A new report has highlighted growing concerns among UK health and safety professionals about over-reliance on artificial intelligence in the workplace, even as many anticipate a greater role for the technology in the coming years.
Astutis has released its Voice of Our Learners Report 2026, which examines how UK workplaces are navigating a critical transition period as AI begins to shape health and safety practices.
The survey of professionals across multiple health and safety industries found that nearly three quarters (73 %) believe AI will play a significant role in workplace safety over the next five years, with over half (57%) expecting it to become a major tool alongside traditional methods. Among business leaders specifically, over 63% expressed optimism about AI’s potential.
Despite this outlook, adoption remains limited. Only 1 in 10 respondents said they actively use AI, while 32% are considering it and 29% are at the pilot stage.
When asked about integrating AI into health and safety, over two fifths (44%) said they are excited but remain cautious.
Readiness poses a major barrier to wider adoption. Over four fifths (84%) of respondents indicated they either lack the skills to use AI effectively or would require additional training. Around 1 in 3 professionals said their current training budget is insufficient, a view consistent across both business leaders and employees.
AI and technology integration was identified as the most important area for businesses and employees over the next 3–5 years, selected by 38% of respondents. Mental health and psychological risk management followed closely, chosen by around a third of respondents in both cohorts.
3 in 5 employers (60%) expressed worry about over-reliance on technology versus human judgement, making it the single biggest concern. Lack of understanding followed, cited by 12%.
Brenig Moore, Technical Director and health and safety expert at Astutis, said: “Artificial Intelligence has the potential to hugely improve workplace safety. However, what’s important to remember is that it is not a substitute for human judgement. The real risk to businesses is not the technology itself, but how it’s used. Businesses need to ensure that as they adopt new tools, they’re also putting budget aside to invest in the training and governance needed to use these new tools responsibly, limiting the amount of injuries in the workplace.
“What our Learner Report shows is a gap between ambition and readiness, with organisations knowing exactly what the opportunity that AI presents, but many not equipped to implement this safely just yet.”
The 2026 report split respondents into business leaders and employees for the first time, revealing differences in outlook. Business leaders tended to show higher optimism and greater involvement in piloting AI, while employees reported stronger concerns over skills gaps and readiness.
Employee engagement was also identified as one of the biggest obstacles to effective training, and mental health has emerged as a key focus area, reflecting an evolving understanding of what workplace safety means.
UK health and safety professionals are emphasising that AI should support, rather than replace, informed human judgement. As organisations explore AI tools for risk assessment, training, and compliance, the report underscores the need for investment in skills development and governance to ensure safe and sustainable integration while harnessing benefits such as improved hazard detection and data analysis.
The full Voice of Our Learners Report 2026 from Astutis, including detailed breakdowns by cohort and sector, is available to download.