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Umbrella term to indicate digital systems for monitoring and enhancing workers’ safety and health including for example smart PPE (that can identify levels of gases, toxins, noise levels and high-risk temperatures), wearables (able to interact with workers, with sensors that may be embedded in hardhats or safety glasses), mobile or static systems that use cameras and sensors (e.g. drones that effectively reach and monitor dangerous areas of work sites avoiding to put humans in danger in the construction and the mining industries). such as 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 smart apps are reshaping how workplaces manage occupational safety and health. These tools enable real-time data collection to help detect risks, respond to incidents and improve working conditions. Their impact is multifaceted, offering new forms of protection while also raising new concerns. This article explores how Umbrella term to indicate digital systems for monitoring and enhancing workers’ safety and health including for example smart PPE (that can identify levels of gases, toxins, noise levels and high-risk temperatures), wearables (able to interact with workers, with sensors that may be embedded in hardhats or safety glasses), mobile or static systems that use cameras and sensors (e.g. drones that effectively reach and monitor dangerous areas of work sites avoiding to put humans in danger in the construction and the mining industries). work, their benefits and the challenges they present in the workplace.

What are smart digital systems? 
Smart digital systems are technologies used in the workplace to collect and analyse data with the aim of identifying and assessing risks, preventing and minimising harm and promoting occupational safety and health (OSH). These tools include smartphone apps, smart glasses or watches, drones, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) and wearable devices such as sensors integrated into personal protective equipment (PPE). Their applications are diverse, from monitoring environmental risks to tracking fatigue, all contributing to more informed and timely interventions that improve worker safety and health.

These systems can operate in a proactive or reactive way. Proactive systems focus on preventing harm before it occurs. For example, apps that monitor and analyse ergonomic postures can help reduce the risk of strain injuries by encouraging safer movement patterns. Reactive ones, in contrast, are designed to respond after an accident and support post-incident investigation, such as smart PPE equipped with location-tracking technologies that help locate workers following an emergency.

Despite their potential to improve OSH across various sectors, these systems also pose challenges. As their use continues to grow, these risks must be carefully addressed to ensure that the benefits do not compromise worker safety and wellbeing.

Opportunities for safer workplaces
Smart digital systems offer organisations the opportunity to adopt a proactive approach to safety and health, creating safer and more inclusive work environments. By enabling real-time risk detection and improved prevention measures, they provide continuous monitoring of workplace conditions and can issue early warnings to prevent accidents and enable a more effective response to hazards.

With access to accurate and real-time data, these systems support informed decision-making and the implementation of targeted and therefore more effective OSH measures, ultimately improving safety performance. In addition, virtual reality and other immersive technologies provide safe and realistic training environments, allowing workers to develop skills without exposure to real-world risks.

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 smart PPE can also be tailored to meet the needs of specific groups of workers, such as older employees and those with disabilities or health conditions, supporting greater workforce diversity and participation.

Smart digital systems can also help organisations meet OSH legal requirements more effectively by supporting compliance with regulations and enabling a proactive approach to OSH. By making safety information more visible and accessible, these systems facilitate quicker, easier and more cost-effective risk assessments, ultimately fostering a stronger prevention culture and raising awareness of OSH issues in the workplace.

Challenges and concerns
However, these systems also present a number of risks that must be carefully assessed to avoid negative impacts on workers. The main one covers data privacy and surveillance, since the technology may collect sensitive biometric or behavioural data, raising ethical concerns around misuse, excessive monitoring and reduced worker autonomy. Ensuring transparency about the type of data collected, its intended use and who can access it is essential for building Trust can be defined as the attitude that an agent [automation technology, i.e. advanced robotics] will help achieve an individual’s goal in a situation characterised by uncertainty and vulnerability. and ensuring the technology is implemented responsibly.

In addition, smart systems introduce new risks related to their own limitations that may compromise the original OSH prevention objectives: malfunctions, potentially inaccurate data and The protection of computer systems and networks from information disclosure and theft of or damage to their hardware, software or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide. breaches can undermine the systems’ reliability and even introduce new safety hazards if not properly managed.

Constant monitoring, frustration with technical failures, repetitive or solitary work and automated oversight can contribute to psychosocial risks such as increased stress and low morale, negatively affecting workers’ mental health.

Smart digital systems may also blur lines of responsibility and risk being implemented at the expense of other OSH measures. If used inappropriately, these systems may shift the focus towards individual monitoring, potentially weakening collective protections and obscuring accountability. It is therefore essential that their adoption complements (and not replaces) established OSH frameworks.

Upcoming articles will explore how to design and implement these technologies in ways that prioritise worker safety, respect privacy and reinforce a strong safety culture.

• Take a look at all content related to our new priority area, smart digital systems.
• Explore our previous HWC article focusing on facts and figures of worker management through AI and algorithms.
• #EUhealthyworkplaces continues on LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky and X.