Enhancing workers' safety with smart digital systems

Smart digital systems have revolutionised EU workplaces through state-of-the-art innovations in smart wearables, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT), among others 

In order to investigate the practical implications of these tools and new occupational safety and health (OSH) monitoring systems, EU-OSH developed nine case studies that investigate aspects related to the development and implementation stage. 

A recent report that compared and analysed these case studies highlighted the diverse array of smart monitoring systems that use new technologies and tools currently developed and deployed to improve OSH. While new OSH monitoring systems are generally perceived as beneficial, they also pose significant challenges to OSH. From the analyses, it was inferred that the key to overcoming these challenges is the manner in which the systems are integrated into existing OSH frameworks.

When it comes to introducing digital technologies to the workplace, it was observed that although smart OSH digital monitoring systems serve to boost workers’ safety and wellbeing, the employer remains the primary user. The concern and primary considerations therefore, relate to the privacy of workers’ data and the potential misuse of such data. 

This emphasises the need to consider data privacy when introducing smart digital systems into the workplace, while also developing regulations that would safeguard workers’ rights.