ASSP White Paper Explores AI's Impact on Occupational Safety
New research from the ASSP outlines how AI tools are transforming risk assessment and reporting for EHS experts.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Feb 20, 2026
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Artificial Intelligence Task Force released a white paper Thursday detailing how emerging technologies are reshaping the roles of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) professionals.
The report, "AI and the Evolving Role of EHS Professionals," examines how the responsible integration of AI can improve workplace safety while addressing concerns regarding data privacy, transparency, and worker protection.
According to the white paper, AI adoption within the EHS sector is currently in its early stages. While many professionals are exploring the technology, early adopters are already utilizing low-cost AI tools to analyze incident data and streamline safety reporting.
Key findings from the research include:
- Increased Efficiency: Safety professionals reported significant time savings when using AI to draft policies, safety reports, and training materials.
- Proactive Risk Management: Machine learning, sensors, and video analytics are helping firms shift from reactive safety measures to identifying hazards in real time.
- Human Oversight: The report emphasizes that while AI enhances decision-making, it does not replace professional judgment. Human expertise remains essential for validating AI-generated outputs.
The white paper also notes that AI is making safety content more accessible to diverse workforces through automated translation and simplified documentation.
"As AI becomes more integrated into safety professionals’ daily work, now is the moment for our profession to help shape its ethical, transparent and responsible use," said Stephanie Johnson, chair of the ASSP AI Task Force.
The publication serves as a foundation for the ASSP’s broader AI strategy, which focuses on competency development, research, and ethical leadership. The organization plans to introduce further tools and resources in the coming months to ensure safety professionals remain central to AI implementation in the workplace.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.