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Record STMT-W864A94Advisory

OSH and the Future of Work: Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Workplaces

Report International lawEuropean Unionin force

This discussion paper examines the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence tools in workplaces for occupational safety and health (OSH). It explores AI applications across human resources, cobots, chatbots, wearables in manufacturing, and gig work platforms. Finally, it outlines international stakeholder responses, policy developments, and training recommendations to mitigate psychosocial and physical risks.

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 authorityInternational law
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

National governmentPublic sector bodiesCompaniesResearchers and academics

This report is for policy-makers, employers, workers' representatives, and researchers seeking to understand the OSH implications of artificial intelligence in workplaces.

Sectors
Cross-sectorLabour and employment · workplaces and human resources

What the document contains

What's covered

The report covers the definitions of artificial intelligence and its integration into various workplace domains, including human resources, cobots, chatbots, wearables, and platform-enabled gig work. It details the associated occupational safety and health (OSH) risks and benefits, and reviews relevant policy developments, standards, and training initiatives.

What's missing

The report does not provide binding legal regulations, explicit enforcement mechanisms, or a comprehensive technical manual for auditing algorithms.

Key takeaways
  • AI integration in workplaces introduces both productivity benefits and significant OSH risks, particularly regarding psychosocial stress and physical safety.
  • People analytics and algorithmic management in human resources can lead to micro-management, heightened surveillance, and potential discrimination.
  • Collaborative robots (cobots) can remove workers from dangerous physical tasks but create new collision risks and work intensification if implemented poorly.
  • Gig work and platform applications normalize intense surveillance and customer ratings that ignore outside factors, often lacking basic labor and OSH protections.
  • Mitigating AI risks requires a human-centric approach, worker consultation, continuous training, and robust regulatory oversight.
Principles it states
Labour is not a commodity; nor is it a robotHuman-in-command approachEthics for competitive advantage
Outline
· Introduction
· 1 What is AI?
· 2 AI in the workplace
  - 2.1 AI in human resources
  - 2.2 Cobots in factories and warehouses
  - 2.3 Chatbots in call centres
  - 2.4 Wearables and AI in (lot size) manufacturing
  - 2.5 Platform applications enabling gig work
· 3 Policy developments, regulation and training
  - 3.1 European Commission
  - 3.2 International standards
  - 3.3 International Labour Organization
  - 3.4 World Economic Forum and GDPR
  - 3.4 Training for AI and OSH
· 4 In conclusion
Issued2018
Length11,976 words · 18 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.

Fairness

3/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

The prevention of unfair and illegal discrimination clearly must be ensured as AI is increasingly introduced, and the WEF (2018) and ILO reports mentioned above are vital for steering the course.

3.4

screening score · 2026-10-25

Impact Assessment

3/5

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

Risk assessments are already being experimented with in criminal systems in which AI informs sentencing and parole boards to attempt to eliminate bias.

2.1

screening score · 2026-10-25

Topics

Physical AI Governancesupporting
occupational_safety_and_health future_of_work algorithmic_management people_analytics gig_economy