A new report from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Safety Evidence Centre warns that while emerging technologies can improve workplace safety and productivity, they may also introduce new risks that organizations are not yet fully prepared to manage.
Conducted by RAND Europe, the study synthesised global evidence using AI-driven analysis and expert engagement with industry, regulators, government, and academia. It examined technologies such as algorithmic management, emotional AI, wearable health monitors, safety-focused apps, collaborative robots, and augmented/virtual reality training tools.
The findings highlight a dual reality: these tools can reduce hazards and enhance occupational safety and health, but their physical and psychosocial impacts remain uncertain.
Two critical gaps stand out: how workers are directly affected by these technologies, and how organizations can pre-empt unintended risks. To address this, the report calls for:
- Adaptive, evidence-based risk assessment tools that weigh both physical and psychosocial risks against productivity benefits.
- Forums for information sharing to enable transparency across sectors.
- Regulatory sandboxes that allow safe testing of new technologies.
- Local hubs for best practice to translate research into practical workplace guidance.
The report concludes that ensuring worker safety in the face of technological change demands collaboration, openness, and agility. For resilience professionals, the lesson is clear: innovation must be accompanied by dynamic risk management and a culture of continuous learning to protect both productivity and wellbeing.
