The Formula for Success: AI Helps, People Decide

DEAR READERS!

Developments in the field of artificial intelligence are unfolding so rapidly that there is a need to publicly analyze this unique phenomenon of our time more frequently. The question is no longer whether AI should or should not be used. Some countries have appointed ministers specifically for AI. Business meetings and casual conversations among active people now rarely take place without a discussion of AI’s new possibilities. The first trainers have entered the market, teaching the ins and outs of working with AI.

AI is increasingly – albeit still in a somewhat unstructured way – becoming part of our professional lives, helping us analyze large volumes of information, identify hazards, monitor equipment status, detect worker fatigue, and automate high-risk tasks. It seems that technology is opening up almost limitless possibilities for improving safety.

At the same time, we must realize that simply having a modern system does not make a workplace safe.

Incorrect data, a misconfigured algorithm, or excessive reliance on an automated solution may not reduce risks but, on the contrary, may increase them. It is particularly dangerous when a company implements artificial intelligence but fails to clearly define who is responsible for its use, who verifies the results, who makes the final decision, and who has the authority to shut down the system in the event of an error.

Yes, technology cannot be held accountable. It should not replace a manager, an occupational safety specialist, or an employee with practical experience. Ultimate responsibility for personnel, operational, and managerial decisions must remain with people. I’d like to add: AI makes smart people smarter – and the inept even more inept.

This is particularly relevant in the context of labor shortages. The shortage of workers is already leading to increased work intensity, overtime, shorter breaks, the involvement of inadequately trained personnel, and one person having to perform multiple roles. The consequences include exhaustion, burnout, errors, injuries, and deteriorating health.

Under such conditions, there may be a temptation to use artificial intelligence as a quick fix to compensate for the shortage of workers. But no digital system can remedy poor work organization, inadequate training, weak supervision, or excessive workloads.

A sensor can detect an employee’s fatigue, but it cannot replace a proper work and rest schedule. A computer vision system can identify violations, but it will not eliminate the reasons why an employee is forced to act unsafely. A robot can take over a physically demanding operation, but its use also requires risk assessment, staff training, and constant technical oversight.

That is precisely why artificial intelligence must be managed – before it becomes an integral part of a company’s critical processes. Employers must know which AI systems are being used, what data they collect, how they make or support decisions, and what the consequences of their errors might be. AI applications should be categorized by risk level: drafting a document and making an automated decision on whether an employee should be allowed to work cannot be subject to the same level of oversight.

It is equally important to involve employees and their representatives in the selection, testing, and evaluation of new technologies. People must understand what information about them is being collected, who has access to it, and whether data on their health, fatigue, or behavior will be used for disciplinary purposes or unjustified performance assessments.

We must also assess the actual benefits of these technologies. Not by the number of systems or sensors purchased or experiments conducted, but by concrete results: have hazardous situations decreased, has the workload been reduced, have injuries been prevented, and have working conditions improved?

The future of occupational safety and health will not be determined by the number of algorithms and robots. It will depend on whether we can combine technological development with professional responsibility, proper work organization, and respect for people.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming our assistant – attentive, fast, and helpful. But it is people who must manage the safety system, set priorities, and be accountable for decisions.

Let us preserve our humanity in a world of technology. The value of any safety system remains the same – the life and health of the worker.