ASSP's Board of Directors recently approved a position statement on artificial intelligence (AI). This is a significant step in defining the role AI should play in advancing workplace safety and supporting our mission to be the community that protects people, property and the environment. The position aligns with our shared vision that safety, health and well-being are fundamental rights for all workers.
The board also approved the formation of an AI task force and recruitment for that closes on Dec. 9. Please visit the Leadership Connection page (https://assp.us/leadership_connection) to learn more. This group will research the impact of AI on the workplace and report back their findings.
By embracing AI thoughtfully and responsibly, we can harness its potential to improve workplace safety, protect workers and create healthier work environments. But we also know that the use of AI introduces challenges, including privacy risks and the need to manage emerging hazards. Our position statement reflects our collective commitment to four fundamental principles about the ethical and responsible use of AI.
- Trust: We believe that AI should enhance safety professionals’ skills, not replace human judgment and decision-making. Safety professionals should oversee AI-driven safety solutions and hazard remediation to make sure decisions consider context, ethics and exposures.
- Transparency: We believe that workers, managers and leaders must be informed about the capabilities and limitations of AI technologies deployed in their work environments.
- Equity: We are committed to ensuring that AI technologies do not aggravate existing disparities or introduce new forms of discrimination in practices related to workplace safety and health.
- Privacy: We call on organizations to implement safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, misuse or exploitation of sensitive information collected by AI systems.
Trust
AI technologies lack the nuanced understanding of context and human factors that we provide as safety professionals. As the stewards of safety, we are critical in setting ethical and operational standards for AI and making sure these technologies enhance worker well-being.
Transparency
Leadership is built on clarity, trust and informed decision-making. Workers deserve transparency about what these systems do. Taking a transparent approach supports a workplace culture of accountability.
Equity
Equity is a cornerstone of a healthy and fair workplace. Decisions informed by AI, whether related to safety monitoring, risk analysis or workforce management, must be free from biases so they can support the collective well-being of all employees.
Privacy
Safety professionals play a key role in upholding workers’ rights to privacy. We must advocate for safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, misuse or exploitation of data collected through AI-based systems. Doing so reinforces our role as trusted advisors.
AI holds immense promise, but its potential risks require that we act with caution and integrity. As with any new technology, use of AI may introduce new hazards that require adaptive solutions. By approving this position statement, ASSP reaffirms its role as a trusted advisor. We are committed to sharing best practice and lessons learned to help you navigate these changes.
For safety professionals, ASSP’s statement is a resource and guide that aligns with our values and supports our essential role in the workplace. Our goal is to ensure that AI is used as a tool for good, enhancing safety and well-being without compromising our ethical standards. As members of this community, your expertise, insight and experience are vital in shaping how AI evolves in the safety field.
Please take a few minutes to visit our AI web page at https://assp.us/AI. You will find the full position statement, a call for AI case studies and a selection of on-demand webinars on AI topics.
Through this position statement, ASSP is setting the foundation for AI to play a transformative role in the safety profession. By staying true to our core values, we strengthen our shared goal: Ensuring that every worker returns home safely each day, now and in the future.