Adapting AI and ChatBots in Safety Applications and Education

AI will revolutionize industries beyond expectations. Popularity and use have risen more than 60% from 2023 to 2024. Adoption of AI in many business sectors is planned, underway, or already implemented. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) has adopted AI to enhance capacities and improve worker safety, health, and wellbeing. This project investigated 25 university student’s impressions and opinions of AI use on assignments in two OSH courses. They reported very positive impressions and opinions, overwhelmingly supportive for: 1) Development of New Skills and Use New Skills to Solve problems or Think About Solutions Using Concepts or Methods Taught in the Course Because of ChatGPT and/or OpenAI, p-value < 0.001, and 2) Develop Mastery and Competencies in OSH/IH for Professional Practice, p-value = 0.062 > 0.001, and 3) Overall Assessment of ChatGPT and/or Open AI, p-value < 0.001. The OSH sector is using AI for monitoring, data collection and analysis, estimates of severity as well as appropriate interventions and controls. The use of environmental and wearable technologies enables AI to collect real-time data and warn workers of hazards and risks. The use of AI is not without concerns for privacy of personal information, unnecessary surveillance, and job displacement. Despite concerns, the expanding use of AI must include OSH to keep up with new and innovative approaches to a safe and healthy workplace and improved worker wellbeing.