Raj Jayaraman of Wolters Kluwer Enablon and Jay Vietas of the National Safety Council discuss new Safety Shift 2026 findings, AI adoption, and the importance of trust and governance
How are organizations using artificial intelligence to improve workplace safety? And how can EHS leaders balance innovation with trust, governance, and human oversight?
Those were among the topics explored in a recent episode of EHS On Tap, How Organizations Are Using AI in Workplace Safety, featuring Raj Jayaraman, Vice President of Product Management at Wolters Kluwer Enablon and Jay Vietas, Senior Director of Research at the National Safety Council.
The conversation focused on findings from the newly released The Safety Shift: EHS Readiness in 2026 research and what they reveal about AI adoption, governance, and the future role of EHS leaders. The report is based on a survey conducted in early 2026 of 1,053 professionals in EHS, operations and risk management roles across U.S. industries, including manufacturing, energy, construction, transportation and life sciences.
AI adoption moves beyond experimentation
One of the clearest themes from the discussion was the speed at which AI has progressed from a promising technology to a practical tool within EHS programs. According to the research, 82% of surveyed professionals reported either extensive, moderate, or limited use of AI within their EHS programs, highlighting how rapidly organizations are exploring operational applications for the technology.
Vietas noted that organizations are increasingly moving beyond AI experimentation and focusing on practical applications that can deliver measurable value.
“Artificial intelligence is here. The research shows EHS professionals are moving beyond experimentation and finding practical ways to incorporate AI into their business processes.”
The discussion highlighted how organizations are using AI to analyze information, identify patterns, and support decision-making while continuing to gain confidence in where and how the technology can provide the greatest benefit.
Trust and governance remain essential
As adoption grows, so does the importance of governance. Both speakers emphasized that successful AI strategies require transparency, accountability, and clear boundaries between machine-generated recommendations and human decision-making.
Jayaraman stressed that organizations are increasingly focused on ensuring AI strengthens human expertise rather than replacing it.
“The human in the loop becomes a very critical element. AI should be used to support human expertise, not replace it.”
Throughout the conversation, the speakers discussed how organizations are developing governance frameworks, strengthening data readiness, and establishing safeguards that enable innovation while maintaining accountability and trust.
The role of EHS leaders continues to expand
Beyond technology, the discussion explored how expectations for EHS leaders are evolving. Organizations are increasingly looking to EHS teams to address a broader range of workforce and operational risks while continuing to meet traditional compliance and safety responsibilities.
Jayaraman and Vietas discussed the growing focus on issues such as mental health, workforce wellbeing, and proactive risk management. At the same time, EHS leaders are being asked to help guide digital transformation initiatives and evaluate emerging technologies such as AI.
As organizations balance operational demands with new expectations around technology and workforce risk, EHS leaders are taking on a more strategic role, not only evaluating new technologies, but also helping ensure those technologies are deployed safely, transparently, and with appropriate human oversight.