New report examines tech’s impact on worker safety

A recent report titled “Ask the Right Questions” dives into how emerging technologies are shaping worker safety, and it’s raising some important points. A global safety charity is urging for a united, evidence-based approach to ensure that new technologies are developed safely and effectively in the workplace.

The report, released by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Safety Evidence Centre, emphasizes the need for an evidence-driven strategy to keep up with the fast-paced growth of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and their impact on occupational safety and health (OSH).

Produced by RAND Europe, the report reviews global data on the interaction between new technologies and OSH. It highlights that while there’s a lot of information out there, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of how different technologies affect safety.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Safety-focused smartphone apps can motivate managers to prioritize safety, encourage healthy habits, and enhance overall wellbeing. However, the evidence regarding their effect on performance or sickness rates is a bit mixed.
• Training using augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) can increase engagement and motivation among workers, but there’s limited evidence that it actually improves safety knowledge on its own.
• The use of algorithmic management and emotional AI might have a negative impact on employee wellbeing and workplace dynamics. Some employees have reported feeling the need to hide their emotions to maintain their privacy, while others feel that AI signals a lack of trust from their employers. That said, better design and collaborative approaches could help reduce these issues.
• Wearable technologies that monitor health and environmental conditions can either increase stress or lead to complacency, depending on how they’re used.
• Collaborative robots, or cobots, present both advantages and challenges, especially in manufacturing environments, and more research is needed to ensure they can be safely integrated into production lines.

Addressing evidence gaps

The report points out several key research priorities, particularly focusing on how various industries and workforce groups are impacted by emerging technologies. It also underscores the importance of diving deeper into areas like generative AI, autonomous vehicles, and digital twins, all of which are poised to significantly affect workplace safety.

The study stresses the necessity for collaboration among researchers, safety experts, workers, and tech developers to ensure that the right questions are being posed — this will help in spotting risks early and safely harnessing the benefits of innovation.

Expert perspectives

Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, shared her thoughts:

“New digital technologies are swiftly reshaping our economies and workplaces. This report emphasizes that while innovation can introduce new risks, it also offers powerful tools to boost worker safety.

We know it’s possible to enhance safety without stifling innovation. Historical technological shifts have shown that recognizing challenges and working together to tackle them is crucial for building public trust in change.

Coordinated research, rooted in safety science, is essential to ensure that technological advancements are both effective and safe.”

Dr. Magdalena Soffia, Head of Social Research at the Institute for the Future of Work, added:

“This report arrives at a critical juncture. As industries rapidly adopt new technologies, there’s often an overestimation of their technical capabilities. The real impact on workforce health and safety hinges on how these systems are designed, developed, and implemented.

Governing and regulating emerging technologies isn’t just about fostering growth and creating value — it’s about safeguarding our most valuable asset: the workforce. Evidence maps, like those from the Global Safety Evidence Centre, are vital for monitoring the long-term effects of technology on workers and guiding smart investment choices.”

A follow-up report from the Global Safety Evidence Centre is set to be released in October. This report will delve into how new technologies are being utilized to enhance safety in the workplace.