A Global Study on How Organizations Are Applying AI and Technology to Control Risk.
This Insights Summary includes the five top takeaways from this year's data findings. You can reserve your copy here and receive it the moment it's published in early April.
The State of EHS+ Technology
Research Report | 2,000 EHS+ Leaders
Explore the Top 5 AI Insights
EHS+ is at a crossroads of innovation.
The market has shifted more in the past year than in the last ten. AI promises to transform what’s possible with EHS, and teams are racing to adopt new technologies.
What does this mean for the future of EHS+ and sustainability?
27%
AI is a strategic priority with executive sponsorship
of organizations say
Here is what we found…
97%
They are using AI in EHS+ processes and workflows
of organizations say
34%
Their data is mostly centralized but inconsistently trusted
of organizations say
stated that unapproved AI is being used widely — not just casually or experimentally.
45%
5%
of EHS leaders say AI tool usage outside of approved systems is restricted or prohibited.
These trends reveal a conflict between speed to implementation and the ability to govern and build trust in those solutions.
Explore the Top 5 AI Insights
Security.
is the #1 stated priority
Despite the ubiquity of 'Shadow AI', respondents ranked security as their top concern when consider AI solutions — closely followed by transparency, domain expertise, and human oversight.
95%
Use 'Shadow AI'
95% of EHS professionals are using AI tools outside of approved systems — and nearly half say this is happening widely across their organisations.
'Shadow AI' is widespread in EHS, despite governance and quality concerns.
In one of the most risk-averse industries in the world, 95% of respondents said EHS teams and frontline workers were using some form of unsanctioned AI systems in their work. 45% said this is happening widely, not just casually.
Insight 01 | Shadow AI
AI's biggest potential: the critical decisions made in the next ten minutes.
When we asked EHS leaders where they saw the biggest opportunity for improved data and insights, they all pointed to "in the moment" decisions — conditions that exist at a specific time, at a specific site, on a specific shift, and then change. This means going from lagging indicators to leading ones; from responding to risks to preventing them.
Insight 02 | Real-Time Decisions
The top 4 risk areas with the biggest opportunity for in-the-moment insights:
Availability or suitability of tools or PPE
20% of respondents said:
Communication quality between teams or shifts
19% of respondents said:
Focus alertness or fatigue over the course of a shift
19% of respondents said:
Production pressure or schedule changes
20% of respondents said:
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Fragmented tools stand between EHS leaders and the promise of AI.
Insight 03 | Tech Consolidation
EHS technology grew up fragmented. One tool for safety, another for health, another for environmental, and so on—and each with its own data and workflows. 85% of organizations indicated they are still running on disconnected or partially integrated tools, and only 15% saying their data is centralized in a trusted system.
But AI is changing how EHS professionals make technology decisions — and driving interest in modern platforms and tech consolidation.
of organizations indicated they are still running on disconnected or partially integrated tools
85%
15%
say their data is centralized in a trusted system
The data highlights a shift away from fragmented point solutions to platforms that break down siloes across domains.
EHS tools grew up
fragmented.
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In EHS+, there is no substitute for domain expertise.
When asked what factors matter most when selecting AI solutions, senior EHS leaders consistently preferred depth of expertise over novelty. Trust in fully autonomous AI to make EHS+ decisions is consistently at or below 15% across all decision types, with the peak preference always being AI recommendations with required human approval.
Insight 04 | Trust & Expertise
Top factors for AI investment decisions:
Most common level of 'AI autonomy':
"AI recommendations with required human approval"
29% of respondents selected:
15% of respondents "Would not trust AI at all".
Vendor expertise in the EHS domain
21.6% of respondents said:
Explainability and transparency of AI outputs
21.9% of respondents said:
Human oversight and control
21.5% of respondents said:
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The 'EHS+ Innovators' are doing something different.
Insight 05 | Pacesetters
Innovators have been pulling their systems and data together onto fewer platforms, creating a foundation that makes applied AI possible, and have made it a strategic priority to embed AI across their operations — not a pilot, not a bolt-on.
The EHS+ Innovators are...
“Don’t be afraid of changing and editing your process. You don’t know what you don’t know. Get people you trust to test and give you thoughts, and take that feedback willingly.... Just take a step."
More likey to
3x
Bryn Jensson
Director of EHS Operations
4x
Have made AI a strategic priority at the executive level
More likey to
Be running on domain-specific platforms
4x
Have centralized, trusted data across their organization
More likey to
Embedding AI as an executive-level priority
Embedding AI across the organization has been identified and championed as a strategic priority at the executive level.
They've been consolidating tools and data onto fewer platforms — creating the foundation that makes applied AI possible.
Pulling systems and data onto fewer platforms
Explore the Top 5 AI Insights
AI ambition in EHS is growing fast — but our research reveals a significant gap between adoption and operational readiness. These insights offer a small glimpse into the complete findings.
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