Events

The rapid digitalisation of workplaces is transforming how tasks are performed, with intelligent systems increasingly automating physical and cognitive tasks. As this shift gains momentum, an upcoming seminar will raise awareness about the occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges associated with these changes. 

Organised by our Lithuanian focal point, State Labour Inspectorate /Valstybinė darbo inspekcija, the event will bring together occupational safety officers to explore the risks and opportunities presented by the digitalisation of work, particularly in industries like manufacturing, healthcare and education. 

The integration of The IoT is a cyber-physical system in which the information collected is fed, via the internet, to computers to gather data about production and work processes and to analyse these data with unprecedented granularity. This entails humans creating a ‘“ubiquitous world” in which all devices … will be fully networked.’ The IoT reshapes our interaction with the physical world through devices interconnected on a platform (e.g. the cloud) and performing functions adaptively based on inputs and programming. systems has the potential to enhance workplace efficiency by removing workers from hazardous environments and reducing their cognitive workloads. However, alongside these benefits, these technologies introduce new OSH risks that need to be carefully managed. The seminar aims to highlight these risks, including potential physical injuries caused by malfunctioning Use of systems or technical procedures to allow a device or system to execute (partially or fully) a function that was previously, or conceivably could be, carried out (partially or fully) by a human. , increased psychosocial stress due to heightened surveillance and organisational disruptions as traditional work processes adapt to digital technologies. 

In addition to addressing these risks, the event will promote the importance of conducting thorough risk assessments and developing strategies for the safe management of digital technologies in various workplaces.