Aiming to bridge the gap between workers' protection and businesses' rapid progression, Safe Work Australia has announced new guidance for duty holders in the artificial intelligence and digital technologies segment
The organisation is working closely with work health and safety (WHS) Ministers to bring out a Best Practice Review of the model WHS laws. The review will be build on a report that the organisation is compiling from a diverse set of opinions among unions and industry regarding all-encompassing safeguards against unfair AI practices.
This development will add to the Victorian Government's plans on the expansion of existing consultation obligations before announcing new laws to secure workers form the adverse effects of AI, including intrusive surveillance. Ideal regulation practices that match the dynamism of emerging technologies and AI can be actualised only with close and consistent monitoring.
With Artificial Intelligence (AI) now largely driving day to day operations across Australian corporations, the nation's legal framework for workplace safety needs to catch up with the rapidly changing dynamics. It needs redesigning with AI in mind, considering the potential WHS risks involved and how the technology might fit in fulfilling conventional obligations. Factors such as tracking, monitoring, performance management and task allocation are now widely done by AI, and injudicious use of it can raise critical psychological hazards. Commonly acknowledged WHS risks such as low job control, poor organisational justice and excessive monitoring can become rampant if the use of AI goes unchecked.
This is why responsible application of AI matters when used in safety critical situations; for example, using third-party AI services for in-house operations. Addressing these blurred lines, Safe Work Australia is working to set clearly defined WHS roles and responsibilities, especially in AI-application cases prone to safety breaches. It has identified the urgency to upgrade regulatory guidance for securing maximum benefits of AI application minus its adverse effects.
With recent findings reporting about 46% of Australian businesses deploying new technologies, the nation's administration has built a new Office of AI to design and legislate the new AI standards. The Federal Government is also establishing AI safety in the workplace through the tripartite Artificial Intelligence Workplace and Employment Forum.
