AI in the Workplace: Building Productivity Without Compromising Health and Safety
At Shared Safety and Risk, our mission is to help organisations navigate emerging challenges while protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of their people. One of the most significant changes facing workplaces today is the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While AI brings exciting opportunities to improve productivity and safety, it also raises important questions about its impact on employee wellbeing.
A recent report from the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing at Work (UK) sheds light on these issues and offers guidance that aligns closely with our focus on creating safer, healthier, and more resilient workplaces.
The report explores how AI is influencing job design, engagement, autonomy, stress, and mental health. It serves as a reminder that workplace technology must always be balanced with human factors—a principle that underpins the consulting approach we take at Shared Safety and Risk.
Key Takeaways for Organisations
Opportunities for safety and productivity: AI can reduce repetitive tasks, support risk assessments, and improve decision-making, allowing employees to focus on higher-value work.
Wellbeing challenges: If poorly managed, AI can create technostress, fuel concerns about job insecurity, and reduce opportunities for human connection.
The importance of perception: Employees who view AI as supportive experience better mental health and job satisfaction, while those who see it as a threat often report higher stress levels.
Recommendations for success: Organisations should adopt ethical AI policies, foster transparent communication, actively engage employees in AI integration, and align AI initiatives with existing wellbeing programs.
We believe AI can be a powerful tool for advancing workplace health and safety, but only if it is introduced with care. Our role is to support organisations in embedding AI responsibly—ensuring technology enhances wellbeing rather than undermining it. By combining risk intelligence with a people-first approach, businesses can harness AI to build safer, healthier, and more engaged workplaces.
As AI adoption accelerates, organisations that focus on both innovation and employee wellbeing will lead the way. At Shared Safety and Risk, we are committed to helping businesses strike this balance—turning AI into a driver of not just productivity, but also health, safety, and trust in the workplace.
For more details, you can access the full report via the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing at Work.
