A majority of companies, 86%, are exploring or implementing an AI-EHS strategies, according a new report, Trust, Ethics and Governance: How Safety Leaders Are Thinking About and Using AI, from American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP).  Those who chose the exploratory status mean that they are researching the technology or piloting programs.

For 66% of those companies AI-EHS journey began within just the past two years. 

The report is based on a survey conducted by ASSP among nearly 1,000 safety professionals between July 6 and August 2, 2026.

Currently, companies are using the technology in the following way:

• Report development
• Tailored education and training 
• Incident analysis and pattern recognition
• Resource optimization
• Predictive analytics and resource management
• Automated compliance
• 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, in a statement.

“AI does not change our fundamental responsibility to protect people, property and the environment through EHS practices."

Parker notes that ASSP offers 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.”

ASSP says that these 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.