Antea Group’s EHSxTech events continue to bring together industry professionals from leading tech companies to discuss evolving trends, share best practices, and tackle pressing challenges in Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS). Across multiple events hosted globally, over 100 EHS leaders from more than 40 technology companies have participated, providing a unique opportunity for collaboration, learning, and networking.
The most recent February 2025 EMEA London EHSxTech meeting underscored the evolving role of EHS as a strategic business function, emphasizing crisis management, leadership influence, AI integration, and occupational health.
Key discussions highlighted EHS's role in crisis preparedness, influencing leadership without direct authority, and leveraging AI for risk management and workplace safety. AI is positioned as an enabler, enhancing decision-making and efficiency while keeping human oversight central. Additionally, a proactive approach to occupational health fosters long-term workforce well-being and business resilience.
Ultimately, EHS professionals must position themselves as strategic partners, advocating for innovation and aligning safety initiatives with business objectives to secure their seat at the leadership table.
Read on for more trends and insights from past EHSxTech events.
Key Trends and Regional Insights
Demonstrating EHS Value in an Evolving Business Landscape
With the tech industry undergoing significant shifts—including cost-cutting measures, hybrid workforce adjustments, and increasing regulatory demands—EHS leaders are tasked with demonstrating their strategic value. Across events, discussions have centered on:
- Business Alignment: Positioning EHS as a driver of business resilience, talent retention, and operational efficiency.
- Evolving Workforce Expectations: Shifting from compliance-driven models to well-being-centric programs that enhance employee engagement.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging metrics and AI for predictive analytics, better risk assessment, and informed decision-making.
- Preventative Approaches: Using AI to monitor workplace stress indicators and fostering proactive interventions.
One event opened with a presentation from a Global EHS Leader on “Demonstrating Value in a Changing Business Climate.” They highlighted how their organization expanded its Health & Safety program beyond compliance to drive business success, focusing on five key value drivers:
- Protecting Trust: Prioritizing employee safety and compliance with legal requirements.
- Growing the Business: Meeting customer H&S expectations and ensuring event safety.
- Enabling High Performance: Supporting physical and psychological safety in diverse work environments.
- Building Resilience: Enhancing emergency preparedness and crisis response.
- Attracting and Retaining Talent: Cultivating a culture of care through wellness and engagement initiatives.
By leveraging these value drivers, they successfully sustained and expanded the company's EHS programs despite financial constraints, providing a strategic model for other tech companies facing similar challenges.
Adapting Emergency Preparedness for Hybrid Work
With the rise of hybrid and remote work models, EHS teams are rethinking traditional emergency response strategies. Discussions across events have highlighted:
- Flexible Emergency Response Teams (ERTs): Adapting response models to account for varying office attendance rates.
- Technology Integration: Implementing AI-assisted monitoring, digital tracking systems, and proximity-based safety alerts.
- Engagement Strategies: Encouraging employee participation through training, incentives, and visual decision tools to clarify roles in crises.
Head of Global Safety and Security at one organization, detailed their approach to implementing a Global Emergency Response Plan at one of our events. They emphasized empowering employees with clear, actionable guidance and leveraging visual decision trees to clarify response protocols. In addition, companies discussed innovative strategies to adapt emergency response programs for hybrid workplaces:
- Flexible ERT Models: Companies are reevaluating their Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) to account for fluctuating office attendance.
- Technology Integration: Tools like employee badge tracking and AI-assisted monitoring are being explored to improve emergency response.
- Tiered Evacuation Drills: Organizations are implementing staggered drills by floor to better prepare employees and optimize safety protocols.
The Role of AI in EHS Programs
AI continues to reshape EHS by automating processes, enhancing risk identification, and streamlining compliance reporting. Key applications discussed include:
- Conversational AI: Chatbots facilitating real-time safety inquiries and incident reporting.
- Predictive Analytics: AI tools analyzing past data to forecast potential risks and prevent incidents.
- Generative AI: Automating content creation for training materials and case management.
- Automation in Compliance: AI-driven dashboards tracking regulatory requirements and streamlining audits.
Companies recognized that AI-driven solutions must be carefully integrated to align with existing workflows and enhance, rather than overwhelm, employee engagement.
Psychosocial Risks and Occupational Health Trends
Mental health and psychosocial risks are increasingly integral to EHS strategies, with regulatory frameworks evolving globally. Key discussions have included:
- Localized vs. Global Strategies: Balancing region-specific approaches with a unified company-wide framework.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Engaging HR, leadership, and EHS teams to drive holistic well-being initiatives.
- Proactive Risk Identification: Leveraging AI to monitor indicators like computer usage and PTO patterns can help identify stress-related risks before they escalate.
Integrating ESG with EHS for Future Readiness
EHS professionals are taking a more prominent role in corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, particularly as regulatory requirements intensify worldwide. Key insights from discussions include:
- Regulatory Compliance: Understanding global ESG reporting obligations, such as EU CSRD and US SEC climate disclosure rules.
- EHS’s Expanding Role: Aligning EHS expertise in compliance, data management, and stakeholder engagement with corporate sustainability strategies.
- Materiality Assessments: Identifying key ESG risks that impact both business operations and broader societal outcomes.
- Global Data Collection Challenges: Companies are struggling to collect and verify supply chain ESG data, highlighting a need for better tracking mechanisms.
EMEA-Specific Trends and Insights
Works Councils and Employee Engagement
In Europe, works councils remain a key factor in employee engagement and workplace safety compliance. Recent EHSxTech discussions in London and Dublin highlighted challenges in hybrid work models and the role of works councils in ensuring employees are involved in decision-making. Key takeaways included:
- Hybrid Work Challenges: Engaging remote employees in workplace safety initiatives remains a challenge, requiring more intentional strategies.
- Works Council Collaboration: Effectively integrating EHS with works councils can enhance workplace safety but requires clear communication and structured action plans.
- Regulatory Compliance: EHS professionals must navigate diverse national labor laws while ensuring that works council initiatives align with broader company goals.
The Role of WELL Health-Safety Rating in Europe
WELL Health-Safety Rating (WELL HSR) has seen strong adoption across European offices, particularly as organizations aim to certify buildings post-COVID. Discussions highlighted:
- Scalability: WELL HSR is a practical framework for multinational companies looking to align safety and wellness initiatives across locations.
- Leadership Buy-In: Organizations that have successfully implemented WELL HSR have gained stronger executive support for workplace safety initiatives.
- Integration with SDGs: Many European businesses align WELL HSR initiatives with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enhancing ESG commitments.
EHS Metrics and Reporting in the European Context
EHS reporting and metrics were a major focus, with discussions on how European regulations influence the way companies track and report safety performance. Key themes included:
- Beyond Compliance: While companies must comply with EU safety regulations, leading organizations are using data to drive proactive safety improvements.
- Digitalization of Metrics: European companies are increasingly leveraging digital dashboards to track real-time safety data and improve transparency.
- Shifting from Lagging to Leading Indicators: The industry is moving beyond incident tracking to predictive safety models that help anticipate risks before they occur.
Key Takeaways for EHS Professionals in Tech
- Reframe EHS as a Strategic Asset: Position EHS as a value driver that enhances business resilience, talent retention, and brand reputation. Align EHS initiatives with broader business objectives to maintain executive buy-in.
- Leverage AI Thoughtfully: Implement AI tools to automate compliance, enhance safety reporting, and improve predictive risk management while maintaining a human-centered approach.
- Adapt Emergency Planning to Hybrid Work: Develop flexible and tech-enabled response strategies to ensure workplace safety across distributed teams.
- Prioritize Mental and Pyschosocial Health: Foster proactive well-being programs that address psychosocial risks and employee engagement.
- Stay Ahead of ESG Regulations: Engage in corporate sustainability efforts and leverage EHS expertise to ensure compliance and long-term viability.
- Strengthen Metrics and Data Utilization: Use real-time tracking, leading indicators, and AI-driven insights to showcase EHS program impact.
Looking Ahead
As EHSxTech continues to serve as a critical forum for industry professionals, future discussions will focus on deepening the integration of technology, enhancing cross-functional collaboration, and addressing new regulatory challenges. With health and safety remaining a priority for executives, EHS professionals must continue evolving their approaches to demonstrate value, align with corporate goals, and foster safer, healthier workplaces.
By staying at the forefront of these conversations, EHS leaders can shape the future of workplace safety, resilience, and sustainability within the tech industry. Stay tuned for the latest updates featured at the top of this article as we have new EHSxTech events globally.
