Sponsored by Veriforce
Every week brings a new claim about what AI can do for safety: predict incidents, monitor behavior, automate audits, and even assess contractor readiness. Some of it is real; much of it is overstated. And getting it wrong can have serious consequences for workplace safety.
In this session, attendees will learn where AI can genuinely strengthen contractor safety management—and where it cannot replace leadership, accountability, or professional judgment. We’ll explore practical applications already delivering results, alongside areas where over-reliance on automation can introduce new risks, including behavioral monitoring, impairment detection, and algorithm-driven decisions that may affect people’s livelihoods.
What You Will Learn
- Identify contractor safety tasks that AI can reliably support today.
- Discuss the risks AI can introduce to safety decision-making.
- Explain why detecting a behavior is not the same as understanding it.
- Identify governance practices needed before adopting AI in contractor safety.
Speaker
James A. Junkin, DOSH(c), CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO
James A. Junkin, DOSH(c), CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO is the CEO of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, chair of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board, and the past chair of Professional Safety Journal’s editorial review board. James is also a member of the Advisory Board for the National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP). He is a sought-after master trainer, keynote speaker, professor in the College of Safety and Emergency Services at Columbia Southern University, host of The Risk Matrix podcast, and occupational safety and health author.
Matt Stewart, RSO
Matt Stewart, RSO, is the president of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, overseeing the operational of the boutique occupational safety and health consulting firm. Matt is a summa cum laude graduate with a degree in occupational safety and health from Columbia-Southern University. He is a much-respected Veriforce Master Trainer and host of the popular Veriforce monthly Live Safety Meeting Series. Drawing on his extensive experience in injury prevention, OSHA regulations, wellness, and ergonomic practices, Matt plays an integral leadership role in Mariner-Gulf’s mission to deliver customer safety solutions, training, and auditing that safeguard workers and drive regulatory compliance.