Building EHS bench strength and ensuring a steady supply of safety "talent" going forward is going to be challenge, given safety staff cutbacks, reliance on consultants and contractors, and not much interest among U.S. students in careers in safety. Expect to see more traditional safety work (training, audits, accident investigations, recognition activities, communication services and goal-setting) being assumed by line workers).
Technology will finally have a significant impact on safety work. That’s not to say technology in many ways has not been making inroads into safety and health work for years. But safety, due to its non-profit status, is often a laggard in securing the resources to adopt new technologies. GPS tracking, multiple safety apps, smartphone cameras, portable tablet devices for use in the field, wireless sensor networks, and new ways to analyze safety performance inputs will put safety departments in a more proactive position than ever. This promises to finally open the door to widespread acceptance of leading indicators.