PARK RIDGE, Illinois, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) today released a new research report, “Trust, Ethics and Governance: How Safety Leaders Are Thinking About and Using AI,” examining how organizations are adopting and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into environmental health and safety (EHS). The report is based on a survey conducted by ASSP among nearly 1,000 safety professionals between July 6 and August 2, 2026.

The survey found that most organizations are already exploring or implementing an AI-EHS strategy: 86% of respondents are in the exploratory (discovering and piloting AI) or transformative (scaling and integrating AI) phase, and 66% of those began their AI-EHS journey within just the past two years. Organizations that have not already started their AI journey will quickly fall behind the rest of the industry in adopting AI into their EHS operations.

Survey respondents also reported how they are currently using AI in their work. Identified applications included report development, tailored education and training, incident analysis and pattern recognition, resource optimization, predictive analytics and resource management, automated compliance, and real-time monitoring and alerts.

Additionally, the survey identified practical barriers to AI adoption at every stage of the AI-EHS journey. More than half to three quarters of respondents identified experiencing the following barriers:

  • Low or nascent resource investment (74%)
  • Data quality (62%)
  • Lack of ownership, champions or organizational priority (59%)
  • Mistrust, discomfort or lack of confidence (55%)
  • Concerns about data privacy, security or bias (55%)

Other key findings included that culture or perceptions of AI’s importance to EHS, reduced ethical concerns and data quality are strong predictors of AI adoption; data quality remains a challenge throughout the AI-EHS journey; and training is associated with stronger AI-EHS knowledge and confidence.

“While many safety professionals are using AI to support better decision-making and address real-world EHS challenges, human oversight remains essential,” says Monique Parker, CSP, president, ASSP. “AI does not change our fundamental responsibility to protect people, property and the environment through EHS practices. This is why ASSP is meeting safety professionals where they are on their AI journey with several resources and programs to help address barriers to implementation, including the Applied AI for EHS Certificate with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the AI in EHS: A Practical Framework for Responsible Adoption course.”

The survey findings will help inform ASSP’s complimentary Standards-Based User Group (SBUG) on AI in Safety as the group identifies additional implementation barriers and tests practical solutions.

The survey was funded through generous support from the ASSP Foundation.

To access the full report, please visit the ASSP website. 

About ASSP – Working together for a safer, stronger future
Since 1911, the American Society of Safety Professionals has helped occupational safety and health professionals protect people, property and the environment. The nonprofit society is based in Chicago’s suburbs. Its global membership of more than 35,000 professionals develops safety and health management systems that prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities. ASSP advances its members and the safety profession by providing member communities, serving as a trusted advisor, and elevating safety through workforce development. Its flagship journal, Professional Safety, is a longtime leader in the field. Visit www.assp.org and find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.


Katie Bronk
American Society of Safety Professionals
847-768-3416
kbronk@assp.org

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