News

Smart digital systems have arrived to advance occupational safety and health (OSH). The use of technologies like (AI) AI refers to systems that display intelligent behaviour by analysing their environment and taking actions – with some degree of autonomy – to achieve specific goals. AI-based systems can be purely software-based, acting in the virtual world (e.g. voice assistants, image analysis software, search engines, speech and face recognition systems) or AI can be embedded in hardware devices (e.g. advanced robots, autonomous cars, drones or Internet of things applications). , Wearables are electronic devices with sensors and computational capacity (e.g. smart watches, data glasses, or other devices with embedded sensors or tags), which can be placed on different body parts to gather data to be fed into other digital systems for processing purposes. They can be used to analyse physiological and psychological data such as feelings, sleep, movements, heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure, via applications either installed on the device itself or on external devices, such as smartphones connected to the cloud. and augmented reality will be more and more widespread to ensure that workers are safe and fit.

If you want to expand your knowledge on smart digital technologies, we are releasing three new policy briefs.

Smart digital monitoring systems for occupational safety and health: types, roles and objectives examines the types, roles and risks of monitoring technologies such as ICT, cameras, wearables and smart personal protective equipment in minimising harm and promoting OSH.

While they are becoming more and more present in the workplace, their deployment is still slow and limited, as shown by Smart digital monitoring systems for occupational safety and health: optimising the uptake.

Smart digital monitoring systems for occupational safety and health: opportunities and challenges presents key conclusions for policy and decision-makers on how to enhance the potential of these systems and minimise potential flaws.

This project is in line with the upcoming 2023-25 Healthy Workplaces Campaign, focusing on the impact of new digital technologies on work and workplaces.