Survey by Origami Risk finds EHS seeking to widen inter-departmental collaboration, embracing mobile tech, yet wary of AI
CHICAGO, August 7, 2024 – Confronted by an onslaught of novel and complex emerging risks, many environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals are seeking to widen collaboration with Risk, Compliance and other departments and embracing the benefits of mobile technology yet remain wary about the prospects of implementing new solutions using artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new study by Origami Risk. The push toward inter-department collaboration is a sign that integrated risk management (IRM) is becoming a priority across organizations.
The study, “Leveling Up with Technology: How EHS Professionals Can Overcome New Safety Challenges in 2024,” is drawn from Origami Risk’s Third Annual State of Risk Report. It compared EHS professionals to individuals in risk-related domains including insurable risk, enterprise risk and compliance, and found EHS professionals less optimistic than risk practitioners about their preparedness and overall business outlook.
The EHS professionals, who accounted for approximately 25% of the 240 participants in Origami’s survey, were 15% less likely to feel “moderately or highly prepared for the next crisis” and 5% less likely to feel above average or excellent about their six-month performance outlook.
In terms of technology, EHS respondents were 18% more likely than other risk professionals surveyed to be using mobile technology, but 78% less likely to be moving forward with AI programs. The survey traced the EHS reticence to lack of bandwidth and readiness, for both learning a new technology and processing all the data it will generate. There was also concern over AI replacing current safety jobs.
Nonetheless, Origami’s report found an imperative for EHS professionals to break paradigms in their safety strategies and solutions. Novel risks to workplace safety and resiliency, such as those arising from extreme weather and climate issues, indoor air pollution, and infectious disease, pose daunting challenges which may not be adequately addressed by traditional approaches.
“In this environment, leading EHS professionals are pressed for new ways to expand their toolboxes,” said Sean Salvas, senior market strategy lead-EHS at Origami Risk. “Despite their concerns about GenAI approaches, these capabilities can reduce administrative burdens and free EHS teams for more direct interaction with workers and supervisors to strengthen safety and prevent incidents and injuries.”
Another key for EHS professionals looking to “level up” their individual and departmental capabilities: breaking silos and connecting with other departments. The study found EHS making progress in this area. Indeed, 55% of EHS professionals polled had plans to integrate the EHS systems with other systems in the current year, and about 40% of EHS respondents have already connected their software systems to either Risk Management, Compliance, or Internal Audit technology systems. Other systems EHS professionals have integrated with include Fleet Management, Finance and HR/Payroll. The strong link between safety incidents and claims management means both risk and safety professionals can have more strategic responses to complex emerging risks.
“A critical step to unlock the potential of integrated solutions involves centralizing the data to establish a single ‘source of truth’ and actionable insights across the enterprise,” Salvas noted. “Single platform solutions bring significant advantages over multi-point solutions that typically store and process data in separate databases resulting in siloed data that is challenging to integrate and report on.”
Download the full report Leveling Up with Technology: How EHS Professionals Can Overcome New Safety Challenges in 2024 here.
About Origami Risk
Origami Risk provides truly integrated SaaS solutions that simplify risk, insurance, compliance,
and safety management. Origami delivers its highly configurable RMIS, GRC, EHS, and
healthcare risk management solutions from a secure, scalable platform that includes tools for
centralizing data, automating critical workflows, and providing insights into risk and safety
initiatives. A singular focus on client success underlies Origami’s approach to developing,
implementing, and supporting its innovative, award-winning software.
To download the 2024 State of Risk report click here.
Visit origamirisk.com/ehs or contact us at info@origamirisk.com to learn more.