New findings from Sphera’s Health and Safety Management survey show rising digital adoption, expanding AI-driven analytics and persistent data challenges that continue to limit proactive risk prevention across modern safety programs.
Health and Safety Management (HSM) is entering a new phase of digital maturity, according to the latest Sphera Health and Safety Management survey.
As organizations navigate operational complexity, workforce transitions and growing expectations for transparency, technology is becoming central to how safety programs are executed, measured and improved. What was once incremental modernization is now a strategic priority tied directly to operational resilience and business performance.
Sphera’s survey of 586 business leaders in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union reveals an acceleration of technology adoption across manufacturing, retail and consumer goods and oil and gas. The findings show clear progress toward integrated digital safety programs but also uncovers an execution gap between digital ambition and real-world implementation.
Digitalization is scaling across core safety workflows. The survey shows that Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) software adoption has risen to 62%, with 42% of respondents relying on mobile or kiosk-based tools to capture data closer to where work happens. These tools enable incident and near-miss reporting, recurring safety training, real-time documentation and streamlined safety audits and inspections.
For many organizations, this shift represents more than a technology upgrade. It reflects a growing recognition that workplace safety must be proactive, data-driven and integrated across business functions.
Technology delivers measurable operational value
As EHS technology adoption expands, organizations are reporting measurable benefits. Digital tools help reduce employee safety risks, shrink injury-related claims and strengthen brand reputation at a time when workforce safety is closely linked to operational performance and stakeholder expectations.
By capturing leading signals such as hazard observations, training participation and audit results, companies are identifying emerging risks earlier and intervening before incidents occur.
Digitalization is advancing beyond traditional incident reporting. According to the survey, 51% of respondents use predictive maintenance tools, 46% deploy automated machinery safety systems and 45% leverage analytics supported by artificial intelligence capabilities.
These technologies are transforming safety platforms into operational intelligence systems that help anticipate risk, improve asset reliability and align safety outcomes with broader business performance.
Data fragmentation remains the biggest barrier to safety maturity
Despite this progress, many organizations remain constrained by legacy systems, fragmented data and limited budgets that slow transformation efforts.
Nearly forty percent of respondents still manage safety activities through spreadsheets, while 25% rely on paper-based processes. Although 56% report having strong critical safety data with few gaps, only 33% say they have real-time visibility into that information.
Less than half consistently capture critical inputs and contractor participation in reporting remains limited, even as contractors represent 10–20% of the workforce for many organizations.
These gaps create blind spots that prevent organizations from acting on early warning signals. Low digital maturity fragments workflows, delays decision-making and increases exposure to preventable incidents.
AI adoption grows but depends on data readiness
Artificial intelligence is emerging as the next phase of digital transformation in health and safety management. The survey shows that 45% of organizations already use analytics supported by AI capabilities, while 35% view AI as a potential game changer for improving safety outcomes.
However, AI’s effectiveness depends on clean, connected and complete datasets. High-quality safety data such as near-miss reporting, hazard observations, training completion and audit performance provides the depth needed for predictive insights. When these signals are captured consistently across the workforce, AI models can identify risk patterns earlier and enable preventative action.
Closing the execution gap with a modern safety platform
To fully realize the benefits of digitalization and AI, organizations need a modern health and safety management platform that centralizes data, connects workflows and supports advanced analytics. The cost of maintaining an integrated system is minimal compared to the operational and financial impact of a major incident, missed risk review or preventable outage.
The survey findings reinforce a broader industry shift. Technology adoption in health and safety management is no longer optional. Organizations that prioritize unified data, scalable platforms and practical AI integration are better positioned to build safer workplaces, strengthen operational resilience and move from reactive compliance toward predictive safety leadership.
To learn more about how to improve employee health and safety through technology, contact Sphera, or download the full 2026 Sphera HSM Survey Report.
