Annual Conference 2025: Legal implications of AI in health, safety & wellbeing

Описание: AI, Compliance & Real-World Risk: A Lawyer’s View from the Front Line
Speaker: Chris Green, Partner (Regulatory), Ward Hadaway
British Safety Council Annual Conference 2025

About the speaker
With 30+ years advising businesses on health, safety and environmental (HSE) matters, Chris Green specialises in regulatory compliance and investigations across sectors including manufacturing, transport, food, fire, environment and workplace safety.

Session focus
What does AI mean for legal duties, risk control and investigations? Where can it help—and where can it hurt—when the law still expects risks to be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable (ALARP)?

🧠 Key takeaways

AI is an aid, not a replacement: Keep human oversight. Don’t outsource risk assessments or investigations to AI; verify, validate, and document limits.

Hierarchy of control still rules: Automation may reduce exposure (fewer people at risk), but you can’t dispense with core controls or supervision.

Reasonably practicable & standards: The law hasn’t changed; industry practice is evolving. Avoid chasing “shiny tech” without evidence and benefit.

Supplier/third-party liability (s.36 HSWA): If a defect in tech or advice contributes to harm, third parties can face scrutiny—procure carefully.

Case study—drowning detection: Advanced computer vision improved pool safety, but wasn’t infallible; AI alarms must augment, not replace, vigilant checks.

Accuracy & “hallucinations”: Unverified AI outputs (incl. fabricated citations) can backfire—never cut-and-paste into safety docs or court materials.

HSE interest in AI: Engage early, road-test extensively, and be ready to show your cost–benefit and assurance evidence to boards and regulators.

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