AI's Impact on Workplace Safety Remains Limited, Survey Says
Only 6 percent of employees report AI-related safety enhancements at their organizations, according to a recent report.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Oct 21, 2024
A recent Gallup survey reveals that AI has had minimal impact on improving workplace safety, with only 6 percent of U.S. employees citing safety improvements related to AI technologies.
Of the Fortune 500 chief human resource officers polled in the study, Employee Safety was one of the least selected items on the list, tied with Job Security and beating out Organizational Ethics and Integrity and Other. In contrast, respondents do believe AI has made significant strides in other areas, with 45 percent reporting enhancements in Productivity and Efficiency.
In addition, 26 percent of employees noted boosts in Creativity and Innovation, and 23 percent claiming that the Quality of Product or Output at their companies had improved thanks to AI. Overall, the survey's findings highlight that while AI continues to affect various business functions, its application in occupational health and safety remains underdeveloped thus far.
Many organizations are using AI to streamline tasks and improve decision-making, but few have leveraged its potential for improving safety protocols, such as hazard prevention or real-time risk detection. Likewise, the survey reports that one-third of employees believe their organizations are applying AI, and two-thirds of employees say they never use it at all in their role.
For more on Gallup’s latest study on AI adoption, visit the company’s website.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.