SECTION 02
Usage of digital tools and incident reporting
Most incidents are reported verbally to a manager, and most prefer it this way
Direct verbal reporting to a manager remains the dominant method of incident reporting across North America. 66% of North American workers say they report incidents verbally to their manager (USA 65%, Canada 67%), and 63% identify this as their preferred method (USA 62%, Canada 64%).
Computer based reporting, the leading digital alternative
Among digital reporting channels, computer-based systems are the most widely used and preferred. 34% of North American workers know how to report via computer (USA 33%, Canada 35%), an increase on the 2025 results, which saw 27% using a digital system (USA 25%, Canada 28%).
Computer-based reporting is the preferred digital method at 26% (USA 25%, Canada 27%), up from 25% on average in 2025. Notably, it has moved from third place to second place as a preferred reporting route, reflecting a meaningful shift in digital reporting habits.
Mobile and app-based reporting shows a significant country split: 22% of North American workers use mobile reporting overall, but this is considerably higher in the USA at 25% compared to Canada at 16%. Preferred mobile reporting has also edged up from 16% in 2025 to 18% in 2026.
8% awareness gap: workers who don't know how to report or what qualifies as an incident
Across North America, 8% of workers either don't know how to report a workplace incident or are unsure what qualifies as one: 3% know what incidents are but don't know how to report, 1% are unsure what qualifies as an incident, and a further 4% selected 'none of the above', suggesting no reporting method is available or familiar to them. This group may fail to report incidents that should be recorded, which has implications for both compliance and safety culture.
Vast majority of North American workers see a direct link between safety and productivity
An important development from this year's survey is the connection workers draw between safety and productivity. 92% of North American respondents believe that a safer workplace makes them more productive (USA 93%, Canada 92%). These are among the highest rates globally and offer a compelling business case for safety investment beyond mere compliance.
North American workers would feel safer with more digital tools for workplace safety
73% of North American workers say they would feel safer if their company used more digital tools for workplace safety (combining 'yes, definitely' 34% and 'somewhat, depending on implementation' 39%), up from 70% in 2025. The USA scored 73% (35% definitely + 38% somewhat), while Canada also reached 73% (31% definitely + 42% somewhat).
Canada's higher share of 'somewhat' responses points to a workforce that is open to digital tools but not yet fully convinced. Organizations operating in Canada should prioritize change management and worker buy-in when deploying new safety technology to overcome that hesitancy.
Workers are open to the potential of AI for workplace safety
AI has become more than a buzzword. Globally, it’s changing the way businesses operate and transforming workflows, and North American workers are broadly open to its potential in workplace safety. 47% of North American workers say AI could improve workplace safety either definitely or because they see potential, up from 45% in 2025.
This makes North America one of the more AI-open regions in the dataset, matching UKIE at 47%, and well above the global average of 35% and the Nordics at 27%.
The USA leads in outright positivity: 28% chose 'yes, definitely' compared to 21% for Canadian workers. When combining 'yes, definitely' and 'yes, I see potential', the country gap widens further: 49% of USA workers are AI-positive on this basis, compared to 43% of Canadian workers.
On the skeptical side, 10% of North American workers say they don't trust the technology, and 6% don't want their company to deploy AI for safety purposes. These figures support a practical, assistive AI narrative built around better judgement, faster reporting, and more consistent execution rather than futuristic claims.
In the USA, federal interest in AI regulation and adoption is developing rapidly, with executive orders signaling a national-level reckoning with technology. In Canada, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), part of Bill C-27, represents the country's effort to establish a federal AI governance framework. As regulatory clarity develops in both markets, organizations will need to stay informed and ensure their use of AI in safety applications meets emerging standards.
Digital training is now the norm
E-learning and digital training modules have become mainstream across North America. Among workers who received competency training, 82% say it included a digital or e-learning component (USA 81%, Canada 82%). This is an increase in 2025 results (79% average) and reflects the broader normalization of digital learning in professional settings.
