News

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). are increasingly developed with the specific objective of improving occupational safety and health. These technologies, ranging from 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. to (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). -driven monitoring platforms, offer new ways to prevent harm. However, if not properly built and integrated, they may introduce new risks such as operational complications, system failures, data privacy issues or psychosocial issues for workers. Safe design and implementation are therefore crucial to effectively mitigate these risks.

Drivers and barriers
Currently, 12% of workplaces in the European Union (EU) report using wearable technologies like smart watches, data glasses or smart personal protective equipment, according to the 2024 European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER). However, adoption levels vary significantly depending on a range of factors.

The main driver for companies integrating these technologies is the desire to improve occupational safety and health (OSH), which in turn can reduce staff turnover and compensation costs. Despite this, several barriers continue to limit broader implementation.

Concerns include data security and 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. , privacy and the potential misuse of data, particularly where monitoring tools are involved. Adoption also varies by company size and sector, with uptake often hindered due to limited information and high costs. In addition, many organisations, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), struggle with a lack of digital skills among workers and inadequate ICT infrastructures.

Building smart systems that work for workers
Good implementation starts at the design stage. To enable wider deployment while ensuring that 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). genuinely support OSH, product manufacturers and developers must consider certain principles from the onset.

Systems should focus on addressing real-world workplace risks and be tailored to specific needs, while remaining interoperable and compatible with existing tools. Privacy and data security must be prioritised through a ‘privacy by design’ approach, embedding data protection from the beginning. Moreover, reliable, transparent and scalable systems are more likely to earn 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 be used effectively, particularly when the development process involves collaboration between designers, employers and workers.

Conditions for safe implementation
For safe implementation, several considerations must be respected, the primary being worker involvement and employer responsibility. Engaging workers from the early design stage and throughout planning, testing and feedback phases increases acceptance of digital systems and results in more practical solutions in line with real workplace needs. This collaboration can take many forms, such as consultations, pilot trials, ambassador roles, on-the-job training or technology workshops.

Another important aspect is ensuring transparency and protecting privacy, with full respect for personal data. Equally important is adopting human-centred designs, with systems tailored to users and the specific tasks they perform. Employers should make sure that workers have the skills required to use these tools safely and effectively, with training provided where necessary. Finally, smart systems should be integrated into existing OSH frameworks, supporting current strategies and traditional risk assessments rather than replacing them. Worker involvement and transparency are key.

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). offer promising opportunities to improve safety and health at work, but their value depends on careful design and implementation. With adoption still limited, particularly among smaller organisations, continued efforts are needed to ensure these technologies genuinely support safety and health without introducing new risks.

• Take a look at all content related to our current priority area, smart digital systems.
• Explore our previous HWC article focusing on smart digital systems and their opportunities and risks for safety and health at work.
• #EUhealthyworkplaces continues on LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky and X.