The International Labour Organization found digital technologies are improving workplace safety, but also highlighted of new risks.
Digital technologies have fundamentally transformed workplace safety and health practices across global industries, with artificial intelligence (AI) and automation replacing workers in hazardous environments while simultaneously creating new categories of occupational risks.
The transformation has proved most pronounced in removing workers from dangerous tasks previously considered unavoidable hazards, according to analysis from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report, ‘Revolutionising Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work’, highlights how emerging technologies are improving worker health and wellbeing while underscoring the need for proactive policies to address new risks.
“Digitalisation offers immense opportunities to enhance workplace safety,” ILO team lead – OSH policy Manal Azzi said. “Robots can replace workers in hazardous ‘3D jobs’, which can be dirty, dangerous, and demeaning, while automation can reduce repetitive tasks, such as in-factory production lines or in administrative work. But for us to fully benefit from these technologies, we must ensure they are implemented without incurring new risks.”
The report outlined how advanced robotics handle operations in extreme temperatures, toxic environments, and high-risk scenarios, with mining operations utilising unmanned systems for material extraction.
Smart monitoring systems emerged as game-changers for predictive safety management, according to the report, which said wearable devices and AI-powered sensors now provide real-time hazard detection and risk assessment capabilities. These systems track everything from air quality and noise levels to worker fatigue and ergonomic risks.
The research involved analysis across automation and advanced robotics, smart monitoring systems, extended reality applications, algorithmic management, and changing work arrangements.
The digital revolution, however, has introduced new risk categories that safety frameworks struggle to address. Extended reality technologies, while revolutionising training through immersive simulations, can cause balance issues, visual strain, and cognitive overload for workers.
The shift towards remote and platform work arrangements has presented safety challenges. Without direct oversight, ergonomic risks, environmental hazards, and inadequate safety measures often go undetected. Platform workers face heightened safety risks due to irregular schedules and limited employer-provided protections.
Gender disparities have also emerged as a significant concern. Women showed higher susceptibility to cybersickness from virtual reality systems, while robotic systems and exoskeletons often lacked gender-sensitive design. The ILO noted that women are disproportionately affected by generative AI, with their exposure to automation being more than double that of men in most regions.
Successful digital transformations require proactive risk management. To maximise benefits while mitigating risks, the ILO said a proactive, evidence-informed and participatory approach is essential. Workers should be actively involved at all stages of digital implementation. It also noted that organisations must conduct regular risk assessments that account for impacts of new technologies.
Digital tools should complement rather than replace human judgment in safety practices, maintaining the human element that remains essential for effective workplace protection.
This feature appeared in the July–August edition of Safe to Work.