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Resources: Artificial Intelligence in Occupational Safety and Health

Our Center is helping lead the way in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support workforce health and safety thanks to some of our faculty members.

Dr. Houshang Darabi (faculty in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, and School of Public Health's Occupational Safety) and team created the first AI Lab and continuing education course in the U.S. specifically focused on occupational safety and health (OSH). Other achievements include the development of Artificial Intelligence frameworks/tools for automating and improving Occupational Safety and Health systems.  Dr. Darabi’s research interests are in process mining, time series classification, healthcare engineering, safety engineering, and engineering education.

Dr. Salah Issa (faculty in Agricultural & Biological Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) works with industry partners, farm operators, academia, and governmental representatives in agriculture to implement and evaluate new technologies to reduce safety hazards that may result from the rapid increase of technological advancement in autonomous and AI-based technology.  For questions about safely implementing autonomous technologies in agriculture and prioritize worker safety, email Dr. Issa at: salah01@illinois.edu

Lecture Slides from 1-Hour Talk

“AI in Occupational Safety & Health 101” introduction presentation. March 12, 2025, courtesy of Dr. Houshang Darabi.

Presentation Slides

Video: Exploring Ethics & AI in the Workplace

From the Centers for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health, Dr. Darabi joined as a panelist for this July 2023 webinar as part of the CHWE’s Ethics and Future of Work Series.

Video: Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Work

Dr. Darabi spoke for the NIOSH Future of Work Webinar Series in 2021 about “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Work.”

Research Article by Dr. Darabi & Team

REDECA: Novel Framework to Review A.I. and Its Applications in Occupational Safety and Health

Pishgar M, Issa SF, Sietsema M, Pratap P, Darabi H. REDECA: A Novel Framework to Review Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications in Occupational Safety and Health. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 22;18(13):6705. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136705. PMID: 34206378; PMCID: PMC8296875.

Read Article Here

Future of Ag Safety: How AI Will Transform Agriculture

In this November 2024 webinar, Salah Issa discusses how artificial intelligence and autonomous systems will transform agricultural safety in the future. He covers research on autonomous equipment like robotic weeders and sprayers, wearable devices for lone worker safety, and how AI can improve hazard awareness. He also addresses concerns about the impact on rural communities and workforce development.

Continuing Education Course

Dr. Darabi and team developed a first-of-its-kind, 4-week online course for OSH professionals that is part project-based and part lecture-based. The course equips industry professionals with knowledge on how to use AI to improve safety and productivity in their organizations. Check out the course’s details below: