AI in Health & Safety
AI is rapidly developing in capability and is a transformative technology. It can create and exacerbate health and safety risk but also has the potential to bring real benefits for health and safety.
AI is transforming health and safety by offering both opportunities and challenges. AI can enhance workplace safety through hazard monitoring, risk prediction, and streamlining compliance, while also raising concerns about algorithmic bias and the potential for job displacement.
Pattern Spotting
The potential for AI to improve occupational health and safety comes from its capacity to scan massive volumes of information, picking out the important data and flagging up patterns. An AI programme trained on all your organisation’s near-miss observations and accident reports over the previous years would be likely to yield valuable insights, spotting trends that a health and safety practitioner might have to spend hundreds of hours to find. In a recently announced study, researchers at Lund University in Sweden found that using AI to look for signs of cancer in breast screening tests provided the same degree of accuracy as analysis by skilled radiologists – based on 40,000 tests carried out by AI and the same number by humans. Using the AI to flag up abnormalities to a specialist substituted five month’s work by a radiologist.
A 2021 Policy briefing by the EU OSHA safety body noted that “new forms of AI-based monitoring of workers may also provide an opportunity to improve OSH surveillance, reduce exposure to various risk factors, including harassment and violence, and provide early warnings of stress, health problems and fatigue”.
An example of improved surveillance is software currently available which plugs into organisational closed-circuit TV systems and uses AI to identify hazardous events and patterns such as near-misses involving pedestrians and vehicles, individuals missing their personal protective equipment and poor manual handling practice.
In an ideal safety culture, at the advanced stages of the various cultural models such as the Bradley curve and the Hudson safety ladder, such events would naturally be brought to light and even corrected by employees themselves. But few safety professionals would claim their organisations had reached such an enlightened state and, in the meantime, the ability to identify hazard hotspots gives them a richer dataset without the impossible task of personally scanning hundreds of hours of footage.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Occupational Safety and Health Practices (OSH)
It has been feared by many that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be taking over how we do business. However, AI has revolutionized the way businesses operate, transforming mundane tasks into efficient, data-driven processes. In today’s workplace, AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s an integral part of daily operations. AI plays a crucial role in enhancing occupational safety and health (OSH) practices. Let’s explore how AI benefits workplace safety:
1. Real-Time Monitoring and Hazard Detection:
- AI technologies, equipped with machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics, can monitor safety data in real-time.
2. Predictive Analytics for Risk Assessment:
- AI analyses large safety datasets, identifying patterns and predicting potential hazards.
3. Behaviour Recognition and Intervention:
- AI can detect when workers do not follow safety protocols.
- It offers cost-effective learning opportunities in safety and health.
- Speech recognition and incident reporting are also facilitated by AI.
4. Algorithmic Integrity and Bias Mitigation:
AI algorithms can be designed to minimize bias and ensure fairness.
5. Efficient Incident Response:
- AI systems can recognize still images, situations, and objects related to safety incidents.
- This aids in timely and effective response to emergencies.
6. Multidisciplinary Research and Knowledge Sharing:
- OSH professionals can collaborate with AI experts to study AI adoption and evaluate its impact.
In conclusion, AI is not replacing humans; it’s augmenting our capabilities. By leveraging AI responsibly, organisations can create a more efficient, innovative, and inclusive workplace. As previously mentioned, AI contributes to safer workplaces by providing real-time insights, risk assessment, and behaviour monitoring. As technology continues to evolve, responsible AI adoption will continue to enhance occupational safety and health for all workers.