor and validate the output.
Ultimately however, AI supports safer, more efficient compliance practices and empowers organizations to proactively manage environmental, health, and safety responsibilities.
EHS made easy
In conclusion, as we adjust to an AI-enabled world, the EHS community is set to benefit. AI has the power to support EHS managers to find risks in real-time and make quick decisions that improve safety management for everyone involved in the work environment. That means the integration of AI into EHS processes is not so much an ‘if’ and more of a ‘how’.
If you’d like to know more about how AI could augment and simplify your role, talk to our EHS experts today. Our flexible and secure SaaS solution is able to address all your EHS needs, helping you manage data, analyze reports, and make informed EHS decisions that power safe and sustainable business growth.