EHS on Tap E287: The Increasing Complexity of Safety Risks
Mar 17, 2026
R. Mukund, Founder and CEO of Benchmark Gensuite and author of the 2026 benchmarking report, explains why safety risks are growing. He discusses rising injuries and underreporting. He explores AI for predictive insight, sensors and wearables, and embedding AI agents into workflows. He also covers workforce churn, total worker health, and the challenge of integrating data across systems.
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Rising Workplace Injuries Across Industries
- Workplace injury frequency and severity rose notably in 2025 with 45% of respondents seeing higher frequency and 39% seeing increased severity.
- R. Mukund contrasts this to 2024 (18% frequency, 13% severity) and highlights manufacturing and supply chain hotspots.
Operational Strain And Workforce Change Drive Risk
- Operational strain and workforce demographic shifts are likely drivers of rising injuries, including higher production demands and experienced-worker attrition.
- Mukund links increased pace, dynamic work, and less tenure to greater risk and variability on the floor.
Predictive Intelligence Is The New EHS Currency
- EHS teams need predictive intelligence to anticipate hazards because traditional training and controls alone aren't keeping up.
- Mukund argues AI-driven insight is the 'currency' for proactively identifying critical hazards across diverse operations.