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New tool created to manage WHS risks associated with AI

WHS

The New South Wales government’s Centre for Work Health and Safety is developing a digital Artificial Intelligence (AI) Risk Management Tool, to help businesses manage workplace health and safety (WHS) risks when introducing and using the technology. 

Around 70 per cent of Australian companies will be expected to adopt at least one type of AI technology by 2030. 

“While AI may provide efficient solutions to business operations, there are new potential work health and safety risks to workers,” Centre for Work Health and Safety director Skye Buatava said. 

“We are conducting further research to establish evidence-based actions businesses can take to help address identified risks, while developing a user-friendly AI WHS Risk Management Tool.” 

According to Buatava, the Centre for Work Health and Safety has instigated two studies that identified more than 50 risks to inform the tool’s development. 

In partnering with the University of South Australia, the centre is exploring the ethical use of AI at work. Meanwhile, their work with Charles Sturt University examines how businesses can trust new processes. 

“WHS risks were found to be present throughout the planning, implementation and continued use of AI technology, and it is crucial that we understand these risks now and provide guidance to businesses before AI becomes mainstream,” Buatava said. 

“So far we have consulted with more than 80 experts from business, government and academia. The feedback and planning we are undertaking now will go a long way to ensuring workplace safety as the technology becomes available,” she said. 

For more information on the “Trusting artificial intelligence at work” study, click here. 

For more information into the “Ethical use of artificial intelligence in the workplace” study, click here. 

To access the other reports, or for more information on the work of the Centre for Work Health and Safety, click here. 

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