A survey conducted by Wolters Kluwer Enablon in collaboration with the National Safety Council (NSC) reveals that while over 80% of safety professionals believe their organizations are ready to implement artificial intelligence (AI) in their environment, health, and safety (EHS) programs, a striking 90% express at least one concern regarding its use. The findings underscore a significant shift as AI transitions from experimentation to routine application in EHS operations, yet concerns regarding overreliance and the necessity for human oversight persist.
Raj Jayaraman, Vice President of Product Management at Wolters Kluwer Enablon, emphasized that effective EHS programs hinge on more than technology alone. “Our study shows that technology alone is not enough,” he stated. “Effective EHS programs depend on strong data foundations, clear governance, and maintaining human accountability as analytics and AI become more widely used.” The report titled “The Safety Shift: EHS Readiness in 2026,” is based on responses from 1,053 professionals involved in EHS, operations, and risk management across various U.S. industries.
Jayaraman’s insights reflect a larger context where EHS leaders are undergoing significant transitions. Jay Vietas, Senior Director of Research at the NSC, noted that while digital tools and AI are increasingly integrated into safety programs, organizations still grapple with linking systems, enhancing data quality, and balancing emerging workforce risks with traditional operational responsibilities.
According to the survey, AI’s implementation has advanced beyond pilot projects, with many organizations applying it to essential EHS tasks, including incident prediction, hazard identification, and regulatory compliance. The report highlights that 20% of respondents indicate extensive AI application within their EHS frameworks, while 62% report moderate or limited use. Despite this promising adoption, concerns about AI remain prevalent; 65% of respondents specifically cite the risk of overreliance as a key issue.
Interestingly, even among those who consider their organizations fully prepared for AI, concerns about its implications persist, reiterating the importance of governance and human oversight as AI’s role in EHS expands. This highlights a critical challenge: while cultural readiness for AI is notably high, with 42% of participants asserting they are fully ready to adopt these technologies, many organizations still find themselves operating hybrid systems, where digital and manual workflows coexist.
The survey indicates that only 11% of organizations have fully digitalized their EHS systems, while a significant 71% maintain hybrid environments. Alarmingly, 18% still rely predominantly on manual or paper-based processes. These fragmented systems and inconsistent data hinder visibility and integration across EHS functions, limiting the potential benefits that AI can provide.
Moreover, processes closely tied to daily EHS operations are lagging in digital adoption. Less than half of the respondents report digital progress in safety processes such as emergency response planning and occupational health monitoring. This suggests that while there is enthusiasm for AI’s capabilities, many foundational elements of EHS practice require further digitization to maximize AI’s efficacy.
In addition to technological challenges, the survey also reveals a shift in how organizations perceive safety risks. A notable 87% of respondents agree that mental health issues fall within the EHS domain. However, immediate priorities still lean toward operational challenges, with fatigue management and infectious disease preparedness ranking higher on the agenda.
As AI adoption accelerates, the findings signal a pressing need for collaboration between safety and technology leaders to ensure that AI tools augment decision-making rather than replace human expertise. The imperative is clear: organizations must not only embrace advanced AI capabilities but also reinforce the human elements critical to effective EHS management.
Founded over 110 years ago, the National Safety Council stands as a leading nonprofit safety advocate in the U.S., working to eliminate preventable causes of death and injury. The full survey report, “The Safety Shift: EHS Readiness in 2026,” is available for download, providing further insights into the evolving landscape of EHS practices and AI integration.
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