Your hopes and fears these digital years

Occupational safety and health professionals are ready to guide workers through the choppy seas of new digital technology, including AI, that’s driving the future of work.

That’s the message to come out of a three-part IOSH series of social media polls. They capture both the hopes and the fears of OSH practitioners when it comes to digitalisation of the workplace.

The opportunities and benefits of new technology were clear to the total 2,300 poll respondents. They cited safety enhancements, efficiency improvements and tighter risk management as some of the chief reasons to be cheerful.

Glass more than three-quarters full

A clear majority of voters took an optimistic view of digitalisation. Seventy-seven per cent answered ‘Yes’ to “Do you believe digitalisation, including AI, has brought major new benefits and opportunities to the global workplace?"

Colly Johnston summed up his positive outlook. “Digitalisation has brought numerous major new benefits and opportunities, such as improved decision making, job creation, skills development, wearable technology, equipment monitoring. The list is endless.”

While others too welcomed new technology, they could also see the downsides. “AI is making tasks easier, so one can find time for other important tasks,” said Ishfaq Ahmad CMIOSH. “But, on the other hand, it may give impact which is not personal to a professional, which may create a false impression of someone’s competency.”

Site engineer Mark Rafferty, meanwhile, observed how we’re “moving away more and more from social interaction – the more tech, the less human contact. Although tech can be a benefit, I feel stronger regarding human interaction and how it used to be. Sad days to come.”

Perhaps we’ll give the last word on this poll to Mahammad Asadli, who works in governance and training. He said, rather sagely: “Progress brings many things.”

New risks

However, there was concern that new risks brought by new technologies could outweigh the benefits. We asked, “Are new technologies causing health, safety and wellbeing risks in your workplace”. In reply, more than half (53 per cent) gave a ‘Yes’ verdict (45 per cent said ‘No’).

A clear message to emerge from the polling was that, while all the benefits of technology are welcome, they will not replace human oversight. Calls were made for the benefits of new technologies to be steered by thorough risk assessments, proper training, close monitoring and evaluation. So caution and planning were the watchwords, while the transition to digital was described as ‘challenging’.

Mohamed Charni TechIOSH, a health and safety environment supervisor, summed it up. “We are moving into an era where advanced technology and AI are increasingly integrated into our work processes. So it’s crucial to approach these innovations with a clear understanding of their potential impact on health, safety and wellbeing.

“While these tools can offer significant improvements in efficiency and risk management, they must be applied thoughtfully and with caution. We need to ensure that these technologies are used to support and enhance our existing health and safety measures. They must not replace the human oversight that is vital in maintaining a safe work environment,” he added.

“If we rely too heavily on technology without proper safeguards, we may introduce new risks that could outweigh the benefits. But (with the right controls) we can harness the power of technology to improve safety outcomes without compromising the well-being of our workforce.”

Need for planning

Good communication was seen as key to ensuring workers are aware of what’s coming down the line. They want to know how it will affect their working lives (with possible implications for their home lives). There were also general concerns as to how the technology will be applied.

Training director Jase Smith wrote: “The introduction and expansion of AI and AR (augmented reality) can be a major cause of stress within the workplace. Any programme requires a clear, proactive communication plan to ensure people are informed and educated about the changes and the impact they will have.”

Big Brother?

More organisations are monitoring employees as a preventative health intervention, despite close controls and guidelines (as outlined by the Information Commissioner’s Office - ICO). So we thought we’d throw in this little grenade: “What are your thoughts on the idea of your employer being informed about your health condition before you?”

There was clear concern over this issue, with three-quarters of respondents ticking the option, “I’m uncomfortable about it”. In fact, the number or respondents to this poll nearly equalled the combined response to the other two polls of the three.

A bulging comments column went on to debate issues of:

• consent, confidentiality and governance
• privacy and trust
• which country, what sector and which health condition?
• employers’ duty of care
• medical care costs
• accommodating workers’ needs/protecting colleagues
• worker pressure
• potential abuse.

For more IOSH online content on this issue, go to our technology and artificial intelligence web page.

Go to European Week for Safety and Health at Work for more details on the EU-OSHA campaign.