How will AI integrate with each EHS position?

By Jordan Coulam, Environmental Specialist

As organizations increasingly adopt AI, EHS staff can expect their roles to shift. Each speciality within EHS will need to adapt to this change differently, leveraging their skills and expertise to complement the work outsourced to AI. Curious what each role might look like in the near future?

CIH:

Industrial hygienists will still provide valuable expertise in the age of AI. While AI can suggest sampling plans and methodologies, or combine data points into a report, the lived experience of a CIH will still be required. CIH’s have the context to know if the AI-suggested sampling is effective and safe for their facility, and to integrate feedback from the affected workers. And remember, AI can’t actually take the sample or implement the methodologies! 

ASP/CSP:

Safety professionals will likely use software like Toolkit’s Determinations and Compliance tools to manage compliance items and organize tasks. However, their expertise will be invaluable in applying the AI recommendations to their specific circumstances to ensure both the regulations are addressed and that their employees are protected from hazards. AI can help provide the starting point, but the ASP/CSP will still need to bring that idea into reality!

Ergonomists: 

Ergonomists may use AI tools to perform preliminary assessments, or to give personalized feedback to each employee on how to perform work tasks safely. Ergonomists will still provide direction for their program as a whole, and be available to provide specific guidance on edge cases.

CHMM/QEP:

Environmental professionals will likely continue to apply their field experience to ensure programs reflect the needs of their specific facility. With AI integrated reporting software such as Toolkit’s TRI, Tier II, and Emissions tools, they will spend less time completing reports and be able to tackle higher priority tasks. As AI takes over the manual data entry, the environmental professionals will have the capacity to improve reporting methodology, calculations, and programs. 

Facility EHS staff:

Facility EHS will be able to offload monotonous tasks onto AI, such as preparing summaries for management or organizing datasets. Facility EHS staff may also find reporting software, especially those with AI integration, to reduce their reporting burden.

These tools will allow facility EHS to be more strategic with their time, prioritizing compliance risk areas. See our blog on “Software as a Tool for Workforce Empowerment” - in the age of AI, facility staff will be empowered to tackle higher priority projects and take responsibility for their own professional development. Instead of trying to find time to review draft permits, EHS staff can spend time ensuring the permit is the right fit for the facility and find new ways to optimize environmental operations. 

EHS manager:

AI enables employees to be more independent and productive. Managers will have increased visibility of tasks with automatically generated dashboards and reports, enabling them to focus on steering their team in the right direction. The reduced time in meetings to discuss work that needs to be done can result in managers being able to drive strategic projects forward. 

EHS technician:

EHS technicians can expect more streamlined workflows with the adoption of AI. If AI tools are used, technicians might find more user-friendly data entry portals, or more efficient sampling schedules. They may also be able to receive assistance from AI to allow them to accurately complete work without as much support from a supervisor. While automation may simultaneously reduce the amount of sampling conducted by hand, EHS technicians can expect to add value for smaller operations, or those with more dispersed sampling sites. 

EHS consultant:

EHS consultants can expect to use AI to deliver faster, more accurate advice and reports to clients. Some consulting companies already use AI integrated tools such as Toolkit’s suite of reporting software, built by legal and compliance experts, to prepare accurate and defensible reports with less man hours. The role of the consultant, in the age of AI, will be to ensure that the AI tools provide the client with information that is supported by the regulations and best practices. Consultants, especially senior consultants, will use their experience to highlight edge cases and ensure the deliverable is sensitive to the context of the client’s project. 

What do you think? How has your organization incorporated AI, and how has it affected your workflow?