The Innovation-Safety Balance: How Utility Leaders Can Prioritize Both - Part 2

Technology, Training & Compliance – Evolving Safety in the Modern Utility

As utility leaders face growing pressures to modernize, digitalize, and deliver faster—how can they also ensure that safety isn’t left behind?

Safety comes first is one focus topic within the Utility 2030 Leadership Collaborative (U2030) and Energy Central research program: Rethinking Utility Priorities: Bold Utility Leadership. To dig deeper into this dynamic, we spoke with  Mark Streifel, Managing Director, Industrial Skills from HSI, a leading provider of training and compliance solutions. What we learned can help utility leaders everywhere embed safety into every step of transformation.

In Part Two of our series with HSI, we explore how utilities can strengthen their safety efforts with the help of digital tools and smarter workforce strategies.

Technology & Compliance

Q -  How can emerging technologies (AI, automation, IoT) enhance workplace safety and compliance?

Emerging technologies, such as AI, automation, and IoT are dramatically transforming the landscape of workplace safety and compliance.

These cutting-edge technologies are not just enhancing safety measures. They are fundamentally reshaping how we manage safety and compliance. With real-time monitoring capabilities, proactive risk mitigation, and efficient compliance tracking, these innovations are making our workplaces safer and more compliant without compromising productivity.

Embracing tech can foster a culture of safety, significantly reduce risks, and ensure that they meet regulatory standards. Moreover, these technologies help improve operational efficiency, creating a win-win situation for both safety and productivity.

Q - Do we have the right data and analytics to track safety trends and make informed decisions?

Without real-time insights, I have seen safety management be reactive rather than preventative. If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it. By modernizing your safety program with EHS technology, you centralize incidents and near-misses. They can be reported, categorized, and analyzed – helping identify trends before they escalate.

Utilities that invest in centralized EHS systems with strong analytics capabilities are better positioned to make data-informed decisions, predict risks before they become incidents, and ultimately build a culture of safety. With measurable insights, teams can shift from reactive to proactive, reduce incidents, and ensure continuous improvement across the organization.

AI-driven analytics highlight recurring hazards, enabling smarter preventative measures, targeted training, and reduced downtime. Automated compliance tracking ensures accurate OSHA, EPA, and NERC reporting, while mobile-enabled field data capture minimizes delays in addressing risks. By linking incidents to corrective actions, safety issues aren’t just logged – they’re actively resolved.

Workforce Readiness & Training

Q - Are our training programs effectively preparing employees for new safety challenges introduced by innovation?

Training programs need to evolve and adapt as fast as the technology changes. We see so many in the industry that make an investment in their training programs and then just roll it out year after year. This isn’t sustainable in today’s rapidly changing environment, as training is an ongoing process. In times of rapid transformation, new risks or technologies emerge quickly, so employees must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle them. Regular refreshers and upskilling are necessary to ensure your workforce is prepared to handle the evolving environment safely.

A few things companies can do to help keep up are:

1) Ensure your equipment and technology providers supply good documentation and advise you of changes needed in your maintenance and operating procedures.

2) Look for a training partner that wants to be more than just a content provider. Your training provider needs to ensure their content is up to date, develop new content to cover new tech, have a means of tracking everything related to your EH&S programs, and have a service team that can help tailor the program to your employees and your processes.

Q - How do we ensure frontline workers receive the same level of safety training as leadership and management?

Ensuring that frontline workers receive the same level of safety training as leadership and management is crucial for maintaining a consistent safety culture throughout the entire organization. While leadership and management are often more directly involved in strategic decision-making, frontline workers are at the heart of day-to-day operations and face the most direct exposure to risks.

Safety training programs need to be standardized so they apply to all employees, regardless of their role. The content should cover the same core safety principles, procedures, and best practices, ensuring consistency across the organization. I like to see senior leadership participate.

While the core safety training should be the same, some training needs to be tailored to address the specific risks and responsibilities of different roles. For example, leadership might need additional training on how to manage safety systems, while frontline workers need hands-on training for specific on-the-job tasks.

A Future Where Safety and Innovation Go Hand in Hand

As the utility industry pushes forward, the challenge isn’t choosing between safety and innovation—it’s ensuring they evolve together. Leaders who proactively embed safety into their strategies, culture, and technology adoption will not only protect their workforce but also build stronger, more resilient organizations.

By asking the right questions, leveraging emerging technologies, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, utility leaders can strike the perfect balance between progress and protection. The future of the industry depends on it.

Rethinking Priorities: A Bold Approach to Utility Leadership:

Is a year-long research initiative from U2030 and Energy Central. This program provides executives with actionable insights to navigate shifting industry priorities. Through research reports, virtual discussions, and a panel at the U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting, we are poised to help utility leaders assess, adjust, and realign their focus as the market evolves.

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