Michelle McIntyre
Manager Regional Services Industrial Hygiene and Safety
Terracon
AI in Safety: Now, Next, and Later, Using the Technology Without Creating New Risk
Co-presenting with Rathin Nair
Artificial intelligence is creating new and increasingly practical opportunities to strengthen safety programs by improving consistency, visibility, and decision‑making across complex work environments. From AI‑assisted program development and predictive analytics to computer vision, sensors, and emerging automation, organizations are beginning to explore how these tools can support risk understanding and help focus limited safety resources where they matter most.
This session presents a Now, Next, and Later framework for understanding AI’s role in safety, combining a technology perspective with real‑world experience from active operations. The presenters will discuss where AI is already being applied today, how near‑term use cases are evolving, and what future applications may look like as the technology matures. Examples from a range of operating environments will illustrate how organizations are experimenting with AI to support hazard identification, risk prioritization, and program consistency.
The discussion will also address the responsibilities and leadership considerations that accompany these technologies. While AI can enhance efficiency and insight, misapplied or over‑trusted outputs can quietly introduce new forms of risk if context, data quality, and oversight are not carefully managed. Safety outcomes still depend on appropriate governance and professional judgment, with accountability remaining firmly with people and organizations. Attendees will leave with a clearer perspective on how AI is being used as a support mechanism in safety programs, its practical limitations, and the considerations organizations are weighing as they explore responsible adoption in real‑world conditions.
Michelle McIntyre, MPH, CIH, CSP is a Manager of Regional Services at Terracon, where she supports industrial hygiene and safety consulting in complex, high‑risk environments. She works closely with clients in industrial, manufacturing, energy, warehousing, and data center sectors to identify real‑world risks and develop practical, defensible safety solutions that can be implemented during active operations. Her work focuses on helping organizations turn regulatory requirements, data, and new tools into safety programs that support sound decision‑making and accountability while recognizing where experienced, professional judgment is still essential.