World Day of Safety and Health at Work falls on 28 April. This year, it is being celebrated under the theme of Digitisation and Artificial Intelligence – a new era of work. It is an excellent opportunity to reflect on current challenges in the area of increasing occupational health and safety.

Digitisation and artificial intelligence are key elements of the fourth industrial revolution, known as Industry 4.0, which can also be considered in the context of occupational health and safety.

Modern technology can have a significant impact on employee safety, which is one of the cornerstones of responsible management, for example:

1. Sensors and monitoring systems will allow for the ongoing collection and analysis of data, allowing for real-time identification of potential hazards and immediate risk management, without the need for dedicated people to review recordings for hours on end.
2. Automation and robotisation of processes in repetitive and monotonous work or hazardous tasks, will reduce the risk of occupational diseases or accidents at work, while also increasing production efficiency.
3. Decision-support systems will use data analysis to predict which places in the workplace pose a potential risk, while suggesting changes in the organisation of work that will allow processes to be optimised.

However, in addition to the benefits, the introduction of modern technology into the field of health and safety also poses significant challenges in terms of employee concerns about excessive intrusions into privacy or being replaced by artificial intelligence systems. It is therefore crucial for organisations to take conscious steps in this area, ensuring proper communication with employees as well as full transparency of processes and compliance with the GDPR.

Find more articles in PRO HR April 2025.