A recent report from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Safety Evidence Centre emphasizes the importance of coordinated, science-based efforts to enhance occupational safety and health (OSH) amid the rapid adoption of digital technologies. These technologies include artificial intelligence, wearable devices, and collaborative robots. The report, created in collaboration with RAND Europe, examines how emerging technologies impact workplace safety, identifies significant knowledge gaps, and advocates for increased collaboration among researchers, practitioners, workers, and technology developers.

The report reveals that the current evidence regarding the relationship between emerging technology and OSH is limited and inconsistent across various sectors and industries. It states, "Overall, there is a lack of rigorous research, with the evidence comprised predominantly of small-scale studies that lack a robust counterfactual." While there is strong evidence supporting the use of safety-related smartphone applications to encourage behavior change and improve workers' physical and mental health, the report warns that the benefits of technology, particularly safety technology, must be weighed against potential risks that are not yet well understood.

The report outlines both the potential benefits and risks associated with new technologies. For instance, OSH-focused smartphone applications can motivate managers to prioritize safety and foster healthy habits, but the evidence regarding their impact on performance or sickness rates is mixed. Similarly, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) training may enhance engagement and motivation, yet the evidence on whether they effectively improve safety knowledge is inconclusive. Additionally, algorithmic management and emotional AI could heighten psychosocial risks, as workers may feel compelled to hide their true emotions to maintain privacy, interpreting AI as a sign of employer mistrust. Wearable devices can lead to increased stress or complacency, depending on their application. Collaborative robots, or cobots, offer both opportunities and challenges, but further evidence is necessary for their safe integration.

Nancy Hey, director of evidence and insight at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, emphasizes that digital technologies are rapidly transforming the workplace, presenting both new risks and opportunities for safety. She states, "We know it’s possible to maintain and improve occupational safety without stifling innovation, but only if we acknowledge the challenges and address them collectively." Hey calls for coordinated research grounded in safety science to ensure that innovation develops safely.

Dr. Magdalena Soffia, head of social research at the Institute for the Future of Work, cautions against placing blind faith in technological capabilities. She notes that the actual impact of emerging systems depends on their design, development, and deployment. Soffia stresses the importance of evidence mapping to monitor how these technologies affect worker health and safety, guiding future investments.

The report concludes with a call to strengthen the evidence base regarding the impact of transformative technologies like Algorithmic Management and Emotional AI, particularly concerning psychosocial risks. It highlights the need for high-quality studies, including randomized trials, to provide reliable estimates of how widely adopted new technologies affect workers’ safety and health.

The authors urge health and safety professionals to collaborate with researchers and technology developers, share best practices, and contribute to a more actionable evidence base. They emphasize the importance of considering the worker perspective and consulting workers during the design, development, and evaluation phases of new technologies. A follow-up report focusing on how new technology is being utilized to enhance safety is expected to be published in October.