Where can AI be used in Work Health & Safety (WHS/OHS)

Season 8Season 7
Written By Megan Barrow

Risk! Engineers Talk Governance Podcast
Season 8, Episode 7

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss where AI can be used in Work Health and Safety (WHS/OHS). 

They look at where it is likely to go rather than where it is now, including AI as a watchdog for control rooms and marine pilotage, and why small, locally run models may suit confidential client data better than cloud tools. They also cover AI in safe systems of work, who is accountable when AI informs board decisions, and why a convincing answer is not necessarily a correct one.

If you’d like us to cover a specific topic or have any feedback we’d love to hear from you.

Show notes:

  • 00:33 – Where AI is used in work health and safety

  • 01:04 – AI as a watchdog: alarms, rail and ports

  • 02:36 – Local small language models and data confidentiality

  • 03:21 – Marine pilotage: a second set of eyes

  • 07:42 – AI in SOPs and safe systems of work

  • 09:26 – Accountability for AI-informed board decisions

  • 10:28 – Why convincing answers aren’t always correct

  • 12:00 – Why engineers need to keep up with AI

Megan Barrow
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