How is AI being used in health and safety?
- Predictive analysis to identify risk trends
Instead of waiting for accidents to happen, increasingly, organisations are now using AI to quickly and efficiently analyse vast amounts of data, isolating subtle patterns of risky behaviours or emerging hazards. Camera-vision systems can detect repetitive unsafe actions such as improper lifting techniques or failure to wear PPE, flagging them before they escalate into incidents. AI-driven platforms can also predict areas where equipment is likely to fail or where operations may become congested, enabling safety managers to intervene in advance. - Wearable technology
Devices like smart helmets, wristbands, vests, and belts have been developed to continually monitor vital signs, environmental hazards, movement, and location, then use AI to issue timely alerts. In a warehouse setting, wearables can detect when workers are in the path of forklifts or within dangerous zones, delivering haptic alerts to both the wearer and vehicle operator to prevent collisions in areas like blind corners. In other situations, a smart watch can track things like heart rate, heat stress, posture, and slips or falls, instantly alerting both the worker and the safety manager so they can act quickly to prevent harm. - AI-enhanced training simulations
Immersive training programmes are changing the way workers practise safety procedures, especially in high-risk industries where simulation training reduces the need for intensive staff supervision and resources. Using virtual reality, AI can turn scans of real job sites into realistic, interactive models. Trainees can explore these environments, work through lifelike scenarios, and get guidance from AI instructor avatars. The system tracks their performance and adjusts the training to focus on areas where they need the most improvement. - AI-assisted compliance monitoring
These systems can analyse large volumes of data from inspections, audits, and day-to-day operations to identify gaps or breaches in safety procedures. For example, they can check whether equipment inspections are being carried out on schedule, whether training records are up to date, or if maintenance logs are complete. This means problems can be fixed before they lead to accidents or fines, and safety managers can focus their time on the most urgent risks. - Insurance claims optimisation
Dealing with insurance claims can be complex, especially when incidents involve workplace injuries or damage. AI is helping to speed up the process and make it more accurate. By automatically reviewing reports, photographs, sensor data, and even CCTV footage, AI can quickly verify the details of an incident and highlight anything that needs further investigation, complementing established manual claims handling processes. This reduces the time it takes to process a claim and helps ensure decisions are based on clear, consistent evidence.
Benefits of AI health and safety tools in the workplace
Reduced human error and improved hazard detection
Though it shouldn’t be relied upon solely, AI can process data far faster and more consistently than humans, helping to identify hazards that might otherwise go unnoticed. Tools can spot patterns and risks in real time, supporting better decision-making from HSE leaders, reducing the chance of mistakes and allowing quicker action to prevent incidents.
Compliments safety culture
When used effectively, AI supports and strengthens a company’s existing safety culture. By providing timely alerts, accurate data, and clear insights, it empowers workers and managers to make safer decisions. It also reinforces the message that safety is everyone’s responsibility, encouraging proactive behaviours across the organisation.
Potential misuse of AI in health and safety
Tracking staff movements
Some AI safety systems use sensors, cameras, or wearable devices to monitor worker locations in real time. While this can help prevent accidents, it also raises concerns about privacy if tracking goes beyond what is necessary for safety. Employers need to ensure that any location data is collected, stored, and used responsibly, with clear communication to staff about how and why it is being monitored.
Over-penalisation
AI can be very strict in flagging non-compliance, sometimes picking up minor, one-off issues and treating them the same as serious breaches. If these alerts lead directly to penalties without considering context, it can create a culture of fear rather than safety. Human oversight is essential to interpret AI findings, distinguish between genuine risks and isolated mistakes, and ensure any action taken is fair and proportionate
Will AI replace health and safety?
While AI is becoming a valuable tool in health and safety, it’s still in its early stages and cannot replace the human element. Safety management relies on in-person conversations, trust, and context which are things AI cannot fully replicate. A valid risk assessment, for example, requires understanding the specific environment, culture, and behaviours of a workplace, which goes beyond what an algorithm can interpret. AI can support this process by providing data, highlighting trends, and flagging potential risks, but it should never replace human judgement or experience.
Effective safety depends on decisions made by people who can weigh up the facts, apply context, and take appropriate action. In practice, the best results come from combining AI insights with skilled professionals who understand the realities of the job and can turn information into meaningful action.
How NFP can help
At NFP, we keep a close eye on developments in workplace health and safety, including the potential role of artificial intelligence. By tracking emerging trends and understanding the opportunities and challenges they present, we can better inform our clients about the evolving landscape. While AI in health and safety is still in its early stages, our goal is to stay informed so we can have meaningful conversations about how these innovations may shape the future of risk management.