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As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, regulators are facing increasing difficulty in keeping up with its fast evolution. One of the most significant recent attempts to address these challenges is the EU AI Act, which came into effect in August 2024. This legislation marks the first comprehensive effort to regulate AI, though it raises intriguing questions about which legal domains should govern AI and how to balance risks with innovation. The Act’s risk-based approach, categorising AI systems from “unacceptable” through to “minimal risk”, is the first serious, detailed attempt to address the broad risks and issues that AI is seen to pose, and to set out robust processes to ensure continuous monitoring and human oversight of systems that could, unchecked, result (in some cases) in ultimate harm to end users.
On a broader level, organisations are struggling with how to manage AI implementation, especially as new stakeholders—such as data scientists, AI experts, and service providers—become integral to the process. For example, a healthcare organisation attempting to implement AI to improve diagnostic accuracy may face several challenges. Data scientists are needed to analyse complex medical datasets, while AI experts develop machine learning models that can identify patterns in patient records. Simultaneously, service providers ensure the necessary infrastructure, such as cloud storage and cybersecurity, is in place to support the AI-enabled systems. Coordinating these various stakeholders often presents difficulties, as each plays a critical role in ensuring the AI implementation is efficient, secure, and ethically sound. For Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) professionals, these developments raise pressing concerns: How can they contribute to AI governance, and what role will they play in safeguarding employees in a technologically transforming workplace?
With the rapid advancement of technology, the future of workplaces is set to undergo profound transformations, and the domain of OSH will not be left untouched. As emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), cloud computing, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) become more integrated into workplace operations, OSH professionals must adapt their strategies to keep pace. The traditional approach to health and safety may no longer suffice. Thus, OSH strategies must evolve to address the complexities introduced by these technologies.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a prime example of how technology is reshaping workplace safety. IoT allows devices to communicate wirelessly, sharing real-time information and enabling remote control. This interconnectedness offers opportunities for OSH management by providing real-time observations of workplace environments. For instance, in coal mining, personnel tracking with IoT allows for real-time location identification during accidents, enabling rapid response and access Artificial Intelligence (AI), meanwhile, is enhancing workplace safety, and security. AI-powered cameras can process images to detect potential hazards, such as fire or dangerous equipment malfunctions, triggering early warnings. AI is also being used to monitor workers in real-time, analysing data from mobile devices, wearables, and smart Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure safety both inside and outside the workplace. These systems improve efficiency in audits and allow for evidence-based, data-driven prevention strategies.
Augmented Reality (AR) further revolutionises the way OSH training is conducted. By blending digital data with the physical environment, AR creates immersive training scenarios that were once difficult to simulate. Activities like emergency response, fire training, and working at heights can now be practised virtually, allowing employees to engage in realistic, hands-on experiences without the need for physical equipment or hazardous environments.
Finally, cloud computing, enables the sharing and storage of vast amounts of data over the internet, and allows teams to work together collaboratively across the globe. Wearable devices can transmit data to cloud-based systems in real-time, allowing for instant alerts when potential dangers arise. Cloud computing also facilitates scalable training programs and data sharing, helping OSH professionals monitor safety conditions and respond to risks more efficiently.
Given the wide range of technologies involved, it is clear that OSH professionals will need to collaborate with other experts—such as data analysts, machine learning (ML) specialists, and cybersecurity experts—to manage safety risks effectively. This growing intersection of fields highlights the urgent need for upskilling within the OSH profession. To navigate the complexities of a tech-driven future, OSH professionals must embrace these innovations and develop the necessary skills, and digital literacy to work alongside other stakeholders in ensuring a safer workplace.
While technological advancements like AI, IoT, and cloud computing bring transformative benefits to workplaces, they also introduce new and complex risks. One emerging concern is algorithmic transparency—with AI systems making safety critical decisions, it can be challenging to understand how these decisions are made.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are another growing risk, particularly with the rise of remote work, platform-based jobs, and the gig economy. As workplaces rely on connected systems to manage routine processes as well as safety, these systems become targets for cyberattacks. A breach could compromise safety mechanisms, putting employees in danger. Moving forward, cybersecurity experts will likely become integral members of OSH teams, as the line between physical and digital safety continues to blur.In addition, issues like bias, discrimination, privacy concerns, and accountability for AI-driven systems create new challenges for workplace safety.
To manage these risks, more than before OSH professionals must collaborate with other experts, making digital literacy essential for the future of OSH management. This evolving reality demands a multidisciplinary and integrated approach, with OSH teams increasingly reliant on partnerships across multiple domains to safeguard worker safety in the digital age.
FURTHER READING
SHP is collaborating with IOSH’s new research department, Advice and Practice (A&P), to bring you a series of article focused on thought leadership.
Read the first article here, introducing IOSH’s goals for its new department
Read the second article here which analyses the Government’s return to work policy.
Read the third article here which analyses the importance of trust in technology adoption.
