Health and Safety Executive's approach to AI in workplace safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has outlined its regulatory approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The HSE regulates AI where it impacts health and safety in workplaces.

It is developing a database of AI uses in the workplace to understand their impact on health and safety. They are currently conducting a survey to collect real-world examples of AI applications across various industry sectors.

The HSE oversees AI in the design, manufacture, and supply of workplace machinery and equipment under the Product Safety regulatory framework. Its remit includes:

• building safety;
• chemicals; and
• pesticides regulation where AI is involved.

The survey aims to gather a broad range of AI uses to ensure the data is representative. It is anonymous, takes about 20 minutes to complete, and closes on 4 October 2024.

The information will help HSE assess the risks and opportunities of AI in industrial settings.

You can find the survey here:

Health and Safety Law

Most health and safety legislation enforced by the HSE stems from the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This legislation is goal-setting, meaning it applies regardless of the technology used, including AI.

Risk Management

The core principle of health and safety law is that those who create risks are responsible for managing and controlling them in a sensible and proportionate manner. As AI benchmarks develop, the goal is to manage AI risks like any other risks.

The HSE expects risk assessments for AI applications impacting health and safety, with appropriate controls to mitigate risks, including cyber security threats.

Regulatory Principles

The UK Government’s pro-innovation approach to AI regulation includes principles such as:

• safety;
• security;
• robustness;
• transparency;
• explainability;
• accountability; and
• governance.

Understanding AI Risks

AI is a rapidly advancing and transformative technology that can both create and exacerbate health and safety risks, as well as offer significant benefits.

The HSE has extensive experience in helping Great Britain adapt safely to technological changes in the workplace.

As a risk-based and proportionate regulator, the HSE works to understand the impact of new technologies on health and safety and routinely consults with industry to manage innovation in the areas it regulates.

Developing HSE’s Approach

The HSE is focusing on several key areas to develop its regulatory approach to AI:

• internal co-ordination by sharing knowledge and identifying key issues through an internal AI common interest group;
• working with Government departments to shape AI regulation;
• supporting the creation of benchmarks for AI interaction with machinery and functional safety by engaging with international standards organizations (BSI, IEC, ISO);
• establishing relationships with industry and academic stakeholders to share knowledge on AI use cases and their impact on health and safety;
• collaborating with other regulators through various forums to ensure a consistent regulatory approach;
• identifying and monitoring AI developments of interest to the HSE both in Great Britain and globally;
• enhancing the HSE’s expertise in AI across specialist and scientific areas and working with partners;
• backing research bids that align with HSE’s research interests to promote safe AI use and effective regulation; and
• setting up and trialling a regulatory sandbox to explore and address barriers to adopting Industrial Safety tech in construction.

Ultimately, the HSE’s comprehensive approach to regulating AI aims to ensure it aligns with health and safety priorities while adapting to technological advancements.