AI for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Professionals

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is a four-week, project-based online course developed by Dr. Houshang Darabi of the Great Lakes Center for Occupational Health and Safety (GLC OHS). This is the first and only course designed specifically to help occupational safety and health professionals apply AI concepts to real-world workplace challenges. This course is intended for hands-on OSH practitioners - the “doers” who are responsible for day-to-day safety and health implementation. It is not designed for executive leadership or AI developers, but for professionals who work directly in hazard identification, risk reduction, and system improvement.

Participants will learn what AI is, how it works, and how it can be used in practical, non-technical ways to prevent or reduce common occupational safety and health hazards. A central feature of the course is an applied, team-based project in which participants collaborate with AI experts to design a conceptual AI-enabled OSH application addressing a real problem in their workplace or industry. The course may be customized for specific industries or sectors.

Course Format & Schedule

• Format: Live online (Zoom)
• Platform: UIC learning website for course materials and assignment submission
• Duration: Four weeks (40 total hours)
• Course Dates: June 29, 2026 - August 7, 2026
• Class Schedule: 2-hour sessions, 2–3 times per week

Course Structure

• Part 1 – Instruction (16 hours)
  Interactive lectures covering AI fundamentals and applications relevant to occupational safety and health. All lecture activities are completed during scheduled class sessions.
• Part 2 – Class Project (24 hours)
  Participants apply course concepts through a hands-on project. Students will collaborate with AI experts - up to 16 hours outside of class time - to design an AI OSH application addressing a workplace safety or health challenge. Meeting times are scheduled based on participant and expert availability. Please read the Course Project Specifications, which outline what will be needed for your project, to plan accordingly.

Who Should Apply

This course is designed for:

• Occupational safety and health professionals
• Safety managers, industrial hygienists, ergonomists, and related practitioners
• Professionals with direct responsibility for implementing OSH programs

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must work in the United States
• Must be an OSH professional or have direct responsibility for worker safety and health

Enrollment & Application Information

• Enrollment is limited to 10 participants to support intensive interaction and project mentoring.
• Group applications from the same organization are strongly preferred and will receive priority consideration. Individual applications will be considered as space allows.
• Application Deadline: May 15, 2026

Program Fees & Payment

• AIHA Organizational Member Rate: $2,000 per learner
• Non Organizational Member Rate: $2,600 per learner
• Program fees will be invoiced after acceptance, based on the number of participants enrolled from each organization. For group applications, a single consolidated invoice will be issued to the organization’s designated billing contact.
• Enrollment is confirmed only after payment is received.

What You Will Gain

Participants will:

• Understand core AI concepts relevant to OSH practice
• Identify opportunities to apply AI to reduce workplace risks
• Engage in applied discussions grounded in real OSH challenges
• Design a practical AI OSH application concept with expert guidance

Questions?

Have questions or need additional information? Contact us.