New Sphera research finds workers are receptive to AI in workplace safety, but want proof it improves outcomes
CHICAGO, IL – (25 June 2026) – Sphera®, a leading Operational Intelligence Platform, today released new research showing that frontline workers are broadly open to AI in workplace safety programs, but trust, communication and proof of impact remain critical to driving participation.
In a recent survey of 500 U.S.-based frontline workers at enterprise organizations, 83% of respondents said they are interested in using an AI assistant for safety-related tasks over the next six months, with real-time risk identification among the most common use cases. The findings suggest workers are receptive to technologies that can help improve safety outcomes, streamline reporting and provide more immediate visibility into potential risks.
The research also found that while 96% of respondents said they know how and when to report safety risks or concerns, just 63% strongly agree with the statement. Similarly, 88% said they feel empowered to participate in workplace safety programs, but only 42% strongly agree. Almost half (47%) strongly agreed that their participation makes a difference in workplace safety outcomes. The gap points to a challenge many safety leaders continue to face: workers may understand the process, but not always feel fully motivated or confident that participation will lead to meaningful change.
However, reporting friction still exists. One in 10 respondents said there was a safety incident or observation they should have reported in the last six months but did not. Among those who did not report, the most common reasons were that the issue did not seem important or severe enough, that there might be negative consequences and that reporting would not lead to improvements.
“The message from frontline workers is clear: they’re open to AI, but only if it proves useful, transparent and trustworthy,” said Paul Marushka, CEO and president of Sphera. “At the enterprise level, there’s a prime opportunity to digitize safety processes, and to make sure the people closest to risk are actually contributing to the data those systems depend on.”
The findings are reinforced by Sphera’s 2026 Health and Safety Management Report, which shows that many organizations are still working to connect digital tools, reporting workflows and frontline participation at scale. The report found that EHS software adoption has risen to 62%, but only 33% of respondents have real-time visibility into safety-critical data and just 44% document or report in the field in real time.
Additional findings from the survey include:
- Among those who did not report, 33% said the issue did not seem important or severe enough, 22% were worried about negative consequences and 20% did not believe reporting leads to improvements.
- Only 20% said they are motivated to participate because they know their feedback leads to action.
- Just 14% said nothing would encourage them to participate in AI-powered workplace safety programs.
There’s a clear mandate for safety leaders. The future of AI in workplace safety will not be won by technology alone, but by the trust, visibility and participation that make the technology useful in the real world. As organizations continue digitizing safety programs, the biggest opportunity is to close the gap between frontline reporting and decision-making. When workers feel confident speaking up, leaders get the insights they need sooner, and AI can help transform more signals into action before risks become incidents.
For more information, go to sphera.com.
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About Sphera
Sphera is the leading Operational Intelligence Platform unifying risk, safety and sustainability insights into actionable intelligence that drives enterprise performance. Powered by Sphera AI, our platform integrates operational insights across EHS, sustainability, product stewardship, process safety and supply chains – providing enterprise-wide visibility, control and resilience that turns uncertainty into opportunity. We have served 8,500 customers and over one million users in 100 countries to help companies keep their people safe, their products sustainable and their operations productive. Learn more about Sphera at https://sphera.com/. Follow Sphera on LinkedIn.
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