Improving Worker Health And Safety With AI Technology

Is your organization embracing the use of AI for occupational health and safety?

This was the question that the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) asked just over 800 OHS professionals from organizations in Ontario and British Columbia in the summer of 2024.

While many Canadian workplaces and industries are using AI to augment or enhance work or complete job tasks previously performed by workers, the extent that it was being used to keep workers safe on the job was unknown.

The IWH study, led by Associate Scientific Director and Scientist Dr. Arif Jetha asked OHS professionals about the use of AI in their organizations, their personal perceptions of AI, and characteristics of their organizations.

A quarter of respondents reported that they are using AI for health and safety purposes. Half reported their organizations do not use AI for OHS and the remainder didn’t know.

Organizations using AI for OHS were more than three times as likely to be highly hazardous workplaces (where workers are frequently exposed to hazards) and twice as likely to be moderately hazardous compared to those not using AI.

“Our finding that larger organizations and those with potentially more hazards report greater AI use for OHS may highlight need and resource differences in firm-level uptake. The most safety-sensitive and well-resourced organizations may be leading the way in turning to AI to innovate health and safety practices,” says Dr. Jetha. “It could also be that large organizations have an existing technological infrastructure that may make AI adoption more straightforward.”

Those using AI for OHS were more than three times as likely as non-users to have positive perceptions about the impact of AI on creating safer workplaces, addressing OHS costs and reducing psychological and physical injuries. They report using the technology in a range of applications.

• • Identifying and eliminating hazards (e.g., AI-powered fire suppression systems) – 27%

  • Monitoring safety behaviours in combination with cameras and sensors – 22%

  • Promoting health enhancing behaviours (mental health monitoring tools) – 19%

  • Preventing psychological injuries (AI therapy apps) - 15%

  • Preventing physical injuries – 10%

  • Disability management – 7%

Dr. Jetha explains, “AI users might be more knowledgeable about the pros and cons of the technology and have had more positive experiences…As the AI landscape expands, it will be important for OHS professionals to have more information about AI, gain opportunities to experience its potential benefits, and think about drawbacks so they can contribute to the design and adoption of the technology in their organizations.”

He notes that while we hear so much about AI and its various uses, its use for OHS was not as common as he expected. He anticipates that as AI becomes more affordable and widespread, and new tools are developed, we may see an increase in the numbers.

Jetha says it will be critical to monitor the efficacy of these tools in preventing workplace injuries and illness. To this end, he was just awarded a seven-year research partnership grant called the Partnership on AI and the Quality of Work (PAIQ) which will allow him to dig deeper into these questions.

“We’re still at the early stages of understanding the role AI can play for OHS and building tangible recommendations for OHS professionals. We need to look into the utility and effectiveness of AI for OHS problems across different types of organizations.”

This blog post was adapted for The Trusted Leader, with permission, from the Institute for Work and Health’s research summary. For more information about this project, please visit their site.

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