After several industry experts, the Health and Safety Executive and MSA Safety united for a roundtable around workplace safety, the organisation has produced a follow-up whitepaper to address the stagnation in workplace accident and fatality figures

The roundtable centred around the statistic that 138 people lost their lives in workplace accidents in 2024—a figure which remains comparable to 2018/19 figures and defies ambition to reduce the risk of workplace incidents. 36% of those fatalities were due to falls from height.

Emphasising clear communication, safety education and PPE, the whitepaper identifies key improvement areas and barriers to improving workplace incident statistics and worker safety. Some of those barriers included human nature and poor equipment design.

Jason Anker, a safety advocate who suffered from a life-changing fall, was on the panel. He emphasised how a holistic safety culture must be cultivated, especially when working at height, to create meaningful improvements.

MSA Safety has published the full whitepaper and panel discussion on its site.

Last month, Dubai Municipality hosted an event at Canadian University Dubai, themed “Artificial Intelligence Trends in Shaping the Future of Occupational Health and Safety,” coinciding with the International Labour Organization’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

As we reflect on this three weeks later, Dubai’s pioneering use of AI in workplace safety continues to set a global benchmark, aligning with the UAE’s vision for innovation and sustainability.

The event, attended by H.E. Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, H.E. Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, and H.E. Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, Chancellor of Canadian University Dubai, alongside experts and academics, explored how AI is redefining workplace safety.

Discussions highlighted next-generation technologies such as predictive analytics, AI-powered wearable sensors, and automated compliance systems that enhance well-being, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

These tools are critical to preventing occupational accidents and diseases, a global priority emphasised by the ILO.

Growing use of digitalisation

Dubai Municipality showcased its digital transformation strides, including advanced robots that measure air pollutants in real time, a smart interactive map of the emirate with AI-driven geographic data for rapid alert responses, and virtual reality-based training programs for employees. 

As 2025 progresses, Dubai’s April vision remains a call to action.

Global AI adoption in workplace safety is projected to grow significantly, potentially reducing incidents by 25% by 2026, per industry trends.

Dubai Municipality urges companies to integrate AI into their operations.

Its smart monitoring platforms and applications, built on a foundation of 3D printing and other innovative technologies, offer a model for scalable safety solutions that benefit organisations of all sizes.

This forward-thinking approach supports the UAE’s Vision 2031, which prioritises innovation and societal well-being. By fostering collaboration and welcoming new ideas, Dubai Municipality continues to lead the charge in creating healthier, safer work environments worldwide.

In the future, businesses are encouraged to adopt AI-driven tools and partner with local authorities to align with Dubai’s standards.

A growing body of research indicates that young people are increasingly dissatisfied at work. In a recent episode of the ILO’s Global Challenges, Global Solutions podcast, economist Professor David Blanchflower explored the rising levels of unhappiness among youth and the urgent need for action.

Blanchflower highlighted a major shift since 2013. “What we’ve seen is a big increase in the unhappiness levels of the young.” Originally noticed in the US, the trend has spread globally, particularly in developed nations like the UK, Canada, Australia, and Northern Europe. He notes that this rising unhappiness is linked to poor mental health, academic struggles, and difficulty transitioning from school to work.

“Young people who are having problems with their mental health—their test scores, their reading test scores are being negatively impacted,” he said, adding that the problem is evident at university level and beyond, with many young people “moving from college to out of the labour force.”

Internet access and smartphone usage are key contributors. “Places that have had the biggest growth in access to the internet, in general, are the ones that look the worst,” Blanchflower explained. He pointed out that in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where smartphone penetration is lower, the mental health of young people appears more stable. “It’s about the amount of time they’re spending on their phones,” he added, warning that screen time is replacing real-world experiences vital for development.

A gender imbalance

Gender differences are also striking. “The mental health of young women appears to be much worse than young men,” Blanchflower said. In the US, “about 11% of young women between the ages of 18 and 24 say that every day of their lives is a bad mental health day.” This is accompanied by a rise in suicide attempts and hospitalisations, particularly among young women.

When it comes to solutions, Blanchflower called for better support during the transition from school to work and more structured social engagement for youth. “They’re not joining clubs as they did… They’re not participating in the ways that they did before.” However, he admitted, “We don’t really know what to do.”

He is organising a major conference with the UN to develop global strategies. “Countries around the world are going to have to start to think about what to do, as they did in the 1980s.” The goal is to identify practical measures that governments and international bodies can adapt to local contexts.

“This is like a spreading pandemic,” Blanchflower said. While the challenges are clear, he stresses the need for collective, global action before the damage becomes irreversible.