Analyzing the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence on safety instrumented system (SIS) maintenance in the petrochemical industry: the mediating role of safety, supervision and support

Safety instrumented systems (SISs) play a crucial role in preventing major accidents in the petrochemical industry. This study investigates the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence on SIS maintenance in the petrochemical industry, with particular attention to the mediating roles of safety, supervision and organizational support. Data were collected from 84 professionals involved in SIS maintenance in the Iranian petrochemical industry. A structured questionnaire was developed based on prior literature and expert validation, and the proposed research model was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). New technologies and artificial intelligence have a significant positive effect on SIS maintenance. Moreover, safety and supervision/support were found to play significant mediating roles. New technologies and artificial intelligence investments alone are insufficient; organizations must simultaneously reinforce safety management, supervision and support to fully realize the maintenance benefits of emerging technologies in high-risk industrial environments.