Record STMT-W143239Advisory

Advanced Robotics and Automation: What Are the Risks and Opportunities for Occupational Safety and Health?

Report Institutional policyEuropean Unionin forceNot AI-specific

This policy brief explores the occupational safety and health (OSH) risks and opportunities associated with advanced robotics and automation in the workplace. It analyzes human-robot interaction across four main dimensions: function allocation, task design, interaction design, and operation and supervision. The document provides recommendations on worker involvement, upskilling, and adherence to principles such as 'human in control' and transparency during robotic implementation.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

European Agency for Safety and Health at WorkIntergovernmental · ES

Lead issuer

Legal forceAdvisory

Under whose authorityInstitutional policy

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

WorkersPublic sector bodiesCompaniesResearchers and academics

This brief is for policymakers, employers, workers, and researchers looking to understand and manage the OSH implications of introducing advanced robotics into the workplace.

Sectors

Cross-sectorHealthcare · human health and social work activitiesManufacturing and industry · manufacturing

What the document contains

What's covered

The document addresses the integration of advanced robotics and automation in workplaces, detailing the categorization of robotic systems, their impact on tasks and sectors, and the OSH dimensions of human-robot interaction. It outlines specific physical and psychosocial risks and opportunities, concluding with practical recommendations for implementation.

What's missing

The document does not provide legally binding regulations, compliance enforcement mechanisms, or formal technical safety standards for robot manufacturing.

Key takeaways

Advanced robotics and automation combine AI with robotic devices to increase autonomy and functionality, creating new opportunities and challenges for occupational safety and health.
Human-robot interaction involves four key dimensions: function and task allocation, task design, interaction design, and operation and supervision.
Robotic systems can improve physical health by taking over dangerous or heavy tasks, but inadequate design can lead to psychosocial risks such as work intensification and deskilling.
Technological coupling and robotic-determined work rates can cause adverse mental health effects, loss of job control, and job insecurity.
Successful implementation requires worker involvement, skill-development policies, and adherence to the 'human in control' and transparency principles.

Principles it states

The 'human in control' principleTransparency

Outline

· The state of advanced robotics
· Impact on task, jobs and sectors
· OSH relevant dimensions in human-robot interaction
· Function allocation and task design
· Interaction design
· Operation and supervision
· Opportunities for OSH
· OSH risks
· Recommendations

Issued2022

Length4,482 words · 6 pages

FormatNot recorded

Scoperegional

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

3/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

Responsibility and accountability need to be clarified when it comes to human-robot interaction.

Operation and supervision

screening score · 2026-10-24

Fairness

2/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

There are a number of psychological aspects to consider, like perceived process control, mental effort, perceived fairness, task identity and acceptance of the allocation result

Function allocation and task design

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Oversight

4/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

The ‘human in control’ principle should be regarded as a leading design guideline.

Opportunities for OSH

screening score · 2026-10-24

Privacy

0/5

Protection of personal data and private life

N/A

screening score · 2026-10-24

Transparency

4/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

Furthermore, the ‘transparency’ principle proves to be of major importance. Actions and decisions as well as system capabilities and limitations of advanced robots need to be transparent and explainable to the human.

Recommendations

screening score · 2026-10-24

Enforcement

0/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

Recommendations

screening score · 2026-10-24

Impact Assessment

3/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

Introducing advanced robotics to a workplace demands ample consideration of both potential risks and opportunities for OSH.

Recommendations

screening score · 2026-10-24

Topics

Physical AI Governancesupporting

occupational_safety_and_health robotics automation human_robot_interaction workplace_safety